The Augusta Rule: A Hidden Tax Strategy for Travel Content Creators

If you’re a travel content creator who films, edits, or plans from home, there’s a powerful tax strategy you might not know about — the Augusta Rule. It allows you to rent out your personal residence to your business and potentially deduct those rental payments, while keeping the income tax-free on your personal return.

Let’s break down how it works and why it can be a smart move for digital entrepreneurs and travel creators.

What Is the Augusta Rule?

The Augusta Rule comes from Section 280A(g) of the Internal Revenue Code. It originated in Augusta, Georgia, where homeowners began renting out their houses during the Masters golf tournament.

Under this rule, you can rent out your personal residence for up to 14 days per year and exclude that rental income from your taxable income. Meanwhile, your business can usually deduct the rent as a valid business expense.

It’s one of the few situations in tax law that offers both a deduction and tax-free income — when structured properly.

How Travel Creators Can Use It

As a travel content creator, you might already be using your home for:

• Planning sessions with your team or brand partners

• Filming or photography that requires an indoor setting

• Virtual retreats, workshops, or brand meetings

• If your business operates as a Parnternship, an S-Corp or C-Corp, you can rent your home to your business for these legitimate purposes — and deduct the cost.

Example:

You host four content planning days per year at home. Local short-term rental listings show similar spaces rent for $600 per day.

If your business rents your home for four days a year, that’s $2,400 in deductible rent for the business — and $2,400 of tax-free income for you personally.

How to Stay Compliant

To make the Augusta Rule work safely and effectively, follow these best practices:

1. Document every event.

2. Keep meeting notes, agendas, or photos to show business purpose.

3. Use a fair market rate.

4. Research comparable short-term rental listings (Airbnb, Peerspace, local co-working spaces, etc.) to justify your pricing.

5. Limit rentals to 14 days or fewer per year.

6. Crossing that threshold requires reporting all income on your tax return.

7. Create a written agreement.

8. Draft a simple rental contract between you and your business, signed and dated.

9. Run it through your books.

10. Pay the rent from your business bank account and record it as a “rent expense.”

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Why It’s Especially Useful for S-Corp Owners

For travel creators taxed as S-Corporations, the Augusta Rule is even more valuable. Rent payments made to you personally aren’t subject to payroll taxes or self-employment tax, yet your business still gets the deduction.

It’s a clean way to reduce business profit (and therefore your tax liability) without increasing your taxable wages.

When to Work With a CPA

Because this strategy depends on proper documentation and valuation, it’s best to set it up with your CPA. They can help you:

• Determine a fair rental rate

• Prepare or review your rental agreement

• Record the deduction correctly in your bookkeeping

• Ensure your use meets IRS standards

• When done correctly, the Augusta Rule offers one of the most efficient ways to move money from your business to yourself — legally and tax-free.

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Bottom Line

The Augusta Rule isn’t just for homeowners in Augusta. For travel creators, it’s a simple, powerful tool for reducing taxes and recognizing the value of your creative space.

If you want to see how this rule fits into your overall tax strategy, reach out to Misty Newsome CPA LLC. Our team helps content entrepreneurs turn everyday activities — like filming at home — into smart, compliant tax advantages that help you keep more of what you earn.