Benefits of REPS if I'm not doing a Cost-segregation

Benefits of REPS if I'm not doing a Cost-segregation

Member since 2020 · 10 posts · 2 votes

Hi,

I have been REPS the past 3 years. This year (tax year 2021) we did well because we purchased a property and did a cost segregation. The other two years I didn't see a financial benefit from doing reps. Maybe I 'did it wrong', plus we had weak CPAs in prior years but have found a great one now. We did not do meaningful cost segregations in those previous years.

I haven't asked my CPA yet, but wanted to get some perspectives form experience here about other benefits of reps beyond the tax savings via cost segregation and bonus depreciation.

I realize there might be some minor write-off capacity that is increased with REPS, but would this be meaningful?

Is it worth getting REPS for other reasons? Are there non-financial benefits? 

What am I missing? 

The life situations that my MD wife is considering 'retirement' so there would be little W2 income to shelter, plus I would probably go back to work at least part time making REPS less palatable. 

Thanks, everyone!

Chris

2Reply
32 views

Most Popular Reply

Ashish AcharyaBusiness Member
CPA, CFP®, PFS · FL · Member since 2017 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
4y

You avoid NIIT tax with REPS status if done correctly. 

INVESTOR FRIENDLY CPA®5240 Reviews
TaxMD® | Tax Planning Software
See this reply in the discussion

5 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Ashish AcharyaBusiness Member
    CPA, CFP®, PFS · FL · Member since 2017 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    4y

    You avoid NIIT tax with REPS status if done correctly. 

    INVESTOR FRIENDLY CPA®5240 Reviews
    TaxMD® | Tax Planning Software
  • Member since 2020 · 10 posts · 2 votes
    4y

    Seems like that only applies if I'm still making mucho dinero. At $100k or less, I don't think i have to worry about NIIT?

  • Michael PlaksPro Member
    Tax Accountant / Enrolled Agent · Houston, TX · Member since 2014 · 5k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    4y

    REPS basically does one thing: allows you to write off rental losses that otherwise are limited. In many situations, it's not needed:

    - when you don't have losses after all deductions and depreciation

    - when your income is too low to worry about taxes

    - when you have gains that can absorb all losses, for example from selling a property

    and other situations.

    When you do need/use REPS, you try to amplify your losses for that year with techniques like cost segregation.

    PS. also, your wife is an MD, and your income is under $100k?

  • Member since 2020 · 10 posts · 2 votes
    4y

    I guess I'm still not clear about those situations. 

    And, yeah, my wife is an MD but the whole plan is for her to retire and for us to live off the rental income. So I should have clarified, should I still get REPS in that situation where there's no more w2 income (or very little). 

  • Metro NY + New Bedford · Member since 2022 · 294 posts · 216 votes
    4y

    Well, you have a CPA.  Ask him to model this for you on his software.   All CPA's use professional software capable of modeling different scenarios.  Very simple to do.  You will pay for his time, of course.  Unless, you are looking for free tax advice on BP.

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.