Taxes, politics, and real estate investing …

Taxes, politics, and real estate investing might not be as salacious as sex, lies and videotape … but it’s arguably just as intriguing.

By now we’re sure you’ve heard all the “outrage” about allegations the United States’ Real Estate Investor-in-Chief paid nearly no federal income tax.

This shocks no one who understands real estate or the tax code, but it’s sure to rile up those who don’t. Call us cynical, but we suspect this might be the plan.

We’re not here to pour gas on the fire … or defend or attack any candidate, party, platform, or policy. If we influence you, we hope it’s simply towards Education for Effective Action™.

After all, the tax code is a tool available to ANYONE willing to invest the time and effort to learn how to use it.

Of course, you probably already know this.

But this entire debate over what’s really in Donald Trump’s tax returns promises to push the incredible tax benefits real estate investors have enjoyed for decades …

… right into the mainstream media’s crosshairs …

… AND into the focus of nearly every moderately politically cognizant person during one of the most watched election cycles in history.

So before you put on your red, blue or orange face paint and cheer for your team and curse “the enemy” …

… let’s consider the potential challenges and opportunities of these unfolding events for all real estate investors … blue, red, green or yellow.

A Main Street Wake Up Call

The tussle over Trump’s tax returns is going to wake up a lot of people who have no idea the tax code allows real estate investors to legally reduce their taxes to nearly nothing.

Some will be outraged … at least outwardly. Most rational people will realize Trump didn’t write the tax code … he simply used it effectively.

Some people will be angry. Others jealous. Some suspicious.

But we’re guessing a big chunk of people will be curious enough to fact check the law … because it’s 2020 and they can.

And it won’t take long to find the key to tax-free wealth involves real estate.

Further, as more people discover the tax savings is legit and how to do it, we bet a lot of the newly aware will be looking to get in on the action.

Of course, not everyone will want to go out and become a hands-on real estate investor. Many busy and retired people still want the “Wall Street” convenience of passively investing with professional asset managers.

But when they find they can have their cake and eat it too ...

… it could create a surge of interest in real estate private placements or “syndications” …

… and an even better opportunity for real estate syndicators to attract capital.

In fact, one of the most successful alumni of our syndication training has been using the tax benefits of his deals to raise over $200 million in private funds.

Meanwhile, back to the political drama …

Calling Capitol Hill’s Bluff

As media fans the flame of tax-avoidance outrage … and opportunistic politicians myopically jump on the trash Trump bandwagon …

… the very politicians who created the tax laws Donald Trump and nearly every other well-advised real estate investor uses to legally reduce tax liability …

… could potentially face a lot of pressure to either defend them (at great political cost) or eliminate them.

In fact, in the first 2020 Presidential debate, Joe Biden claimed he would.

Of course, politicians of all colors are famous for making lots of promises and espousing policies they never actually follow through on.

We’ll let you decide which outcome you prefer, and which team is likely to push for it. Vote your conscience.

We’re just raising awareness so you can best prepare your portfolio … come what may.

What do we think will happen?

Well, since you asked …

When we look past the two teams on the field and the fiery rhetoric …

… we see a financial system which requires the unrelenting and perpetual expansion of debt.

We’ve explained this many times in the past, but in simple terms … any system which borrows its currency into existence at interest can ONLY repay by borrowing more.

If that’s confusing, just sit and think about it.

If you borrow $100 into existence at 10% annual interest to run your “economy” … no matter where the money ends up at the end of the year … the economy owes $110 (principal + interest).

The obvious problem is there’s only $100 in existence. The ONLY way to pay the interest and keep the economy going is to borrow MORE.

Spoiler alert: THAT is (apparently) THE plan. And (perhaps) all the rest is theater.

If this makes no sense to you, that’s because it makes no sense.

As we explained in our Future of Money and Wealth conference, it’s a faulty, unsustainable system.

Nonetheless, this is the system which was born in 1913 as a result of a secret meeting at Jekyll Island, Georgia. If you don’t know the story, it’s a great Halloween read.

But because the system is based on debt, the tax law encourages borrowing.

And because the best collateral for loans is real estate, it’s no surprise the best tax breaks are with real estate.

As CPA Tom Wheelwright has been telling us for years, the tax code is written to coerce people and businesses to do what the government wants.

