Real estate tax deduction tracking: your questions answeredYour questions answered
Real estate tax deduction tracking: your questions answeredYour questions answeredPrivacy, accuracy, what counts as tax advice, and what this actually costs. All in one place.
Privacy & Security
Do you read the full content of my emails?+
Only what's needed to classify property activities — sender, subject, and enough of the body to identify the type of work. Emails that aren't relevant to your property management are purged from our systems immediately; we only keep the ones tied to a deductible activity. Access is strictly read-only (we never send, modify, or delete anything in your inbox), and everything we keep is encrypted at rest.
What happens if I revoke access?+
We immediately stop fetching new data. Your previously classified activities stay in your account until you delete it. Raw email content is purged within 30 days. You can revoke access from within the app at any time, or by revoking the app password from your provider's account settings.
Who can see my data?+
Only you. Your data is isolated per account and stored encrypted. We do not share, sell, or give access to any third party. Our team does not access individual accounts unless you specifically ask for support help.
Is my data encrypted?+
Yes. Emails and attachments are encrypted at rest. Mailbox credentials are encrypted at rest with envelope encryption. All connections use TLS.
How It Works
How does the AI classification work?+
We look at who sent the email, the subject, and the content to figure out what kind of property work it represents. Each email gets matched to an IRS-recognized activity type (repairs, tenant relations, bookkeeping, travel), and we estimate the time you spent.
How accurate is the classification?+
Conservative by design. For tax purposes, it's better to under-count than over-count. You can review and adjust any classification. Your corrections improve accuracy over time for your specific properties and contacts.
Do I need a Gmail account?+
No. RE:Writeoff works with Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, Fastmail, and any other IMAP inbox. Most users connect in under 2 minutes.
What email providers do you support?+
RE:Writeoff supports Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, Fastmail, and any other IMAP inbox via app password. The full table:
| Provider | How it connects | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail | App password | Personal & Workspace accounts |
| Outlook | App password | Personal accounts. Microsoft 365 work accounts: forward only. |
| iCloud Mail | App password | @me.com, @icloud.com, @mac.com |
| Yahoo Mail | App password | Yahoo Mail, AOL |
| Fastmail | App password | + custom domains hosted on Fastmail |
| Any IMAP inbox | Server + app password | Custom domains, ProtonMail Bridge, self-hosted, etc. |
Don't have an app password option, or prefer not to share credentials? CC or forward emails to your portfolio's tracking address — works with literally any email account.
How far back does the initial scan go?+
When you connect, we automatically scan the current tax year (January 1 onwards). For prior years, open any past tax year in your portfolio and start a scan from there — useful for catching up on documentation or prepping for an audit. New emails sync continuously after the initial scan so nothing falls through the cracks.
Can I connect multiple email accounts?+
Yes. Connect as many inboxes as you need to a single portfolio. Useful if you manage properties from different addresses or if family members help with management.
Tax & Legal
Is this tax advice?+
No, and we mean that. RE:Writeoff is a documentation tool. We track and organize your property management activities, but we do not provide tax, legal, or financial advice. Classifications and time estimates are approximations. Your CPA makes the final call.
Will this help me qualify for Real Estate Professional Status?+
We give you the documentation: time-stamped, categorized, backed by evidence. That's one of the key requirements for REPS. But qualifying depends on your circumstances (750+ hours, more time in RE than other professions, material participation). Your CPA determines qualification; we provide the proof.
What happens during an IRS audit?+
You hand over time-stamped activity logs with the original emails attached to every entry. That's the kind of contemporaneous documentation the IRS looks for. Export everything as PDF or CSV for your accountant or auditor.
Does this replace my CPA?+
No. Your CPA still handles strategy, filing, and compliance — the judgment calls that matter. What we do is hand them your hours in a clean, IRS-compliant format, which usually means far fewer billable hours spent reconciling spreadsheets and chasing records. Think of us as the prep work that makes your CPA faster (and cheaper) at what they already do.
Pricing & Account
How much does it cost?+
It depends on your email volume and how many deductible activities we find. Most investors with a few properties pay very little on top of the $9/mo base (Pro) or $19/mo (Family). Your 30-day free trial shows you exactly what to expect before you pay anything.
Can I cancel anytime?+
Yes. No contracts, no cancellation fees. Your data stays accessible for 30 days after cancellation, then it's permanently deleted. Export everything before you go.
Is there a free plan?+
Yes. The Free plan lets you log activities manually forever, no time limit. For email scanning and AI classification, you'll need Pro or Family. Every new account starts with 30 days of Pro so you can try everything before deciding.
Didn't find your answer?
Write us at [email protected] and we reply personally. Or skip ahead and try it. Connecting your email takes two minutes.