A cost segregation study isn't just for large companies. Karen Stern, Partner in Charge of the Entrepreneurial Services Group, discusses how a cost seg study can benefit anyone looking to buy, build or remodel in this month's "Financial Fitness," as featured in Small Business Monthly.
Any time you buy, build or remodel a building, there's an opportunity for a cost segregation study. A cost segregation, or cost seg, study can save you money by increasing depreciation deductions, deferring taxes and increasing cash flow.
When is the best time to talk to my advisor? The best part about a cost seg study is that it is almost never too late to conduct one. If you acquired or built a building several years ago, you can still do a cost seg study today.
How does a cost seg study work? The IRS requires a long depreciation life for buildings, varying based on whether the building is a residential rental property (27.5 years) or a non-residential property (39 years). A cost seg study will identify assets with shorter lives, usually 5 or 7 years, which can be pulled out of the building and depreciated faster. Generally, property that is moveable, relates to a particular function or is unique to a particular trade or business qualifies for a shorter life.
Does the type of business matter for the study? The amount of costs reallocated to shorter lives varies based on industry:
- Warehouses = 10-15%
- Office buildings = 12-25%
- Retail = 15-30%
- Hotels = 20-35%
- Restaurants = 20-40%
- Medical facilities = 25-40%
- Manufacturing facilities = 30-60%
If you have plans to buy, build or remodel, or if you have done so within the past few years, now is the time to act! If you have any questions about cost segregation, contact your business advisor or Rob Haggerty, CPA, Partner in the Brown Smith Wallace Tax Services Practice, at rhaggerty@bswllc.com.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
