Schedule E is the U.S. federal tax form where individual landlords report supplemental income and loss, including from rental real estate. For each property you list the rents received and itemize deductible expenses by category — repairs, management, insurance, utilities, and depreciation — and the form nets them to your taxable rental income or loss.
Keeping category-level books all year turns Schedule E into a summary rather than an April reconstruction. Tax situations differ and the rules change over time — this is general education, not tax advice; confirm your specifics with a qualified tax professional.
This is general educational information, not legal or tax advice. Rules vary by state and locality and change over time — check your local law and confirm specifics with a qualified professional.