How Cost Segregation Can Generate Massive Savings for Multifamily Investors
When it comes to investing in multifamily properties, investors generally want to take every reasonable measure to increase their returns. One of the most effective ways to do this is to reduce their tax bill via cost segregation, which massively speeds up the rate at which investors can claim tax deductions.
- Cost Segregation Allows Multifamily Investors To Significantly Reduce Their Federal Tax Liability
- How Cost Segregation Studies Actually Work
- IRS Standards for Cost Segregation Studies
- Cost Segregation, Investment Holding Periods, and Depreciation Recapture
- Cost Segregation Depreciation Bonuses and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
- Related Questions
- Get Financing
Cost Segregation Allows Multifamily Investors To Significantly Reduce Their Federal Tax Liability
When it comes to investing in multifamily properties, investors generally want to take every reasonable measure to increase their returns. One of the most effective ways to do this is to reduce their income tax liability via cost segregation, which massively speeds up the rate at which investors can claim tax deductions. Generally, multifamily real estate has an IRS depreciation period of 27.5 years, while other commercial real estate has a depreciation period of 39 years. However, cost segregation allows investors to take their deductions over 5, 7, or 15-year periods, greatly increasing their cash flow.
For example, if an apartment building worth $1 million was being depreciated over 27.5 years, an investor would be able to take a depreciation deduction of around $36,300 per year. If that depreciation was taken over a 7-year period, the investor would be able to take a staggering $142,000 annual depreciation deduction. While it’s unlikely that an entire building would be re-classified as a 7-year depreciating asset, even $100,000- $200,000 of accelerated deductions can lead to thousands a year in tax savings. However, in order to take these depreciation deductions over an accelerated time period, building owners must order a cost segregation study.
How Cost Segregation Studies Actually Work
Cost segregation studies are typically done by engineering firms, rather than by accounting firms, as they involve the physical inspection of a property and a re-classification of various physical aspects of a building or buildings. It’s important to keep in mind that depreciation deductions only count the value of the building, not the land. In the thinking of the IRS, certain parts of a building deteriorate faster than others, so owners should be able to take these deductions at an accelerated rate.
Cost segregation studies can also be performed retroactively on properties acquired, remodeled, or expanded since 1987. This provides an incredible opportunity for property owners to reduce their income taxes, as they can take the entire unrecognized depreciation deduction in the year of the cost segregation study, instead of waiting to take the depreciation over the 5, 7, or 15-year depreciation term of the asset. This is often referred to as a “look-back” study. In general, cost segregation studies are considered to be cost effective for buildings worth $750,000 or more; otherwise, the time and expensive of the study may not be worth the potential tax deductions.
IRS Standards for Cost Segregation Studies
The IRS does not offer in-depth standards for cost segregation studies, but it does define a quality cost segregation study as possessing the following characteristics:
1. Sorts relevant assets into property classes, including land, buildings, equipment, etc.
2. Justifies/rationalizes why each asset has been sorted into a particular class.
3. States and explains the cost basis for every asset, while reconciling total allocated costs with total actual costs.
This limited amount of detail allows for a wide variation in the ways that a cost segregation study can be conducted; however, it’s generally a good idea for investors to ensure that they hire a qualified and experienced engineering firm. This reduces the chance that the IRS will find any issues with the study, and, if questions are raised, the firm will be able to answer them honestly and effectively.
Cost Segregation, Investment Holding Periods, and Depreciation Recapture
Fortunately for multifamily investors, who often hold a building for 5-10 years or less before selling it at a profit, accelerated depreciation can often exactly match the holding period of their investment. This increase in cash flow can be important in the early years of an investment, especially if the owner is making improvements that may not immediately result in increased rental income.
However, just because an investor can take advantage of accelerated depreciation deductions does not mean that they are getting a free ride. In order to make things a bit fairer for the government, the IRS counts any capital gains that are made from the sale of a depreciated property as personal income, which must be taxed at the taxpayer’s ordinary income tax rate. This is referred to as depreciation recapture.
For example, a taxpayer currently in the 35% tax bracket would need to pay 35% on their gain from the sale of a depreciated property, instead of the 15% capital gains tax rate they would ordinarily pay. In practice, depreciation recapture can often be significantly more complex than this, but suffice it to say, the IRS will tax you additionally for the right to accelerate depreciation.
Despite the cost of depreciation recapture, cost segregation is still incredibly profitable for investors, due to the time value of money. Time value of money, or TVM, states that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar tomorrow-- as money in an investor’s pocket now is money they can use to invest in additional properties or other income-generating investments, even if they do have to pay back the IRS at a later date.
Cost Segregation Depreciation Bonuses and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
Starting in 2001, property owners were allowed to take a depreciation deduction for a certain portion of an eligible asset in the year they acquired it. Referred to as a “depreciation bonus”, this was generally limited to new property and other assets with shorter (less than 20-year) lifespans. It permitted taxpayers to take a depreciation deduction of approximately 50% of the eligible asset in the year that it was purchased. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 increased this amount to 100% of eligible assets, and extended the depreciation bonus to used property. However, it’s important to realize that this only applies to assets acquired after Sept. 27, 2017.
