Schedule E is a section of your federal tax return (Form 1040) used to report income and expenses from rental real estate. This is where you’ll list your rental income, mortgage interest, property taxes, repairs, insurance, and other operating expenses. For real estate investors, it’s the foundation of how your rental activity is taxed—and a key tool for optimizing deductions and maximizing after-tax returns. At Meridian, we encourage investors to work with CPAs who are well-versed in Schedule E reporting so they can fully leverage the tax advantages of real estate investing.