The STR tax library
35 plain-English guides on cost segregation, bonus depreciation, the 7-day rule, material participation, Form 3115, and IRS audit readiness.
Cost Segregation Fundamentals & Study Mechanics
Plain-English explanations of what a cost segregation study is, how engineering allocations work, the 6 study types, how to read a report, and step-by-step property walkthroughs.
What Is a Cost Segregation Study? How It Works, Costs, and Savings
Learn what a cost segregation study is, how engineering reports reclassify 5-, 7-, and 15-year property for 100% bonus depreciation, and who benefits most.
6 min read Guide 3What Is Cost Segregation? A Plain-English Explanation
Cost segregation lets property owners deduct parts of a building faster. Here's what it means, how it works, and why investors use it, in plain English.
5 min read Guide 14Types of Cost Segregation Studies Compared
Engineering-based, residual, sampling, look-back, new construction: compare the main types of cost segregation studies and when each makes sense.
6 min read Guide 16What's in a Cost Segregation Report (and How to Read One)
A cost segregation report should be more than a summary page. Learn the sections a quality report includes and what to check before you file.
6 min read Guide 17What Is a Cost Segregation Study? 10 Common Questions Answered
What is a cost segregation study, who needs one, what it costs, and how long it takes. Ten common questions answered in plain language.
6 min read Guide 23Cost Seg 101: The 5-Minute Guide for Busy Investors
Cost seg in five minutes: what it is, who it's for, what it costs, and the five numbers that decide if it's worth it. Built for busy real estate investors.
5 min read Guide 24Cost Segregation Study Example: A $750,000 Apartment Building, Step by Step
Follow a complete cost segregation study example on an 8-unit apartment building: the asset breakdown, first-year deduction, and tax savings.
6 min readDepreciation, Bonus Depreciation & Tax Math
How real estate depreciation works, MACRS recovery periods, accelerated declining-balance schedules, the permanent 100% bonus depreciation rule after January 19, 2025, and 2025 split-year rules.
Bonus Depreciation Rules for 2026: What Qualifies and How It Works
100% bonus depreciation is now permanent. Learn what qualifies in 2026, the January 19, 2025 cutoff, how it differs from Section 179, and how to use it.
6 min read Guide 4How Cost Segregation Changes Your Depreciation
See how cost segregation moves building costs into 5-, 7-, and 15-year depreciation, and how bonus depreciation turns that into a big first-year deduction.
6 min read Guide 5Depreciation for Real Estate Owners: The Basics
What is depreciation and how does it lower taxes on rental property? Learn the 27.5- and 39-year rules, what you can't depreciate, and common mistakes.
5 min read Guide 26Accelerated Depreciation Explained: Methods, Pros, and Cons
Accelerated depreciation lets you deduct more of an asset's cost early. Learn the main methods, how they compare to straight-line, and when it makes sense.
6 min read Guide 27Bonus Depreciation 2025: The 40% vs. 100% Split Explained
In 2025, bonus depreciation is 40% or 100% depending on when you acquired the property. See the January 19 cutoff, examples, and what to do before you file.
5 min read Guide 31What Is Bonus Depreciation? A Simple Explanation
Bonus depreciation lets you deduct the full cost of qualifying business property in year one. Here's what it is, how it works, and a simple example.
5 min readSTRs, Rental Property Strategy & Exit Planning
Using cost segregation on short-term rentals (7-day rule & material participation), Real Estate Professional Status (REPS), Form 3115 catch-up filings, 1031 exchanges, depreciation recapture, and the Augusta Rule.
Cost Segregation for Real Estate Investors: Timing, Losses, and Strategy
Cost segregation only pays if you can use the deductions. Learn how passive loss rules, real estate professional status, and timing shape your strategy.
7 min read Guide 6Real Estate Cost Segregation: Which Properties Benefit Most
Not every building gets the same cost segregation benefit. See which property types typically reclassify the most and why.
6 min read Guide 18What Is Cost Segregation in Real Estate? A Rental House Walkthrough
See cost segregation in real estate explained with a real-world rental house example: what gets reclassified, the numbers, and the tax impact.
6 min read Guide 21Cost Segregation for Rental Property: Long-Term, Mid-Term, and Short-Term Rentals
Does cost segregation make sense for your rental? Compare long-term, mid-term, and short-term rentals, plus small multifamily, and avoid common mistakes.