For example, if a taxpayer purchased an apartment building in 2019 for $2 million, and a cost segregation study classified $150,000 of that amount as 5-year personal property, the taxpayer could deduct $150,000 in that year. At a 35% tax rate, this would lead to a $52,500 reduction in the taxpayer’s federal income tax liability.
Even without the additional depreciation bonus, cost segregation is an incredibly effective way to reduce investor tax liability, and multifamily investors serious about maximizing their returns should make every effort to utilize it.
Related Questions
What are the benefits of cost segregation for multifamily investors?
Cost segregation allows multifamily investors to significantly reduce their federal tax liability by taking their deductions over 5, 7, or 15-year periods, greatly increasing their cash flow. For example, if an apartment building worth $1 million was being depreciated over 27.5 years, an investor would be able to take a depreciation deduction of around $36,300 per year. If that depreciation was taken over a 7-year period, the investor would be able to take a staggering $142,000 annual depreciation deduction. Additionally, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 increased the depreciation bonus to 100% of eligible assets, and extended the depreciation bonus to used property. For example, if a taxpayer purchased an apartment building in 2019 for $2 million, and a cost segregation study classified $150,000 of that amount as 5-year personal property, the taxpayer could deduct $150,000 in that year. At a 35% tax rate, this would lead to a $52,500 reduction in the taxpayer’s federal income tax liability.
How does cost segregation work for multifamily investors?
Cost segregation studies are typically done by engineering firms, rather than by accounting firms, as they involve the physical inspection of a property and a re-classification of various physical aspects of a building or buildings. It’s important to keep in mind that depreciation deductions only count the value of the building, not the land. In the thinking of the IRS, certain parts of a building deteriorate faster than others, so owners should be able to take these deductions at an accelerated rate.
Cost segregation studies can also be performed retroactively on properties acquired, remodeled, or expanded since 1987. This provides an incredible opportunity for property owners to reduce their income taxes, as they can take the entire unrecognized depreciation deduction in the year of the cost segregation study, instead of waiting to take the depreciation over the 5, 7, or 15-year depreciation term of the asset. This is often referred to as a “look-back” study. In general, cost segregation studies are considered to be cost effective for buildings worth $750,000 or more; otherwise, the time and expensive of the study may not be worth the potential tax deductions.
For more information on cost segregation and how it can help multifamily investors, please visit this article.
What are the tax savings associated with cost segregation for multifamily investors?
Cost segregation allows multifamily investors to significantly reduce their federal tax liability by taking their deductions over 5, 7, or 15-year periods, greatly increasing their cash flow. For example, if an apartment building worth $1 million was being depreciated over 27.5 years, an investor would be able to take a depreciation deduction of around $36,300 per year. If that depreciation was taken over a 7-year period, the investor would be able to take a staggering $142,000 annual depreciation deduction. Additionally, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 increased the depreciation bonus to 100% of eligible assets, and extended the depreciation bonus to used property. For example, if a taxpayer purchased an apartment building in 2019 for $2 million, and a cost segregation study classified $150,000 of that amount as 5-year personal property, the taxpayer could deduct $150,000 in that year. At a 35% tax rate, this would lead to a $52,500 reduction in the taxpayer’s federal income tax liability.
Overall, cost segregation is an incredibly effective way to reduce investor tax liability, and multifamily investors serious about maximizing their returns should make every effort to utilize it.
What are the potential pitfalls of cost segregation for multifamily investors?
Cost segregation studies can be expensive and time consuming, and may not be worth the potential tax deductions for buildings worth less than $750,000. Additionally, cost segregation studies must be done by engineering firms, rather than accounting firms, as they involve the physical inspection of a property and a re-classification of various physical aspects of a building or buildings. Furthermore, cost segregation studies can only be performed on properties acquired, remodeled, or expanded since 1987, so investors who have owned their properties for longer than that may not be able to take advantage of the accelerated depreciation deductions.
What are the best strategies for multifamily investors to maximize cost segregation savings?
The best strategies for multifamily investors to maximize cost segregation savings are to take advantage of the depreciation bonus offered by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and to order a cost segregation study. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 increased the depreciation bonus to 100% of eligible assets, and extended the depreciation bonus to used property. This means that if a taxpayer purchased an apartment building in 2019 for $2 million, and a cost segregation study classified $150,000 of that amount as 5-year personal property, the taxpayer could deduct $150,000 in that year. At a 35% tax rate, this would lead to a $52,500 reduction in the taxpayer’s federal income tax liability. Additionally, ordering a cost segregation study can help investors identify assets that can be depreciated over shorter periods of time, such as 5, 7, or 15-year periods, greatly increasing their cash flow.
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What are the best practices for multifamily investors to ensure cost segregation compliance?
The best practices for multifamily investors to ensure cost segregation compliance are to hire a qualified and experienced engineering firm to conduct the cost segregation study. This firm should be able to sort relevant assets into property classes, justify/rationalize why each asset has been sorted into a particular class, and state and explain the cost basis for every asset while reconciling total allocated costs with total actual costs. This will reduce the chance that the IRS will find any issues with the study, and, if questions are raised, the firm will be able to answer them honestly and effectively.
For more information, please see this article on cost segregation.