And just in case you’ve heard the argument taxes are necessary to pay for government … there’s a different perspective from someone well-qualified to have an opinion …

Click here to read the transcript of a public speech given by a high-ranking Federal Reserve official who admits …

…income taxes are NOT necessary to pay for government… AND the tax code is overtly used to manipulate private sector behavior for political purposes.

So will the tax breaks for real estate go away?

Probably not completely. But some of the best bonus depreciation breaks are already slated to expire soon … unless they’re extended to create more stimulus.

We’re not waiting around. There’s a window of opportunity for real estate investors … so we think the smart move is to grab them while you can.

Until next time … good investing!

Tax Changes Real Estate Investors Need to Know About

We’re back with one of our favorite people … CPA Tom Wheelwright!

Tom is here to share important updates on current and proposed changes to U.S. tax law as part of the war against COVID-19. 

We’re also discussing the details … and potential repercussions … of proposals currently being floated around during this controversial election year. 

There are changes that real estate investors like YOU need to know about. 

In this episode of The Real Estate Guys™ show, hear from:

• Your up-to-date host, Robert Helms
• His taxing co-host, Russell Gray
• CPA and tax expert, Tom Wheelwright

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Let’s talk about taxes

One of the biggest elements that affects cash flow and overall return of real estate investments is taxation. 

And yet … nobody really likes to talk about it. That needs to change! There’s lots you can do to reduce taxes and make more money. 

Our good friend, CPA Tom Wheelwright, always says, “If you study a nation’s tax code, you can see exactly the behavior they want, because they reward it.”

The tax code is a series of incentives. 

There’s so much going on right now in the world … and in an election year, a lot can happen. 

We don’t have a political argument to make of any kind … but when you start talking about tax policy and you have different parties with different opinions, politics are going to come up. 

We’re here to wrap our minds around some of the proposed tax changes that real estate investors must understand. 

New tax changes you should know about

Going all the way back to Obamacare, there was a tax impact for real estate. Then, the Trump administration came in and made the first major overhaul. 

It’s no secret that with a real estate guy in the White House … we got some very favorable breaks for real estate investors. 

Then, the COVID-19 crisis impacted the tax code. 

Basically, since 2008, the tax code has been a roller coaster. There have been extreme changes in public policy, public behavior, and financial markets. 

All of that means that as a real estate investor, you’ve got to be looking a little bit farther down the road. And, you need to be well-advised by a great tax professional. 

Tom Wheelwright is here to get that conversation started … but remember to sit down with your own tax advisor and get their expert views for your personal situation. 

There have been some really important changes recently for real estate investors. The most obvious one was the qualified improvement property change. 

This was in the Cares Act correcting a mistake in a 2017 act in which the government didn’t include leasehold improvements on commercial property as qualifying for bonus depreciation. 

The Cares Act now said that they do … and you can take advantage of that retroactively all the way back to 2018. You can amend your return, and there can be a lot of money in that. 

The Cares Act also said that if you had to reduce your hours … either business hours or working hours … because of the pandemic, you can pull out up to $100K from all your accounts put together. 

Then, you have two choices. You can either pay tax on that money over three years or you can put that money back in three years and not be taxed at all. 

“You could literally take money out, buy a property, take care of the property, sell the property, and put the money back. Or, you could keep the property and borrow against the property and put the money back,” Tom says. 

Tom adds that anybody who is a real estate investor and seriously doesn’t want their money tied up in their IRA or their 401K should really look into this and see if they qualify. 

The other big change involved the net operating loss carryback. 

In 2017, real estate investors lost the ability to carry back net operating losses. In 2020, we gain that ability … and we gain it for 2018, 2019, and 2020. 

And, now it’s a five-year carryback. We’re talking about going back to 2013, 2014, 2015 … years that were really good years for a lot of people. 

And let’s say you weren’t a real estate professional in those years and now you are … you’ve got bonus depreciation. You can carry back to when you weren’t a real estate professional to offset your income and get a refund. 

Tom says that this particular benefit isn’t popular in the House of Representatives … so you better look into it quickly if you’re interested. 

The other tax benefit that people don’t often talk about is the charitable deduction tax benefit. 

Typically, individuals can only deduct up to 60% of charitable contributions … in 2020, it’s a hundred percent. 

