Real Estate Professional Investment Status and Spouse W2 Income

[Bryan Beshore]

Hypothetical question: A married couple, Jim and Maria. Maria is a professional who earns $750,000/yr in W2 income. Jim takes notice, and thinks to himself: maybe I should quit my job to become a real estate professional to take advantage of the tax code for real estate professionals?

Question: If Jim passes the rigorous tests the IRS imposes to make sure Jim is in fact a real estate professional, could Jim's status and investments he makes in RE allow for an accelerated/bonus depreciation event offsetting Maria's income? As a bonus, what would something like this look/play out like?