Introduction
House flipping looks glamorous on TV, but behind the scenes, taxes play a huge role in profitability. Understanding fix and flip tax implications helps you plan smarter and keep more of your profits.
Flips vs. Long-Term Investments
Unlike rentals or buy-and-hold strategies, flips are usually treated as active business activity, not passive investing. Different from passive income tactics, flipping is taxed as active income.
Ordinary Income Tax
Most fix & flip profits are taxed as ordinary income, not long-term capital gains. That means you may pay higher rates, especially if flips are your primary income source.
Example:
- Buy & Renovate: $200,000 + $50,000 improvements
- Sell Price: $300,000
- Profit: $50,000
This $50,000 is taxed as ordinary income, not capital gains.
Short-Term vs Long-Term Gains
If you hold a property for less than a year, profits are taxed as short-term gains (same as ordinary income). Holding longer than 12 months may qualify for lower long-term capital gains rates.
Deductions & Write-Offs
You can deduct costs like materials, contractor fees, and loan interest, but these are added to the property’s basis instead of being instantly deductible.
Using a 1031 Exchange
In some cases, if the flip is held long enough as an investment property, you may be able to defer taxes through a 1031 exchange.
Business Structures & Partnerships
LLCs or S-corps can provide tax advantages and liability protection. Investors sometimes team up to handle risks — see our partnerships guide.
Final Thoughts
Flipping houses can deliver big profits, but without tax planning, much of that money may go to the IRS. Fix & flip projects can be profitable but come with tax surprises. Balance your strategy with passive income tactics, explore long-term growth with a 1031 exchange, and learn how partnerships can spread risk and opportunity.
Your questions, answered
Are fix & flip profits taxed as capital gains?
Not usually. Flips are typically taxed as ordinary income because they’re treated as business activity.
Can you deduct renovation expenses on a flip?
Yes, but they’re added to the property’s basis, not written off immediately.
How can investors reduce taxes on flips?
By holding properties longer, using business structures, or considering a 1031 exchange (if eligible).