“If you want to give all your money away this year, the government says to go for it. They’ll give you a deduction for it,” Tom says. 

Tax changes that could be coming

The tax changes that real estate investors got under the Trump administration were favorable to a lot of folks. 

Now, with an election year, Joe Biden has come out with his own tax plan and ideas. 

“Biden’s tax plan is basically a tax everything tax plan,” Tom says. “Really, he would eviscerate the tax law if he had his choice, which leads me to personally wonder if he understands the tax law at all.” 

Tom says that, for example, all the real estate benefits would go away. It wouldn’t eliminate cost segregation, but it would eliminate bonus depreciation. 

Biden has also proposed eliminating 1031 exchanges, the basis step up when you die, and oil and gas tax benefits. 

But remember, President Obama also proposed eliminating a lot of these tax breaks. Just because they are proposed doesn’t mean they’ll get enacted. 

Either way, it’s important for real estate investors to be vigilant and stay tuned in. 

For more on tax changes and how they can affect you … listen in to the full episode!

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The Real Estate Guys™ radio show and podcast provides real estate investing news, education, training, and resources to help real estate investors succeed.

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Podcast: Tax Changes Real Estate Investors Need to Know About

Increase Cash Flow Using Powerful Tax Breaks

There’s no such thing as a perfect investment … but real estate sure comes close!

But with any investment … you have to be smart. One important aspect of smart real estate is taking advantage of powerful tax breaks. 

We’re diving deep into one of the best tax benefits that real estate offers to investors like YOU … cost segregation. 

In this episode of The Real Estate Guys™ show, hear from:

• Your appreciated host, Robert Helms
• His depreciating co-host, Russell Gray
• Cost segregation authority, Erik Oliver

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Increase cash flow and reduce taxes

You can make a lot of money in real estate … but you can also pay a lot of taxes. 

Today, we’re going to show you how you can increase cash flow and reduce taxes with investment real estate. 

Beyond monthly cash flow from a real estate property, you can also make money as your property appreciates over time. 

That equity is locked into the property until you do something about it … like refinancing or selling. 

You also have the benefit of amortizing a loan. Every month when you make your mortgage payment, part of it goes to pay interest while the other part pays down the principal. Each time you pay down the principal, you own more of the property.

But the way to make money we are focusing on today is … tax benefits!

CPA Tom Wheelwright has taught us that if you want to know what a nation wants its citizens to do with their invested capital … just look at the tax code.

The tax code is a series of incentives … and these incentives will benefit your bottom line and enhance your cash flow.

The tax code can be especially helpful in those early years of purchasing a property when there is a lot of expense … above and beyond what you get over the life of the property. 

We should remind you that we’re not tax advisors or professionals. We give ideas and information. We’ll be sharing a lot today … but sit down with your tax professional before you make any major decisions. 

Make sure you have a tax professional that truly understands this niche … preferably one who owns investment property themselves or whose practice serves a large percentage of real estate investors.

And … don’t let the tax tail wag the investment dog. 

You don’t want to invest in something just because of a tax benefit. Instead, find a great market, a great property, a great niche. 

Then, you’re going to seek to exploit the tax law legally in your favor to the best degree you can. 

Today, we’re going to talk about a tax benefit that most multifamily and seasoned long-term developers and investors know about … but many smaller investors haven’t discovered yet. 

What is cost segregation?

Erik Oliver is an authority on cost segregation. 

Depreciation accounts for a loss of worth in your asset. Some things depreciate, while others don’t. 

Land doesn’t wear out … so it isn’t depreciable. But gutters do … so they are. 

“Cost segregation is simply accelerated depreciation,” Erik says. Many people get into real estate in order to take advantage of the depreciation loss. 

“We depreciate our real estate over either 27.5 years for residential properties or 39 years for commercial properties,” Erik says. 

Cost segregation means that you accelerate that timeline instead of taking 1/39 of your depreciation each year. 

It starts by identifying the different components of your building and segregating out those components into shorter asset lives. 

For example, the IRS allows you to depreciate carpet over five years. Instead of having to lump that together with your 39-year asset cost, cost segregation comes in and puts a value to that carpet, allowing you to depreciate it over a much shorter time frame. 

Accelerating the depreciation means more tax benefits, sooner. 