6 min read Guide 28Form 3115 for Cost Segregation: Catch Up Missed Depreciation Without Amending
Form 3115 lets you claim years of missed depreciation in one year, without amending returns. Learn how it works with look-back cost segregation studies.
6 min read Guide 291031 Exchange Basics for Real Estate Investors (and How It Works with Cost Segregation)
A 1031 exchange lets you defer taxes when you sell investment property and buy another. Learn the 45- and 180-day rules, boot, and how cost segregation fits in.
6 min read Guide 32Depreciation Recapture: What It Is and How to Plan for It
Depreciation recapture taxes back some depreciation when you sell. Learn the 25% and ordinary rates, see an example, and explore ways to reduce or defer it.
6 min read Guide 34The Augusta Rule: Renting Your Home to Your Business for 14 Days
The Augusta Rule lets you rent your home for up to 14 days a year tax-free. Learn how business owners use it, the rules, documentation, and audit traps.
5 min readStudy Pricing, Calculators & Choosing a Provider
2026 study price ranges, 4-step savings calculator, feasibility analysis criteria, 10 questions to vet a provider, engineering vs. CPA vs. DIY software comparisons, and neutral provider checklists.
How Much Does a Cost Segregation Study Cost? 2026 Price Guide
What does a cost segregation study cost? See typical 2026 price ranges by property type, what drives the fee, and how to tell if it pays off.
6 min read Guide 8Cost Segregation Services: What's Included and What to Expect
What do cost segregation services include? From feasibility estimates to Form 3115 and audit support, here's what you should get and what to ask about.
6 min read Guide 12Cost Segregation Analysis: How to Tell If It's Worth It
Before paying for a study, run a cost segregation analysis. Here are the 6 factors that decide whether cost segregation pays off, with a worked example.
6 min read Guide 13How to Choose a Cost Segregation Company: 10 Questions to Ask
Not all cost segregation companies are equal. Ask these 10 questions before you hire one to protect your deductions and avoid audit headaches.
6 min read Guide 15Cost Segregation Companies: Engineering Firms vs. CPA Firms vs. Software
Engineering firms, CPA firms, or online software? Compare the main types of cost segregation companies on cost, detail, audit protection, and fit.
6 min read Guide 22Cost Segregation Calculator: Estimate Your Savings in 4 Steps
Estimate your cost segregation savings with a simple 4-step calculation and a ready-made table by property price. No signup needed.
5 min read Guide 30DIY Cost Segregation: Can You Do It Yourself?
Thinking about DIY cost segregation? Learn what's allowed, the risks, how software options compare, and when doing it yourself makes sense.
6 min read Guide 33What Cost Segregation Consultants Do (and How to Work with One)
What does a cost segregation consultant actually do? Learn their role, credentials to look for, how they work with your CPA, and how to get the most from one.
6 min read Guide 35CSSI, Engineered Tax Services, Cost Segregation Partners: How to Compare Cost Segregation Providers
Researching CSSI, Engineered Tax Services, or Cost Segregation Partners? Use this neutral checklist to compare any cost segregation provider fairly.
6 min readIRS Rules, Publication 5653 & Audit Defense
Legal authority behind cost segregation (Hospital Corp. of America, Whiteco, §§ 1245/1250), IRS Publication 5653 (updated February 2025), quality study checklists, and audit-ready documentation.
Cost Segregation and the IRS: Is It Legal? Does It Raise Audit Risk?
Is cost segregation legal? Does it trigger an IRS audit? Here's how the IRS views cost segregation and what keeps a study on solid ground.
6 min read Guide 10IRS Cost Segregation Requirements: What a Quality Study Must Include
The IRS spells out what a quality cost segregation study looks like. Use this plain-English checklist to judge a study before you rely on it.
6 min read Guide 19The IRS Cost Segregation Guide (Publication 5653) in Plain English
The IRS Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guide, Publication 5653, explained simply: what it covers, what changed in 2025, and why property owners should care.
6 min read Guide 20Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guide: How to Make Your Study Audit-Ready
Use the IRS Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guide to audit-proof your study. A practical checklist of what examiners test and how to be ready.
6 min read Guide 25The Legal Authority Behind Cost Segregation: Cases, Code, and IRS Guidance
What gives cost segregation its legal footing? A plain-English tour of the tax code sections, court cases, and IRS guidance behind every study.
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This content is not tax or financial advice for you. Please talk with a CPA to find what's right for your situation.