Hey;

I own two houses on the same property. My wife and I live in the larger one, and my mom resides in the smaller one. Mom won't let me let her live for free, so she gives me about $400 per month and she pays the utilities on the smaller house, amounting to less than $100 per month. The $400 that she gives me includes "her portion" of the grocery bill since she eats most meals with us.

Is this any different than if she lived in my spare room and paid some money towards the household bills and groceries? In effect this is what she is doing, just the spare room she lives in is located 15 feet from the main house?

I don't want to make this any more complicated than it has to be, but don't want the tax man coming after me either.

Thanks;

Darrin