Last month, a client forwarded me an email from their CPA with a simple note attached: "My accountant says cost segregation is a bad idea. Is he right?"
The CPA's email listed five reasons to avoid cost segregation, concluding with: "It's just not worth the hassle."
I wasn't surprised. Many traditional accountants view cost segregation studies with skepticism. And sometimes, they're absolutely right to be cautious.
But often, that caution means leaving tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax savings on the table.
In this article, we'll examine the 5 most common reasons CPAs advise against cost segregation studies, when those concerns are valid, and when they might be costing you money.
What Is Cost Segregation in Plain English?
Before diving into objections, let's clarify what we're talking about.
A cost segregation study is an engineering-based analysis of a commercial property that identifies components that can be depreciated faster than the standard 39 years (or 27.5 years for residential rental property).
Instead of writing off your entire building over nearly four decades, you can potentially depreciate 20-40% of its value over 5, 7, or 15 years – significantly accelerating your tax deductions.
In simple terms: Cost segregation gives you bigger tax deductions now instead of spreading them evenly over 39 years.
The 5 Common CPA Objections to Cost Segregation
1. "It's Just a Timing Difference – You Don't Actually Save Any Tax"
What Your CPA Means: Depreciation is ultimately a timing difference. You'll eventually get the same total deductions whether you depreciate over 5 years or 39 years.
When They're Right (Rebunking): Mathematically, this is correct. The total depreciation over the life of the property is the same regardless of timing. If you plan to hold the property forever and your tax rate never changes, the present value benefit diminishes.
When They're Wrong (Debunking): This ignores the time value of money – a dollar saved today is worth more than a dollar saved years from now. Plus, tax rates change, and opportunities to offset income strategically arise.
The Reality Check: For a $1 million property with 30% qualifying for acceleration, the present value benefit (at a 6% discount rate) of accelerated depreciation is approximately $70,000-$90,000 – hardly insignificant.
2. "The Recapture Will Kill You When You Sell"
What Your CPA Means: When you sell the property, the IRS "recaptures" the benefit of accelerated depreciation by taxing it at ordinary income rates (up to 37%) rather than capital gains rates (typically 15-20%).
When They're Right: For short-term holds (1-3 years) where you're already in the highest tax bracket, the recapture tax can significantly reduce the benefit of accelerated depreciation.
When They're Wrong: This objection ignores three critical factors:
- The time value of money benefit often outweighs future recapture costs
- You might sell during a lower-income year, paying recapture at a lower rate
- 1031 exchanges can defer recapture tax indefinitely
There's also the "Poor Man's 1031 Exchange" strategy – where you sell one property with recapture exposure but simultaneously purchase a new property and implement a fresh cost segregation study. The new depreciation deductions can offset the recapture income from the sale.
The Reality Check: Even accounting for eventual recapture at the highest rates, most properties held 5+ years still see net present value benefits of 60-80% of the initial tax deferral.
3. "The Study Costs Too Much for the Benefit"
What Your CPA Means: Cost segregation studies typically range from $5,000 to $15,000 for mid-sized properties, which might not be worth it for smaller properties or those with limited acceleration potential.
When They're Right: For smaller properties (under $500,000) or properties with minimal accelerable components (like simple warehouses with limited improvements), the ROI may be marginal.
When They're Wrong: For most commercial and residential rental properties over $750,000, the study cost is typically just 5-10% of the first-year tax savings.
The Reality Check: A typical $1.5 million office building might generate $150,000+ in first-year additional deductions, saving $55,500 in taxes (at 37%). With a study cost of $8,000, that's nearly a 600% first-year ROI.
4. "It's an Audit Red Flag"
What Your CPA Means: Aggressive tax positions draw IRS scrutiny, and cost segregation might increase your audit risk.
When They're Right: Poorly executed studies that make unreasonable allocations (like claiming 60%+ of a basic office building as 5-year property) absolutely increase audit risk.
When They're Wrong: Engineering-based studies using methodologies recognized by the IRS have been standard practice for decades. The IRS has published guidance on cost segregation (including the Audit Techniques Guide), essentially acknowledging it as a legitimate tax strategy when done properly.
The Reality Check: The IRS specifically looks for non-engineering based "cost seg lite" reports or extreme allocations, not professionally conducted studies with reasonable results.
