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™…

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• 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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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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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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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.

 

Tax Reform Ramifications for Real Estate Investors

It’s tax time!

For most people, the month before April 15 is the only time they think about taxes. Today, we’ll chat with Tom Wheelwright, CPA, about why you should change your mindset.

We’ll discuss the implications of the recent tax reform bill and how YOU can plan strategically to bring down your taxes — and increase your wealth.

Taxes are the price you pay for making an income … but that doesn’t mean you can’t manage your tax liability and get smart about how much you’re paying.

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

• Your tax-talking host, Robert Helms
• His taxing co-host, Russell Gray
• Tax advisor for real estate investors Tom Wheelwright, CPA

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Broadcasting since 1997 with over 300 episodes on iTunes!

 

 

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How does the tax reform bill affect you?

Tom Wheelwright is a personal tax advisor for The Real Estate Guys™ and Robert Kiyosaki. His goal is to help real estate investors build wealth … without losing it all to taxes. He even wrote a book on the subject, Tax-Free Wealth.

Tom has read the new tax law not once, but twice! We’re comfortable calling him an expert on the subject.

Is the tax law out to get you? Absolutely not.

Tom says the first few pages of the tax law cover ways to raise revenue. The rest is a series of incentives … and that’s true in EVERY country.

If you want to know what your government wants you to do, look at the tax law. Take a closer look, and you’ll see built-in real estate incentives.

That’s because real estate is the preferred investment vehicle for many governments. Why? Because it provides necessary housing.

The tax law gives you a ROAD MAP to reduce your taxes.

So, instead of complaining about how the government is taking all your money and then doing nothing about it, PARTNER with the government. Figure out what incentives are available … then take advantage of them.

What about the 2018 tax reform? Tom says to remember that some parts of the bill are effective retroactively. For example, if you bought a car between October and the end of the year, you may have a big tax break coming.

By using the home office deduction, you can double your car purchase deduction. A big key for April 15, says Tom, is to make sure you take ALL the deductions you’re entitled to.

And don’t get worried about the impacts of the new tax bill. Tax changes move slowly. Realize that your tax strategy and your investment strategy impact each other … and recruit an accountant to help you fine-tune your plan.

Start thinking about next year’s taxes NOW

We asked Tom how to approach next year’s taxes in light of this year’s reform.

“There are so many big changes,” says Tom.

For example, Section 179 now applies to residential real estate. This allows you to deduct equipment … including roofs, HVAC systems, security systems, and more.

So when you’re improving your properties, an important factor to take into consideration is the tax impact and potential deductions.

Another huge change is that bonus depreciation now applies to used property. So, you could get a huge deduction in year one.

Another change that affects you is the 20 percent deduction for pass-through businesses. That deduction absolutely applies to real estate investors … if you have a positive net income.

To make sure you’re getting maximum benefits, sit down with your tax provider and lay out your plans for the next year. The right tax professional will help you figure where there is the most permanent tax benefit … instead of pushing options that will be lucrative in the long term but counterproductive in the short term.

To do depreciation recapture, Tom says you need to get your tax advisor involved. If you’re doing it right, ultimately there should be very little recapture … and thus very little taxable income. To avoid paying taxes on properties, you can do a 1031 tax exchange.

And as every real estate investor knows, borrowing does not create taxable income.

How to choose the right tax advisor

When speaking at conferences, Tom likes to ask whether attendees’ accountants have told them NOT to take the home office deduction.

If the answer is yes, that’s a sign you’re ready for a new accountant. “You don’t want an accountant who is afraid of the IRS,” says Tom.

HOW you pick a tax advisor depends on WHAT you want one for. If you want someone to record historical information, any accountant will do.

But if you want someone to reduce your taxes going forward, you should look for someone who asks you questions about what is happening now and what will happen in the future.

It’s essential that you’re paying attention to the future … because your tax picture WILL change. According to Tom, “Most people have really good business strategy, but almost no investment strategy.”

A good tax advisor will help you project what will happen 5-10 years down the road. Why? Because you can’t change the past … but you can change the future.

The right tax professional will also reach out to you with updates on a regular basis. You shouldn’t have to bug him or her to get information.

