Cost Segregation

Significant Tax Savings Based on Construction Expenditures

An SC&H cost segregation study can enable your company to minimize its federal, state, and local taxes.

What is a cost segregation study?

A cost segregation study is an in-depth analysis of the costs incurred to acquire, build, renovate, or expand a real estate holding. Commonly, such costs are capitalized and depreciated for income tax purposes as real property, and depreciated over 39 years (non-residential real property) or 27.5 years (residential real property). A cost segregation study identifies those costs that should instead be classified as personal property (generally depreciable over 3 to 7 years) or land improvements (depreciable over 15 years).

How can a taxpayer benefit from a cost segregation study?

Assuming an effective tax rate of 40%, the net present value of the increased cash flow from a cost segregation study using a discount rate of only 6% can exceed $200,000 for every $1,000,000 of property reclassified from 39-year real property to personal property categories.

In addition, a properly coordinated cost segregation study can be helpful in minimizing non-income taxes, such as:

• Property taxes
• Sales/use taxes
• Transfer taxes

Who benefits from a cost segregation study?

Owners and lessors of most types of property can reap significant tax savings from a cost segregation study. The acceleration of depreciation deductions for income tax purposes, together with the non-income tax savings that a study produces, can increase your cash flow and improve your bottom line.

For more information about our Cost Segregation practice, email CostSeg@SCandH.com or call (410) 403-1500 | (800) 832-3008.