469. Unlocking the STR Tax Loophole with Amanda Han, CPA
Thanks For Visiting
Airbnb Superhosts Annette Grant & Sarah Karakaian
4.9 • 589 Ratings
🗓️ 5 June 2025
⏱️ 61 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
You’ve heard whispers of a short-term rental tax loophole that can save hosts big money—but is it real? And more importantly, does it apply to you?
In this episode, we're joined by Amanda Han, CPA and tax strategist, who breaks down exactly how short-term rental owners can legally reduce their tax burden without qualifying as a real estate professional. Amanda walks us through the difference between material participation and real estate professional status, how to track your hours, and how to avoid some of the most common mistakes hosts (and even CPAs!) make when trying to claim this benefit.
We also talk about:
- How short-term rentals create tax losses even when they cash flow
- What actually counts toward your material participation hours
- Whether midterm rentals qualify (spoiler: not usually)
- Common write-offs hosts overlook—and how to structure your finances to make the most of them
- When a cost segregation study makes sense (and when it doesn’t)
- How to find the right tax professional for your STR business
This episode is a must-listen if you own, co-host, or are considering investing in a short-term rental and want to keep more of the money you’re making.
Resources:
- Amanda’s Website: Keystone CPA
- Amanda on Instagram
- Amanda’s YouTube Channel
- STR Host Tax Advantage Cheat Sheet
- Should You Fire Your Property Manager? (Or Are Your Expectations Misaligned?) | Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Mentioned in this episode:
Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV500 to get $500 off your subscription.
Minoan | Visit MinoanExperience.com and tell them TFV sent you!
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | You're listening to the Thanks for Visiting Podcast. |
| 0:07.8 | We believe hosting with Heart is at the core of every short-term rental. |
| 0:12.8 | With Annette's background in business operation. |
| 0:15.1 | And Sarah's extensive hospitality management and interior design experience, we have welcomed |
| 0:20.3 | thousands of guests from over 30 |
| 0:22.3 | countries earning us over a million dollars and garnering us thousands of five-star reviews. |
| 0:28.4 | We love sharing creative ways for your listing to stand out, serve your guests, and be profitable. |
| 0:34.9 | Each episode, we will have knowledgeable guests who bring value to the short-term |
| 0:38.7 | rental industry. Or we will share our stories of our own experiences so you can implement |
| 0:43.7 | actual improvements to your rentals. Whether you're experienced, new, or nervous to start your own |
| 0:50.3 | short-term rental, we promise you'll feel right at home. |
| 0:57.5 | Before we dive into the content, let's hear a word from our sponsor. |
| 1:01.3 | Choosing the right property management system is a big deal. |
| 1:02.7 | And we did our research. |
| 1:04.1 | Try different platforms. |
| 1:08.0 | And for years, hostily has been the best fit for our business. It's not just a PMS. |
| 1:10.2 | It's how we run everything. Managing listings across |
| 1:13.5 | Airbnb, Verbo, and Booking.com, easy. No double bookings, no stress. And let's talk about guest |
| 1:20.6 | experience. The custom guidebooks, they are game changer. Guests get check-in details, your house |
| 1:26.9 | rules, and even favorite restaurants |
| 1:28.7 | before they have to ask. Plus, it integrates with everything. Guest screening, direct booking payments, |
| 1:35.0 | and even in-house damage waivers, which you know we love. And their new inbox AI, it pulls |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Airbnb Superhosts Annette Grant & Sarah Karakaian, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Airbnb Superhosts Annette Grant & Sarah Karakaian and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.