Free Resources
Everything you need to understand tax strategy, cost segregation, entity structuring, and how to keep more of what you earn.
Tools & Calculators
Interactive tools to estimate your potential tax savings
Tax Savings Calculator
Enter your income, entity type, and property details to see estimated annual savings, amendment recovery, and ROI on advisory services.
Calculate Your Savings →Cost Segregation Calculator
Estimate accelerated depreciation and first-year tax savings from a cost segregation study on your rental properties.
Estimate Cost Seg Savings →Free Tax Assessment
Schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation to review your current tax situation and identify immediate opportunities.
Book Your Call →Results & Case Studies
Real outcomes from real client engagements
Client Results
Anonymized case studies with before-and-after tax comparisons showing savings from $26K to $1M+ per engagement.
View Client Results →Detailed Case Studies
In-depth breakdowns of tax strategies applied across healthcare, technology, real estate, and multi-entity businesses.
Read Case Studies →How It Works
Step-by-step walkthrough of our process from discovery call through ongoing quarterly advisory.
See Our Process →Educational Content
Articles, guides, and reference materials on tax planning strategy
Blog
Expert articles covering tax planning strategies, IRS updates, entity structuring, depreciation, and more.
Read the Blog →FAQ
Answers to common questions about our services, pricing, process, cost segregation, and tax planning.
View FAQ →Guides & Whitepapers
Comprehensive guides on cost segregation, entity structuring, retirement planning, and advanced tax strategies.
Browse Guides →Glossary of Tax Terms
Plain-language definitions for tax terminology including MACRS, QBI, REPS, 1031 exchanges, and more.
View Glossary →Books by AE Tax Advisors
Published tax strategy guides for business owners and investors
Comparison Guides
See how AE Tax Advisors compares to other options
AE Tax Advisors vs. Traditional CPA
Why proactive tax advisory delivers more value than traditional compliance-only CPA services.
Compare →AE Tax Advisors vs. TurboTax / DIY
What DIY tax software misses and how much it can cost you.
Compare →AE Tax Advisors vs. Big Four
Enterprise-level strategy without enterprise-level overhead and fees.
Compare →AE Tax Advisors vs. Online Tax Services
The difference between automated filing and strategic tax planning.
Compare →AE Tax Advisors vs. Cost Seg-Only Firms
Why cost segregation alone is only one piece of a complete tax strategy.
Compare →S-Corp vs. C-Corp Tax Comparison
Which entity structure saves more in taxes, and when to switch.
Compare →Services by Topic
Deep dives into specific tax planning areas
Cost Segregation Studies
IRS-compliant engineering studies that accelerate depreciation into Year 1.
Learn More →STR Tax Strategy
Material participation, cost seg, and loss offset strategies for Airbnb and VRBO owners.
Learn More →Business Owner Tax Services
Entity structuring, S-Corp election, reasonable compensation, and quarterly strategy.
Learn More →Real Estate Tax Planning
Depreciation, 1031 exchanges, REPS, passive activity rules, and portfolio optimization.
Learn More →Retirement & Exit Strategy
Business sale planning, M&A structuring, and retirement income optimization.
Learn More →Estate & Wealth Transfer
GRATs, IDGTs, QSBS, charitable planning, and generational wealth transfer strategies.
Learn More →Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cost segregation study?
A cost segregation study is an engineering-based analysis that separates a building's purchase or construction cost into its components and reassigns them from the default 27.5-year or 39-year recovery period to their correct 5-year, 7-year, and 15-year MACRS classifications. Because those shorter-life categories qualify for bonus depreciation, the reclassified amount is generally deductible in the first year.
Is a cost segregation study worth the cost?
Generally yes once depreciable basis exceeds roughly $500,000, assuming you can actually use the deduction in the current year. The analysis that matters is not the size of the deduction but whether the passive activity loss rules, basis limits, and excess business loss limitation allow you to deduct it now.
Can I do a study on a property I bought years ago?
Yes. A Form 3115 change in accounting method captures every missed deduction from the placed-in-service year in a single Section 481(a) adjustment claimed in the current year. No amended returns are needed and there is no three-year limitation.
What happens to the accelerated depreciation when I sell?
Personal property is recaptured as ordinary income under Section 1245 to the extent of gain, and building depreciation is subject to unrecaptured Section 1250 gain taxed at up to 25%. A 1031 exchange defers it, and holding until death eliminates it through the basis step-up under Section 1014.
Explore Related Resources
Business Return Corrections
Use the amended business return and depreciation correction center to compare amended returns, corrected K-1s, partnership AARs, and Form 3115 procedures. For a return-specific review, book a call with AE Tax Advisors.
Prepare the records behind an STR decision
Get the STR documentation kit for blank participation and guest-use logs, a hypothetical annotated example, and a quarterly review checklist. Keep operational facts separate from the professional tax conclusion.
Practical owner workbooks
Search 500 business and property record workbooks for task-specific evidence checks, editable records and CSV exports. Use them to organize the facts and questions for your next review.
Before You Hire a Tax Advisor
Start with the decision you need help making, then compare the scope and complete cost. These guides give business owners and property investors practical questions, worksheets and worked examples.
- Decide whether tax advisory is worth the cost — define the baseline and test a smaller-benefit case.
- Choose a service scope and budget — distinguish preparation, focused review and coordinated planning.
- Evaluate the advisor — compare credentials, relevant work and responsibility.
- Compare written proposals — account for required extras and renewal terms.
- Confirm the AE engagement — put deliverables, support and implementation owners in writing.
Bring your entities, available records and decision date to a call with AE. The written agreement determines your work and fees; these guides do not promise a tax result.