Let’s put some numbers to it for a simple example. 

If you own a $270K duplex, you’ll get to write off $10K every year against your income for the next 27.5 years without doing cost segregation. 

If you were to do cost segregation on that duplex, the analysts will identify roughly around 30 percent of that $270K and categorize it into 5, 7, or 15 year property. 

Depending on when you bought the property and what the laws were at that time, you may be able to write off all of that 5, 7, and 15 year property in year one. 

That’s over $70K that can be written off in the first year instead of $10K. 

What does an analysis look like?

Cost segregation is a process generally done in conjunction with an engineering firm and accounting firms. 

In order to complete a cost segregation study, you’ve got to have construction engineers that can go in and reverse engineer these buildings, so to speak. 

You also have to have someone with tax knowledge to take that information and make it work for you. 

Many CPA firms will partner with an engineering firm to offer this service to their clients. 

The IRS has actually put out an audit guide that most cost segregation companies follow. It’s 13 steps and requires a site visit. 

“Typically, we’ll send one of our construction engineers out to the property for them to do an inspection,” Erik says. “They’re looking for things like retaining walls outside, drainage in the parking lot, what type of flooring and window coverings are used, etc.”

The resulting reports are pretty detailed … usually about 40 to 60 pages long. They basically line item every component of the building. 

“We do go over everything from flooring to cabinets to countertops. We’ll even go out and count the trees and bushes,” Erik says. 

Cost segregation studies can cost anywhere from $7K to $15K. Erik says he recommends you get an estimated cost for a study for any property over $200K. 

“Sometimes, depending on a number of variables, it may not make sense to do a cost segregation, but you should always look into it in case it does make sense,” Erik says. 

Most cost segregation companies will do a free benefit analysis to make sure that you are going to get significant tax savings from completing the study. 

For more on cost segregation … listen to the full episode!

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More From The Real Estate Guys™…

• Sign up for The Real Estate Guys™ Free Newsletter
• Check out all the great free info in our Special Reports library.
• Don’t miss an episode of The Real Estate Guys™ radio show. Subscribe on iTunes or Android or YouTube!
• Stay connected with The Real Estate Guys™ on Facebook,  and our Feedback page.

The Real Estate Guys™ radio show and podcast provides real estate investing news, education, training, and resources to help real estate investors succeed.

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Trick, treat or terrific tax break …

Late filers in the U.S. just got finished assessing last year’s tax damages.  For some, it was a pre-Halloween shocker.

Fortunately, there’s still some time left in the current year to make some smart moves and take advantage of some of the most generous tax breaks available to investors …

First, consider setting up a Qualified Retirement Plan.  Even if you don’t fund it until next year, you’ll need it in place by end of year or you lose the option.

Be aware that not all retirement plans are created equal.  In fact, there’s one specific plan that can 10x your tax savings! 

Of course, there’s a lot to consider when deciding how a QRP makes sense for you. 

That’s why we asked tax strategist CPA Tom Wheelwright and QRP expert Damion Lupo to get on a video conference with us to talk through the pros and cons. 

One thing we’ll talk about FOR SURE … is how to avoid the most dangerous and expensive mistake many real estate investors make with their retirement accounts. 

That ALONE makes it worth the time.  Plus, it’s free. It’s informative. And nothing’s for sale.  

So click here now to register for The Tax Truth About Real Estate Investing with Retirement Accounts featuring Tom Wheelwright and Damion Lupo. 

But wait, there’s more!  And that’s not hype …

Another great opportunity for a HUGE current-year tax break comes from investing in oil and gas.

We know.  Energy isn’t REALLY real estate … but it comes out of the ground, provides BIG tax breaks and passive income.  So it has a lot to offer real estate investors. 

Robert Kiyosaki first exposed us to the idea of using oil and gas for tax breaks.   

Since then, we’ve invited long-time oilman Bob Burr to join us aboard the Investor Summit at Sea™ to teach us about oil and gas investing. 

Bob’s always a BIG hit.  We learn a lot. And we’re happy to say, Bob will be back for our next Summit.

But you don’t need to wait to have Bob explain oil investing.  You can click here now to listen to our recent interview with Bob Burr. 

Of course, today’s topic is taxes … and while most real estate investors understand depreciation when it comes to buildings, most don’t understand it when it comes to energy.

