This cost is often justified by the value added through their expert advice, ensuring compliance, optimizing your tax return, and potentially saving you from costly mistakes.Audit Support: Another significant advantage of a CPA is their ability to represent you in the event of an IRS audit.

The accountant said my business (real estate)and the number of properties I have is just growing too fast to be handled in the fashion I was and to protect myself in the potential case of an audit I needed to take that step going forward.

Be prepared for a time commitment.IRS Scrutiny and Audits: Brace yourself; the IRS might start paying more attention to you.

You don't want to make a big mistake and have to unwind it years later or worse face an audit.

- assuming 500hrs each, we have spent enough time this year to get to that but wondering if thats a red flag for IRS with high chance of getting audited (we travelled 7 times over the past year to work on the unit and spend at least a week each time excluding the time we spent managing the guests)- Lastly, our understanding is that each can take 50% of the final offset to our W2 assuming we prove material participation eligibility. 

Quote from @Michael Plaks: Quote from @Kory Reynolds: For my clients real estate businesses they pay between $4,000 and $650k purely for tax prep and tax consulting, Tell'm I can do it for $645k  ;) Do you want the audit work too?

Three are audits I dealing with right not that the IRS is saying hours before renting out do not count.

Also no insurance.Finally, the IRS Audit likelihood for a 1040 with 6 Schedule E properties is about 10 times as likely as a 1065 (with your spouse) or an S-Corp.Then you can get a single K-1 and do your own tax with Turbo Tax.

It is right in the Audit Techniques Guide (ATG).

The other thing is switching schedules on a property is a good way to get flagged for an audit.