[SamC]

I live in a house in New Jersey. I share the house with two people. We all have separate leasing contracts with the property owner. On my tax return my total rent paid was my monthly rent multiplied by 12 months. No problem. One of my housemates is saying that turbo tax asks for the names and social security numbers of "other renters". And he would like my social security number to list on his return.

On my tax return I see it as a separate contract and since I'm the only one listed on that contract then there are no "other renters" listed. However the three of us do share the same address so my roommate says that there are "other renters".

Who is correct? Me or my Roommate?

[ebaines]

I live in a house in New Jersey. I share the house with two people. We all have separate leasing contracts with the property owner. On my tax return my total rent paid was my monthly rent multiplied by 12 months. No problem. One of my housemates is saying that turbo tax asks for the names and social security numbers of "other renters". And he would like my social security number to list on his return.

On my tax return I see it as a separate contract and since I'm the only one listed on that contract then there are no "other renters" listed. However the three of us do share the same address so my roommate says that there are "other renters".

Who is correct? Me or my Roommate?

I think you are correct, as you have separate contracts, and hence you do not share any responsibility, even though you share common areas of the house. Am I correct that if one of the other tenants were to fail to pay his rent the landlord would have no recourse to come after you? In that case it's similar to renting an apartment in a large building -- you don't list all the other tenants in the building, even though you share the buildings common areas.

[SamC]

I think you are correct, as you have separate contracts, and hence you do not share any responsibility, even though you share common areas of the house. Am I correct that if one of the other tenants were to fail to pay his rent the landlord would have no recourse to come after you? In that case it's similar to renting an apartment in a large building -- you don't list all the other tenants in the building, even though you share the buildings common areas.

Yes you're right. The same applies now that one of my roommates is moving out. The burden to find another tenant is on the landlord not us and because of that our rent remains at the agreed upon amount - we don't have to "pick up the slack" so to speak.

I had to pull up my tax form and see what question he was looking at. Turns out the question asks:

15b. Enter the name(s) and social security number(s) of all other tenants (other than your spouse) who shared the rent.

He must be confused. I'll explain to him that we don't "share" rent at all. We all pay our own rent. Thanks for the confirmation on what I was originally thinking.

[ScottGem]

Ok, this is for the TR-1040 Homestead Rebate Application. I agree with ebaines. That's probably why your landlord set it up that way. You are not sharing the rent with anyone. You pay your own specific rental directly to the landlord.

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

Agreed! You are good as long as the amount of rent you report is the amount you paid.