So we asked Bob and his team put together a short video to help you understand the terrific tax benefits of energy sector investing.  Click here now to request free access.

Last but not least on our list of year-end tax saving opportunities is … buy an investment property!

After all, investment real estate offers some of the best tax breaks available. 

As CPA Tom Wheelwright explains in this fantastic Investor Summit at Sea™ presentation … the current tax law’s bonus depreciation provides HUGE tax benefits. 

Of course, you should never let the tax-tail wag the investment-dog.  Do your homework and be sure to pick a strong market and a great team.  

But accelerated depreciation schedules can make even a late addition to your property portfolio a big-time contributor to your tax-saving strategy.

So there you go … some great ideas about how YOU might save BIG on your 2019 tax bill.  Sure, it takes some effort, but the return on time could be HUGE!

Keep in mind … we’re The Real Estate Guys™ and NOT the Tax Guys.  So be sure to work with your own qualified tax advisor to figure out what makes sense for you.

And if you need help finding a brilliant CPA who’s well-versed in how to get maximum tax benefits out of your investments click here to connect with Tom Wheelwright. 

Happy Tax Planning! 

Taxing times for states spells opportunity for real estate investors …

Most people think of tax season as January 1 to April 15.

After all, that’s when most people close the books on the previous year, issue and collect tax documents, prep returns, and settle up with the taxing authorities.

But for a host of real estate investors and entrepreneurs, the REAL tax season is right NOW.

It’s a HUGE opportunity to dramatically improve your bottom line. And it just got BETTER …

States Fail to Overturn SALT Deduction Caps in Court
Forbes, 10/1/2019

Yes, that’s a wonky headline that may not convey intelligible information … much less exciting opportunity for the casual reader.

But before you wander away bored, invest a few minutes to dig a little deeper …

For those unfamiliar, the recent Trump tax overhaul put a cap on the amount of State And Local Taxes (hence, the acronym SALT) that a taxpayer could deduct from their federal income tax bill.

There’s some political disagreement about whether this is good or bad, or what the motivations might be … but the bottom line is it’s the current law, and for now the courts are upholding it.

So what does it mean?

In short, high-income earners in high-tax states are now bearing the full weight of their tax bills at the federal, state, and local level.

High-income earners in high-tax states are paying MORE taxes.

As you might imagine, they’re not happy about it. So while a few states banded together to fight the law in court, Main Street folks are fighting with their feet …

Americans abandoning New York, New Jersey, other high-tax states
Fox Business News, 4/25/19

But according to our friendly neighborhood tax strategist Tom Wheelwright CPA… this is largely unnecessary.

After all, your state tax liability is primarily derived from your federal taxable income anyway.

So the secret to reducing your federal tax is less about deducting state tax than it is about reducing or eliminating your federal tax liability altogether … by carefully following the instructions provided in the tax law.

And just in case you think that’s unpatriotic and you’ll starve your deserving federal government from much needed revenue, consider this amazing admission …

“The necessity … to tax … to maintain … solvency is true for state and local governments, but not true for national government.

Two changes … have substantially altered the position of the national state with respect to financing its current requirements.

The first … is … the … central banks. The second is the elimination … of the convertibility of the currency into gold.”

This remarkably candid admission is a quote excerpted from an article titled, Taxes for Revenue Are Obsolete, which contains the transcript of a speech made by then-Chairman of the New York Federal Reserve, Beardsley Ruml.

But if taxes aren’t needed for revenue because the Fed can print as much money it wants … what ARE taxes for?

Chairman Ruml says …

“Federal taxes can be made to serve … these purposes ….

… to express public policy in the distribution of wealth and income …

… to express public policy in subsidizing or penalizing various industries and economic groups …”

So when Tom Wheelwright says the purpose of the tax code is to coerce you into doing what the government wants you to do, he’s not just making it up.

The good news is the government wants you to be an entrepreneur and investor.

They want you to start businesses and make investments in real estate and energy.

When you do, they reward you with huge tax breaks.

So much so, that when you do it right, you can eliminate virtually all your federal (and therefore state) income taxes.

And THIS is the time of year alert investors are making smart moves to capture those tax benefits before the end of the year.

Of course, as a savvy real estate investor you probably already know all about the tax benefits of real estate.

