Thursday, November 6, 2014

Some Facts About Cost Segregation

By Christa Jarvis


When it comes to taxation, there are a lot of rules and regulation under the law that one would have to follow. Of course this does not mean that there are no loopholes that one can make use of in order to lessen taxes under the law legally. If one is an owner of a building, there is one concept known as cost segregation that he can use in order to significantly lessen taxes.

Now in a nutshell, it is the process of segregating personal property assets that are considered real property assets from personal assets. This is a requirement that is done for tax reporting purposes. This is usually done by expert taxation accountants who are good in handling property assets.

So knowing this, many would still ask what the process of this practice. Of course as mentioned earlier, the main goal is to lower taxes by accelerating the depreciation of the property costs. By doing this, one can actually lower the taxes he has to pay.

Of course included in the costs incurring with regard to property assets, there are the land improvements cost, constructions, and external additions done to the building. Of course the experts must first determine what the costs there. It is from there that they will work their magic in the reports to decrease taxes.

Just to give one an idea of what can be depreciated, basically building costs can be depreciated over a 27.5 or a 39 year period. Now other costs like exterior improvements and adding of utilities and decorations can be depreciated over five, seven, or fifteen years. These are just some costs that can have accelerated depreciation but there are still more that one can be able to identify if he is an expert.

Now in order to know about these costs, the expert would first have to work together with the engineer. Now it is crucial that he would go over the blueprints so that he will know some of the things that can be taken care of. Once he has done this, then he can already have a clear idea of the things that he would have to do.

Now it is crucial that he study the details and the components of the building. Of course this would include the walls, the flooring, the ceiling, and all of the additions that were made to be a part of this building. Now another thing that he would have to do would be to handle all the utilities.

From there, the expert can create an analysis wherein he can do the segregation and put that in the reports of the building owner. Of course with that, the taxes will significantly lessen due to the accelerated depreciation of the costs. Another great benefit that one would be able to derive from this is that he will then be able to see more opportunities that will allow him to be able to lessen his real estate liabilities for tax saving opportunities for lesser taxes.




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