5. "It Complicates Your Bookkeeping and Tax Return"
What Your CPA Means: Cost segregation creates multiple depreciation schedules instead of one simple calculation, adding complexity to tax preparation.
When They're Right: It does add some complexity, and if you prepare your own returns or use a tax preparer with limited experience, this is a valid concern.
When They're Wrong: Most tax software handles multiple depreciation schedules easily, and experienced CPAs deal with this routinely. The additional complexity is typically minimal for the preparer.
The Reality Check: The additional tax preparation cost, if any, is usually $200-500 annually – a tiny fraction of the typical tax savings.
How to Know When Your CPA's Objections Are Valid
While we've addressed each objection individually, sometimes your accountant is absolutely right to be cautious. Here are situations where cost segregation might not be worth pursuing:
- Your Property Value Is Too Low Properties under $500,000 often don't generate enough acceleration to justify the study cost. The sweet spot begins around $750,000 for most property types.
- You're Planning an Imminent Sale If you're selling within 1-2 years, the time value benefit may not outweigh the study cost and recapture considerations.
- You Have Net Operating Losses If you already have significant losses offsetting your income, additional depreciation deductions may provide limited immediate benefit.
- Your Tax Rate Is Low and Expected to Rise If you're currently in a low tax bracket but expect to be in a much higher bracket when you sell, the rate differential might negate the timing benefit.
- You Own a Very Simple Structure Simple warehouses, storage buildings, or structures with minimal improvements may not yield enough components eligible for acceleration.
Real-World Example: When Cost Segregation Made Perfect Sense (Despite CPA Objections)
Dr. Johnson purchased a $1.8 million medical office building in 2022. His CPA initially advised against a cost segregation study, citing "minimal benefit" and "future recapture concerns."
After getting a free benefit analysis from a cost segregation firm, Dr. Johnson discovered:
Without Cost Segregation:
- Annual Depreciation: $46,153 ($1.8M ÷ 39 years)
- First-Year Tax Savings: $17,077 (at 37%)
With Cost Segregation:
- Identified Components:
- 5-year property: $360,000 (20%)
- 15-year property: $270,000 (15%)
- 39-year property: $1,170,000 (65%)
- First-Year Depreciation: $442,153 ($360,000 × 80% bonus + $270,000 × 80% bonus + $30,000 regular)
- First-Year Tax Savings: $163,597 (at 37%)
- Cost of Study: $9,500
Net First-Year Benefit: $137,020
Dr. Johnson plans to hold the property for at least 10 years and potentially do a 1031 exchange afterward. Even accounting for potential recapture, the present value benefit was substantial.
The CPA's concern about "minimal benefit" was clearly incorrect in this case.
Your Action Plan: Making the Right Cost Segregation Decision
- Request a Free Benefit Analysis (Time estimate: 15 minutes) Most reputable cost segregation firms offer free benefit analyses based on your property type, value, and acquisition date.
- Consider Your Investment Timeline (Time estimate: 30 minutes) Evaluate your expected holding period and exit strategy (1031 exchange, outright sale, etc.)
- Review Your Tax Situation Holistically (Time estimate: 1 hour with your tax advisor) Consider your current and projected future tax brackets, other income sources, and overall tax strategy.
- Compare Quality of Providers (Time estimate: 1 hour) If you decide to proceed, ensure you're getting an engineering-based study from a reputable provider with IRS experience.
- Prepare Your CPA (Time estimate: 30 minutes) If you decide to proceed, inform your tax preparer in advance so they can properly plan for the additional depreciation schedules.
The Bottom Line
Your CPA's caution about cost segregation may come from a good place – a desire to minimize risk and complexity. Sometimes, that caution is fully justified.
But often, it's based on misconceptions or overgeneralizations that could be costing you tens or even hundreds of thousands in legitimate tax savings.
The truth lies somewhere in the middle: Cost segregation isn't for every property or every owner, but when it fits your situation, it's one of the most powerful tax strategies available for real estate investors.
Instead of dismissing your CPA's concerns or blindly accepting them, use this article to have an informed conversation about whether cost segregation makes sense for your specific situation.
Ready to begin your tax savings journey?