You might even be aware of how to use energy investments or a solo 401(k) to create big write-offs fast.

But MANY high-income earners don’t.

This creates a BIG opportunity for syndicators to put together tax advantaged deals to help high-taxed earners reduce their tax bills.

And if you happen to be one of those highly taxed high-income earners, before you back up the moving van, take a closer look at the tax law …

… not as an obstacle, but as a road map to reorganize your affairs to reduce or eliminate your taxes.

When you do, you’ll realize owning a business and investing in real estate are two of the smartest moves you can make.

Until next time … good investing!

More From The Real Estate Guys™…

• Sign up for The Real Estate Guys™ Free Newsletter
• Check out all the great free info in our Special Reports library.
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The Real Estate Guys™ radio show and podcast provides real estate investing news, education, training, and resources to help real estate investors succeed.

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The foundation of liberty …

As the United States celebrates its independence this week, it’s a good time to consider something of utmost importance to real estate investors …

Property rights.

After all, if you can’t safely, securely own private property … then there’s no hope of accumulating wealth and personal prosperity.

Private property ownership is the foundation of personal wealth.

Of course, most Americans today assume the right to own private property is the natural order of things … like the sun coming up every day. It’s always been there and always will be.

But a quick trip back through history shows that until the United States shocked the world with the radical notion of sovereign individuals …

… most people lived in societies where only royalty and elite owned and controlled property.

In fact, many of the terms we use every day are derived from this very system of elitism.

Contrary to common belief, the “real” in “real estate” doesn’t mean real or tangible … it means royal … as in king.

So “real estate” really means “the king’s property”.

The king’s subjects (the common folks) didn’t own any property … they only worked the king’s property in exchange for keeping 75% of the literal fruits of their labor.

Of course, by contrast to modern society’s tax rates, you could make the argument that keeping 75% is pretty good! But that’s a discussion and debate for another day.

Another common term, which is somewhat self-explanatory, is “landlord”.

Because even though the land was owned by the king, he needed loyal insiders to help him manage it all … keeping the workers (serfs) productive and paying their taxes.

The “lords” of the land were effectively agents of the king, conveniently positioned in the flow of revenue from the produce of the land to the coffers of the king.

Ironically, even though today there’s technically no “king”, and individuals can “own” private property, the system is still essentially the same.

Working class folks go to work and then pay about 25% of their paycheck to the landlord.

So if you’re not King Uncle Sam and collecting a slice of the workers’ pay through direct taxation (which was originally unconstitutional) …

… the next best thing is to own rental real estate … where as both a property owner and landlord, you collect a piece of the worker’s productivity too.

And as Tom Wheelwright so accurately explains, the tax code is a big part of what aligns the individual property owner with Uncle Sam.

The “king” shares a slice of his tax revenue with the landlord in the form of tax deductions … which incentivizes you to provide housing to the working class folks.

The BIG difference between the old feudal system with its kings, lords, and peasants … and the American experiment where individuals are sovereign … is in the old system, there was no path for a peasant to become a lord.

But the American Dream is where the common people, through their own initiative and efforts, have the right and opportunity to go from rags to riches without regard to birthright.

It may not be a perfectly level playing field, but it’s a heck of a lot better than what most people throughout history have had access to.

This revolutionary concept has unleashed more innovation and productivity than any other economic system in history … and people worldwide are largely all better off because of it.

So while the United States is far from perfect … and today’s adaptation of the American system has probably deviated quite a bit from what the founders originally envisioned …

… the American Dream still has people worldwide striving to get into the United States to get in on the action.

And every time YOU exercise your unalienable right to own private property and create prosperity for yourself and your family, while providing housing for working class people who aren’t ready to be “lords” yet …

… you celebrate and reinforce the system that makes your prosperity and theirs possible.

Sure, we may disagree about a lot of the strategies and tactics for keeping opportunity open for all, but if you’re truly interested in individual prosperity …

… celebrating, exercising, and protecting private property rights should be something we can all agree on.

Until next time … good investing!

More From The Real Estate Guys™…

• Sign up for The Real Estate Guys™ Free Newsletter
• Check out all the great free info in our Special Reports library.
• Don’t miss an episode of The Real Estate Guys™ radio show. Subscribe on iTunes or Android or YouTube!
• Stay connected with The Real Estate Guys™ on Facebook,  and our Feedback page.

