Tax Advisory and CPA Support for Real Estate Investors
Choose tax support that connects property records, entity returns and the owner’s tax position. AE Tax Advisors works with rental owners and business owners with real estate nationwide.
What to look for in a real estate investor CPA
When comparing a CPA or tax advisor for real estate investing, ask how the firm handles the full path from records to the filed return. The proposal should identify the advisor and preparer, properties and entities, states, depreciation work and follow-up support. Review AE’s current advisor profiles and confirm the professional assigned to your engagement.
A single-family rental, a managed STR and a partnership portfolio require different records and analysis. Start with the actual operations and upcoming transactions, rather than choosing a package solely by the number of doors.
Match the service to your portfolio
| Investor situation | Work to coordinate |
|---|---|
| Long-term rental owner | Rental reporting, asset schedules, improvements and loss carryforwards. |
| Airbnb or other STR owner | Booking history, participation, personal use and depreciation. |
| Rental partnership | Entity returns, K-1s, owner basis and debt information. |
| Business owner with property | Operating-business planning and property ownership records. |
| Acquisition or planned sale | Transaction timing, basis, disposition consequences and preparer responsibilities. |
See real estate tax advisory for the broader portfolio planning service.
Keep depreciation connected to the books
The depreciation file should tie to closing documents, supported land allocation, furnishing purchases and improvement invoices. A new study needs to be reconciled to existing assets so the return does not claim the same cost twice.
Review cost segregation study services for study fit and lookback preparation for existing property. A report alone does not establish whether the owner can currently use the deduction.
Separate property activity from the owner’s loss analysis
Identify how each activity is operated, which owner-level records are needed and which limitations must be checked. For STRs, bookings and work performed matter. For partnerships, keep entity and owner records consistent.
IRS Publication 925 describes passive-activity and at-risk rules; Publication 527 covers residential rental reporting. Use the relevant tax-year rules and verify the facts before relying on a loss projection.
Advisory, returns and studies have separate scope
AE publishes $7,800 for Strategic Tax Advisory and $9,800 for Complex Tax Advisory. Strategic is one engagement paid in two installments of $3,900, 30 days apart, with no required recurring annual planning fee. Tax returns, amendments, cost segregation and additional work are separately scoped. Confirm the engagement, payment terms, properties, entities and filings before work begins. View published service fees.
Published business-return pricing starts at $1,500 and owner/investor personal-return pricing starts at $1,000, subject to the published conditions and complexity. Schedule E is listed at $250 per rental property per year. Do not assume these line items combine into a complete quote; confirm the signed proposal.
Published standard cost segregation pricing is $1 per square foot, with a $2,000 minimum per study. Complex work may be quoted separately. Advisory, Form 3115 preparation and tax returns require their own confirmed scope. Compare study pricing and deliverables.
How to coordinate with an existing CPA
You may need advisory work while another preparer files the returns. Confirm that the scope names the person who reviews the report, updates the asset schedule, prepares any method change and communicates owner-level assumptions. Agree on delivery dates before a filing deadline approaches.
Use the study-to-CPA handoff guide and our STR advisor comparison to prepare questions for the engagement.
Prepare a portfolio summary
For a first call, list property types, ownership entities, states, purchase dates and planned transactions. Explain your current tax support and whether records or asset schedules need cleanup. Detailed returns and financial documents should follow through the agreed secure collection process after the work is scoped.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work with owners who have only one rental?
Discuss the property, income, upcoming decisions and service scope. The number of properties alone does not determine engagement fit.
Can you handle STR and long-term rental planning together?
A scoped portfolio review can coordinate both. Their operating facts and tax treatment need separate analysis.
Is return preparation included in advisory?
Returns are separately scoped and priced. Confirm every entity, owner return and state in the proposal.
Can I keep my current CPA?
Discuss an explicit handoff arrangement and assign responsibility for analysis, asset schedules and filing.
Will cost segregation reduce my tax bill immediately?
That depends on the property, eligibility, deduction usability and the owner’s return. A study cannot promise an immediate refund.
Related Reading
Sources and content updates
By AE Tax Advisors Team. Content updated October 1, 2026. Read our editorial policy.
General information; planning and filing decisions depend on your facts and the applicable tax-year rules. Examples are illustrative, not guaranteed outcomes.
Plan the next decision for your portfolio
An acquisition, renovation, refinance or sale can change more than one tax position. Review AE's real estate advisory scope and define the properties, entities and filings involved before work starts.
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.
Own a business and plan to buy rental property?
Connect the business forecast, property decision and filing handoff before closing. The guide covers practice owners, owners of multiple entities, STR buyers and long-term rental buyers.
Choosing a real estate CPA
Ask who coordinates property accounting, owner returns, partnership K-1s, and depreciation records. Bring an entity chart and the next acquisition or sale deadline. Compare engagement scope by property and entity rather than just comparing the fee for a personal return.
Use the tax advisor buying checklist and compare provider pricing and quote scope.
Tax preparation and planning for your next step
Choose the filing service or planning tool that matches your next decision. Confirm the entities, tax years and deliverables in your engagement.