Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)

Definition of "Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)"

Term given to two depreciation systems defined by the Internal Revenue Service:

  1. The main system is called the General Depreciation System (GDS). Under GDS, most property is assigned to eight property classes based on their class lives. These property classes provide the recovery period to be used by establishing the number of years over which the basis of an item in a class is recovered.
  2. The Alternative Depreciation System (ADS) generally provides for a longer recovery period and uses only the straight line method of depreciation to figure your tax deduction.


Both systems establish conventions determining how many months property can be depreciated in the first year it is placed in service and in the year of disposition.

  1. 20-year property. This class includes property such as farm buildings.
  2. Residential rental property. This class is comprised of rental buildings or structures for which 80% or more of the gross rental income is from dwelling units. Examples are living in a house or apartment. It excludes hotels and motels. Residential rental property is depreciated over 27.5 years.
  3. Nonresidential real property. This class includes real property that is not residential rental property. This property is depreciated over 31.5 years.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

Rate of return of capital invested in building improvements. Is segregated from land investments and provides a method of separating property income streams between improvement and land ...

The term adverse possession is a legal principle that allows a person who resides on another person’s land or possesses another person’s land to get a title for that land. There ...

The use of borrower funds by people or business to increase the return on an investment. Examples are a mortgage to purchase real estate and buying real estate stock on margin. ...

An individual legally fit and able to undertake an activity or function. ...

In real estate, the basis to set an adjustable rate mortgage, such as a 6-month certificate of deposit (CD) rate, cost of funds index, or prime rate. A statistical measure stated as ...

Contract that intends to convey property form one individual to another but is defective in one respect. ...

Mortgage loan where for a slight increase in the monthly payment, the loan can be paid off in only 15 years, The overall savings in interest paid to the lender over the life of the 15-year ...

A type of real estate investment trust (REIT) that does not own property but gives short-term financing for construction loans or for permanent mortgage loans for major projects. ...

Amount invested in property in cash. ...

Popular Real Estate Questions