The IRS provides a safe harbor for vacation rentals. In the 2018 New England Real Estate Journal article written by Northern 1031 Exchange Senior Vice President, John Starling, he highlights the details and the differences between a second home and a vacation rental.

A second home is not exchangeable property, however, by following a few rules a vacation home can qualify as exchangeable property under the IRS safe harbor. Starling examines details of the safe harbor rules along with examples of properties that may still qualify for an exchange but lie outside the safe harbor. He also notes that if you have rental income, you must report it to the IRS using Form 1040 and outlines the various questions that must be answered. Lastly, he stresses the importance of discussing your rental income details and tax liability with your CPA or tax adviser.