The Real Estate Guys™ radio show and podcast provides real estate investing news, education, training, and resources to help real estate investors succeed.

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Tax Strategies for 2019 with CPA Tom Wheelwright

The beginning of the year is the perfect moment to think about your tax strategy.

It’s the time to take all of the lessons you learned last year and put them to work for you.

We’re not tax experts … but we know someone who is. CPA Tom Wheelwright brings his knowledge and enthusiasm to our tax discussion.

Don’t be scared of your taxes. Use them to save you a TON of cash.

A disclaimer: on this show, we do not offer tax or legal advice. See your personal tax pro for that. We do, however, offer plenty of ideas and information, which you can ponder as you please!

In this episode of The Real Estate Guys™ show you’ll hear from:

• Your tax-free host, Robert Helms
• His taxing co-host, Russell Gray
• CPA Tom Wheelwright

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Time to talk taxes

The beginning of a new year is a great time to think about your real estate strategy … but there’s something else to keep in mind. Taxes!

Most people don’t proactively think about managing their taxes. Throughout the year they live their lives, throw their receipts in a box, and eventually give that box to their tax preparer.

But there are things you can do and SHOULD do on your tax form that will make a big difference for your finances going forward.

It starts with figuring out what happened to you tax-wise last year and using those lessons learned to change behavior this year.

If you can change your tax mentality early in the year, you can maximize your financial behavior to get the most out of your taxes all year long.

Cracking the tax code

If you want great answers, you’ve got to ask great questions.

It’s only been a year since the implementation of the new tax code … so we have plenty of questions!

We’ve brought in an expert to help us figure everything out. CPA Tom Wheelwright LOVES taxes … seriously. He really does.

Most people can’t believe how excited Tom is about tax law. But once they have spent time with him and read his book, Tax Free Wealth, they’re thrilled with the amount of money they have saved.

The first thing Tom will tell you is that taxes aren’t something to be scared of. Taxes are a way to save you money!

Our friend Robert Kiyasoki says that if you look at the nation’s tax code, you can tell exactly what they want tax payers to do.

The good news is that real estate is one of the world’s favorite assets. No matter where you are located, there is a very good chance your government has set apart incentives for you as a real estate investor.

Your job is to figure out what those incentives are … and use them to your advantage.

Luckily for us, Tom is here to help get you started.

Last year is not over

Tom says the first thing you need realize is that last year isn’t over. Until you file your tax return, there are still many benefits you can take advantage of.

As you sit with your tax advisor to do your taxes for 2018, there are things you can do under the new tax law that could be the difference between a tax bill and a tax refund.

The big one is bonus depreciation. For the first time ever, investing in real estate can potentially give you a bigger write-off than investing in oil and gas.

We’ve never had bonus depreciation on used property before, and it has never really applied to real estate in general.

The key is cost segregation … the idea that you can treat different components of your property differently from a tax perspective.

When you buy a piece of property, you buy the land, the building, the landscaping, the parking structure, the outdoor lighting, the fencing … and all of those things are treated differently for tax purposes.

Even inside the building, you are buying everything from cabinetry to ceiling fans.  

To cost segregate for bonus depreciation, your CPA and an engineer work together to break down all the components of your purchase.

You’ll find that between 20-30 percent of the cost of the property is eligible for bonus depreciation.

If you bought a property in 2018 and haven’t done a cost segregation … it’s not too late!

Tom recommends extending your tax filing deadline so you have until the fall to complete a thorough cost segregation. There is a cost involved … but the potential savings are enormous.

The good news doesn’t stop there.

Even though bonus depreciation only applies to property purchased in 2018, you can catch up on depreciation you should have taken on properties purchased several years ago.

You MUST do the cost segregation BEFORE you file your tax return … but you can take all of that missed depreciation on your 2018 taxes.

Plan for your 2019 taxes … now

It’s never too early to start planning for next year’s taxes. Every day you have an opportunity to raise or lower your tax rate.

As you sit with your tax advisor, talk about your plans for the year. Project what your taxes will look like in 2019 NOW … so you have the majority of the year to work toward smart tax benefits.

The de minimus rule for purchases is the perfect example.

