Can a real estate agent deduct staging furniture?

Generally, yes—a real estate agent may be able to deduct staging furniture costs if the furniture is used for the business of marketing and selling properties.

How it’s deducted depends on how you get it:

If you rent or lease staging furniture

Rental or lease payments are usually treated as ordinary business expenses and are generally deductible in the year paid or incurred, assuming they’re used for the business.

If you buy staging furniture

Furniture you purchase for staging is usually treated as a business asset rather than a simple current expense. In that case, you may generally recover the cost by depreciating it over its applicable recovery period, and in some cases Section 179 or bonus depreciation may apply if you qualify.

Important limits

• The furniture must be used for business purposes; any personal use can reduce the deduction.
• Keep records showing when and where the furniture was used, what it cost, and why it was needed for staging.
• The exact rules can depend on the asset type, your business structure, and current tax-law limits.

So the short answer is: yes, staging furniture can often be written off, but the exact tax treatment depends on whether you rent it or buy it and how it’s used. If you want, I can also explain how this is typically reported on a Schedule C or business return.