Ian Bryzek, CPA
How do you separate land from improvements after death?
The house and the land beneath it may need separate support for depreciation and later tax reporting.
A total appraised value is useful, but it may not answer every reporting question once the property becomes a rental.
Land is not depreciated in the same way as improvements, so the file should show a reasoned allocation rather than a guess.
What to gather
- Date-of-death appraisal
- County assessor property record
- Building permits and construction details
- Rental depreciation schedule
- Photos showing improvements
Who usually handles what
- Ian can organize the tax reporting question and the supporting records.
- James Valdez can provide an independent residential fair-market-value appraisal.
A practical next step
Request value support that identifies the land and improvement components.
When a property value is part of the picture
When residential real estate needs a supported fair market value as of a relevant date, an independent appraiser may be part of the documentation process. Ian does not determine fair market value.
Related guides
This is general tax information, not tax or legal advice. Outcomes depend on the documents, ownership, timing, and law that apply to the particular facts.