This rule says that any line item you buy under $2,500 can be deducted. Think about what that means for real estate investors.

Anytime you buy water heaters for apartment units or window coverings or even carpet … all of these things are frequently under the deduction limit.

If you plan to take advantage of this benefit at the BEGINNING of 2019, you can track these purchases … and save the receipts … throughout the year, so you have everything you need when it’s time to file.

Your tax preparer is key to your success

If you’re going to be in the real estate business, it is best to find an accountant that truly understands real estate.

Tom is the first to say that even though he has always been a real estate tax professional … he understands his work so much better as an investor himself.

A tax advisor that can combine real estate book learning AND street learning will lead you to tax nirvana.

Your tax advisor has the biggest impact on your bottom line over anyone besides your spouse and your business partner.

If you follow the tax law, you will always make more money.

So, how do you find a great tax professional?

Find a tax advisor who works WITH the tax law, not against it.

Tom says to look for someone who knows tax law so well that they are never going to be concerned about an IRS audit. At the end of the day, it’s all a matter of understanding.

Taxes are not the enemy. Taxes can save you a ton of money.

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The big story for 2019 will be …

Future of Money and Wealth

The economy may be strong …

but what about the financial system supporting it?

 

Discover the opportunities hidden inside a FRAGILE financial system … and how to HEDGE against inflation, deflation, and even stagflation.

Featuring voice largely shunned by mainstream media, the Future of Money and Wealth reveals …

 

• The REAL trade war no one’s talking about … and how Russia and China are making major moves to take down a major U.S. stronghold …

• Which assets are in bubbles now … and specific strategies to fortify your balance sheet … before it’s too late …

• The shocking truth about oil … it’s direct impact on YOUR wealth … and how to profit from what’s about to happen …

• Who the new tax law REALLY helps … and how YOU can use it to grow more wealth faster (it’s NOT an IRA) …

• PLUS … candid conversations about crypto-currencies … wealth privacy strategies … contingency planning … and MUCH MORE!

 

Just ONE good idea can make or save you a FORTUNE …

 

Future of Money and Wealth brings you a HUGE collection of experts, thought-leaders, and real-world investors … who ALL volunteered their time to share their best ideas, warnings, and strategies with over 400 people in the live audience …

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Robert Kiyosaki

Famous for being the greatest-selling personal finance author in history (Rich Dad Poor Dad series), Robert is a mega-millionaire investor in real estate, precious metals, and oil. He’s also an avid student of money, economics, investing, and the financial system. He was one of the few pundits publicly warning the world about the 2008 financial crisis.

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Doug Duncan

Doug is SVP and chief economist for Fannie Mae, which is perhaps the most dominant force in U.S. residential lending.

Doug is responsible for strategic research, including how Fannie Mae’s activities affect housing. He’s been named one of Bloomberg / Business Week’s 50 Most Powerful People in Real Estate.

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Peter Schiff

Peter’s also a multi-millionaire investor, money manager, and outspoken financial pundit.

A best-selling author in his own right (Crash Proof 2.0 and The Real Crash), like Robert Kiyosaki, Peter was on record vociferously alerting people in 2006 about the impending financial crisis.

 

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Chris Martenson

An economic researcher and futurist, Chris is an expert in the relationship between energy, the environment, and economics. Rising to prominence with his groundbreaking video series, The Crash Course, Chris is a best-selling author (Prosper!) and hosts a popular podcast featuring interviews with a variety of thought leaders and experts.

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Simon Black

A former Army intelligence officer turned international entrepreneur and investor, Simon’s a worldwide traveler, an avid student of political and financial history, and has developed an eclectic portfolio of investments and business ventures all over the globe.

Simon’s diverse experience and global perspectives make his presentations both practical and enlightening.

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Tom Wheelwright

Tom’s a high energy tax and wealth strategist, a best-selling author, an entrepreneur … and is Robert Kiyosaki’s personal CPA.

Tom’s extremely well-versed in the new U.S. tax law and shares how investors can use it to build substantial wealth and permanently reduce taxes.

 

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Kim Kiyosaki

 

 

Get ALL 20 videos … 14 hours of compelling content … for only $497 (regularly $1997)

 

PLUS a SPECIAL BONUS when you act today … the Strategic Real Asset Investing webinar.

 

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