A look inside a filled-in HostLedger sheet
This is a made-up cabin with example numbers, shown as plain HTML tables. It is here so you can see how income, expenses and Schedule E lines connect. The real file is a live spreadsheet with formulas and dropdowns.
Example numbers only. Not a real host, not tax advice. Which line an item belongs on can depend on your situation, so please confirm with a CPA.
1. Income by month
You type gross bookings. The sheet works out the 3% host fee in this example and your net payout.
| Month | Gross bookings | Airbnb host fee | Net payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | $2,100.00 | $63.00 | $2,037.00 |
| February | $1,850.00 | $55.50 | $1,794.50 |
| March | $2,600.00 | $78.00 | $2,522.00 |
| April | $3,100.00 | $93.00 | $3,007.00 |
| May | $3,600.00 | $108.00 | $3,492.00 |
| June | $4,300.00 | $129.00 | $4,171.00 |
| July | $4,900.00 | $147.00 | $4,753.00 |
| August | $4,700.00 | $141.00 | $4,559.00 |
| September | $3,300.00 | $99.00 | $3,201.00 |
| October | $2,900.00 | $87.00 | $2,813.00 |
| November | $2,200.00 | $66.00 | $2,134.00 |
| December | $3,150.00 | $94.50 | $3,055.50 |
| Year total | $38,700.00 | $1,161.00 | $37,539.00 |
2. Schedule E summary
Every expense you log carries a category. The sheet adds them up and lines them against the Schedule E, Part I lines.
| Line | What it is | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Rents received | $38,700 |
| 5 | Advertising | $0 |
| 6 | Auto and travel | $420 |
| 7 | Cleaning and maintenance | $4,180 |
| 8 | Commissions (Airbnb host fees) | $1,161 |
| 9 | Insurance | $1,350 |
| 10 | Legal and other professional fees | $300 |
| 11 | Management fees | $0 |
| 12 | Mortgage interest paid to banks | $8,900 |
| 14 | Repairs | $1,240 |
| 15 | Supplies | $1,620 |
| 16 | Taxes | $2,760 |
| 17 | Utilities | $3,480 |
| 18 | Depreciation expense (from the depreciation sheet) | $5,600 |
| 19 | Other (software, linen service) | $640 |
| 20 | Total expenses | $31,651 |
| 21 | Income or loss (line 3 minus line 20) | $7,049 |
Where Airbnb host fees go (commissions or other) is a choice worth confirming with your CPA. The sheet lets you move that item to a different line with one dropdown.
3. Expense log (first rows)
This is where you type day to day. The Schedule E line fills in by itself from the category.
| Date | Paid to | Category | Sched. E line | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 12 | Turnover cleaning, 4 stays | Cleaning and maintenance | 7 | $320.00 |
| Feb 03 | Hardware store, faucet | Repairs | 14 | $86.40 |
| Feb 20 | Towels and soap | Supplies | 15 | $142.15 |
| Mar 01 | Power company | Utilities | 17 | $211.80 |
| Mar 15 | Pricing software | Other | 19 | $29.00 |
Sample figures are invented for illustration. 14-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. Not tax advice, please check with a CPA.