COST SEG SMART
Depreciation Comparison

You're leaving $37K–$52K in Year 1
tax savings on the table

Standard depreciation spreads your deduction evenly over 27.5 years. Cost segregation reclassifies building components to shorter recovery periods — and with 100% bonus depreciation restored, you can take it all in Year 1.
Estimated Year 1 Tax Savings · $500K Rental Property
$37,000 – $52,000
At 37% top federal rate · 100% bonus depreciation (OBBBA, 2025+) · Actual savings depend on your bracket

Most rental property owners use standard straight-line depreciation. A cost segregation study identifies components eligible for accelerated recovery — often generating 25%–35% of the depreciable basis as a first-year deduction.

$500K Residential Property (20% Land)
Standard With Cost Seg
Method 27.5-yr straight-line Accelerated by asset class
Year 1 Deduction $14,545 $100,000 – $140,000
Year 1 Tax Savings (37%) $5,382 $37,000 – $52,000
Year 1–5 Cumulative $72,727 $138,000 – $178,000
ROI on $795 Study N/A 47x – 65x return
100% bonus depreciation on reclassified 5/7/15-yr components. Range depends on property features, age, and construction type. Total lifetime depreciation remains the same — cost segregation accelerates the timing.
Three steps to accelerated depreciation
1
Get Your CPA-Ready Report
Provide property details online. No site visit required.
2
Receive Your Report
35+ page CPA-ready PDF delivered in under 1 hour.
3
File & Save
Your CPA files Form 4562 or 3115. You claim the deduction.
COST SEG SMART
Depreciation Comparison
Additional Year 1 tax savings vs. standard depreciation
Short-Term Rental +$33K – $53K
Single-Family Rental +$21K – $37K
Duplex +$27K – $45K
Office +$28K – $47K
Retail +$27K – $48K
Industrial +$18K – $38K
$400K depreciable basis, 37% bracket, 100% bonus depreciation. Actual results vary by property.
Cumulative tax savings: standard vs. cost segregation
Standard OnlyWith Cost SegAdvantage
Year 1$5,382$37K–$52K+$32K–$47K
Year 3$16,145$44K–$59K+$28K–$43K
Year 5$26,909$51K–$66K+$24K–$39K
$500K property, 37% bracket. Cost seg front-loads deductions into Year 1 — the advantage is largest early and narrows as standard depreciation catches up over 27.5 years.

If your property is worth $300K+, the Year 1 savings almost certainly exceed the $795 study cost. Most owners see a 10–60x return.

Already own a rental property? Cost segregation works for properties placed in service in any prior year. Your CPA files Form 3115 to catch up on missed deductions — no amended returns needed.

35+ page engineering-based report includes:
Component-level depreciation schedules
Land vs. improvement allocation
MACRS class-by-class breakdown
Executive summary with tax savings
Engineering methodology disclosure
Ready for Form 4562 or 3115
Built on RSMeans 2024 cost data and IRS Audit Techniques Guide methodology. CPA-Ready Guarantee: if your CPA needs changes, we revise at no charge.