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Vrbo and Airbnb 1099-K vs Schedule E
Updated October 28, 2026. Line numbers follow the 2025 Schedule E (Form 1040).
General information, not tax advice. Rules change and every situation is different. Please check with a CPA and with the official IRS pages linked here before you file.
A Form 1099-K from Airbnb or Vrbo is an information return. It tells you and the IRS how much a platform paid you, but it is not your tax return and it is not your net profit. Here is how it relates to Schedule E.
What a 1099-K shows
The IRS says the amount on a 1099-K is the gross amount of payments, not reduced by fees, refunds or other adjustments. See IRS: Understanding your Form 1099-K. So it will usually be higher than the money that landed in your bank.
What goes on Schedule E
Rental income goes on Schedule E (Form 1040), Part I, line 3 as rents received, and your fees and costs go on the expense lines 5 to 19. Whether or not you received a 1099-K, rental income is reportable. The platform fee is generally an expense (often line 8).
Reconcile three numbers
| Number | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Form 1099-K gross amount | The platform, for the tax year |
| Gross rent (line 3) | Your own records of what guests paid you |
| Bank deposits | Your bank, after fees and adjustments |
They should tie out with an explanation for each gap: fees, refunds, taxes collected for you, and payouts that crossed the year end. If the 1099-K includes money that is not yours, such as amounts for another owner or a co-host split, talk to your CPA about how to show it.
Does the reporting threshold matter?
Platforms file a 1099-K only above a reporting threshold, and that threshold has changed over the past few years. Check the current rule on the IRS page above. It does not change your duty to report rental income.
Vrbo and Airbnb together
If you host on both, you may get two forms. Add the sources into one gross rent total. HostLedger has a source column on every income row for this. Read more on the Vrbo rental income spreadsheet page.
Official sources
- IRS: Instructions for Schedule E (Form 1040)
- IRS: Publication 527, Residential Rental Property
- IRS: Topic 414, Rental income and expenses
Frequently asked questions
Is my 1099-K amount my taxable income?
Not by itself. It is the gross payment amount reported by the platform. Your Schedule E starts from rents received and subtracts your allowed expenses.
What if I did not get a 1099-K from Airbnb or Vrbo?
You still report all rental income. The form depends on a reporting threshold; the lack of a form does not remove your obligation.
Why is my 1099-K higher than my deposits?
Because it generally is not reduced by platform fees, refunds or adjustments. The difference should reconcile to those items.
Want this done for you in a spreadsheet? HostLedger totals your Airbnb and Vrbo income and expenses into Schedule E lines. From $19, one time.
See plans See a filled-in sample