R.E. Cost Seg vs Cost Seg Smart: Services and Scope
Compare R.E. Cost Seg and Cost Seg Smart on client fit, services, implementation and complete fees. Published by AE Tax Advisors.
Start with the decision you need to make
You hold a rental with improvements and want a report your existing CPA can implement. Compare the selected study method, documentation requirements and any separately offered Form 3115 preparation.
Published by AE Tax Advisors, a competing service provider. This is a commercial comparison of public service information, not an independent ranking or firsthand customer review. Sources checked November 6, 2026; confirm current availability and fees directly.
What to compare
| Provider | Public service focus | Research the proposal |
|---|---|---|
| R.E. Cost Seg | Owners choosing between a questionnaire-based Rapid Report and a fully engineered property study. | Fees and quote questions |
| Cost Seg Smart | Owners evaluating a remotely delivered, property-specific study with CPA coordination and a published starting price. | Fees and quote questions |
Ask both firms the same question
Which study method fits my building and records, what supporting schedules reach my CPA, and what is the complete study-plus-preparation quote?
- Price the same property, owner entity, buildings, improvements and study year.
- Confirm inspection method, engineering review, report schedules and support.
- Identify who answers CPA questions and who handles any Form 3115 or return implementation.
- Separate the study price, travel, added buildings, deadline charges and additional tax work.
A practical way to evaluate the answers
Ask each firm to walk through a redacted report for a comparable property: the records used, inspection evidence, reconciliation to the property’s supported basis, component-level schedules and the package supplied to the accountant. Ask who explains an allocation when the preparer has a question. A preliminary estimate is not a completed report or confirmation that the owner can use the deductions.
Retain the provider that can meet your actual requirements, including work already in progress. A change of firm needs a handover plan for records, upcoming payments, filing deadlines and outstanding tasks. Do not infer that a service is unavailable merely because it is not described on the public page reviewed.
Where AE Tax Advisors fits
AE offers standalone cost segregation studies at $1 per square foot, with a $2,000 minimum per study. AE Tax Advisors provides tax planning for business owners and real estate investors as a separate service. Advisory, return preparation, amendments and other implementation work are separately scoped and priced.
Request a property-specific study quote and identify the report deliverables, preparer handoff and audit-support terms. Confirm any Form 3115 preparation and return filing separately; a study fee is not an all-inclusive tax engagement.
AE publishes this comparison and also supplies cost segregation services. If you want a third proposal, ask AE to quote the same property and report scope. Its published study rate is a starting comparison point, not evidence that all three engagements include identical services or support.
Official sources and research date
Service descriptions are attributed to the linked provider websites. AE has not independently verified advertised savings, customer outcomes or service delivery. A public service menu does not establish the contents of your engagement.
- R.E. Cost Seg directory source
- R.E. Cost Seg — R.E. Cost Seg study options and prices
- Cost Seg Smart directory source
- Cost Seg Smart — Cost Seg Smart published pricing and revision terms
- AE fees and scope
- AE comparison methodology
Researched November 6, 2026 by AE Tax Advisors. No customer star rating or universal winner is assigned.
Related Reading
Talk Through Your Situation
Discuss your priorities, upcoming decisions and whether a study or advisory engagement fits. Detailed analysis, implementation or filing work follows an agreed written scope.