Outside of your spouse, your tax advisor will have more impact on yourself, your future, and your financial situation than any other person. So build a relationship with an excellent tax professional.

And if your current accountant doesn’t sound like the professional we’ve described above … you may have outgrown them.  

Want to know more about how to choose the right tax professional? In his book, Tax-Free Wealth, Tom describes 10 questions you should ask your accountant … and 10 questions your accountant should ask you! He’s making this chapter free to listeners of The Real Estate Guys™ radio show. Listen in to the show to find out how to get your complimentary copy!

More about our favorite wealth strategist

We also asked Tom about his new platform, WealthAbility. The site is a collection of tools and educational resources to help people like YOU earn more … and pay less in taxes.

The platform is paired with a global network of accountants and firms that understand tax-free wealth strategies.

If you want to hear more from Tom, check out WealthAbility or his wealth strategy firm, ProVision™. Also consider coming to our brand-new Future of Money and Wealth conference, where Tom will be a speaker.

Some final words of wisdom

Remember that different investments have different tax ramifications. Gold and silver is very different from real estate. A couple single-family investments will be very different than a dozen multifamily properties.

And residential real estate is a world away from commercial. Whatever investment class you choose, don’t forget … there’s always a tax advantage.

One thing we know about taxes … “Experts predict tax laws will always change OR stay the same in the future,” says Robert. Pretty hard to argue with, right?

People in and outside of the government will always try to manipulate markets to get certain incomes. It’s your job to set your prejudices aside and focus on the best outcome.

There will be losses … so make sure you’re not the one eating them. And there will be winners … make sure you’re one of them!

It all starts by getting connected with the right ideas, the right people, and the right environment. That includes that right tax advisor!

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More From The Real Estate Guys™…

• Sign up for The Real Estate Guys™ Free Newsletter and visit 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.

02/22/15: New Tax Regulations Every Real Estate Investor Must Know

It’s said the only things which are certain are death and taxes.

We think this could be modified to DEBT and taxes….especially when you consider the relationship between the two.  BUT…we’ll put our tin-foil hats in our lead cased fire-proof safe and focus on the tax…er, task…at hand.

We were out in the Phoenix area to visit Robert Kiyosaki and decided to pay a quick visit to a nearby friend and tax guru.  We’d heard there was a new regulation all real estate investors need to know about…

Talking taxes in the top of office to Tom’s tower…

• Your regular host, Robert Helms
• His irregular co-host, Russell Gray
• CPA, best-selling author and Rich Dad Advisor, Tom Wheelwright

Let’s face it…taxes are NOT the most titillating topic.  After all, we’d all much rather focus on MAKING money, than spending dozens of hours and thousands of dollars tallying up how big a slice to send to the tax man.

And of course, just when you think you’ve got everything dialed, the tax man changes the rules of the game and hopes you’re not paying attention.  It’s a constant and unproductive game of cat and mouse.

SO…

If you decide to play, you’ll need to find a way to keep up on the changes.  And then organize your activities to utilize EVERY deduction you’re entitled to.  That’s why you want a great tax advisor on your team.

Robert Kiyosaki makes a lot of money.  The guy he depends on to minimize the tax bite is Tom Wheelwright.

Tom’s a bit of a nut job.  He actually LIKES taxes.  Weird.  But there’s no accounting for taste.

But thankfully, guy’s like Tom are out there.  And he pays attention to all the things that affect real estate investors.  So when he called and told us about some new tax regulations, we wanted to learn more.

Of course, we brought along our microphones and captured the conversation…because that’s what we do.

Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

When it comes to taxes, it’s so easy to focus our efforts on paying LESS.  Sounds good, right?

Of course, the easiest way to pay less tax is to make less money…so be careful what you wish for.

Tom says your focus should be on MAKING MORE MONEY…and that’s also true when selecting an advisor.  That is, your advisors are investments…just like your real estate…and you should select them based on their potential to MAKE you money.

It’s a subtle, but important difference.  Otherwise, the temptation is to think of them as an expense…hire the cheapest, and get costly results.

The goal is to INCREASE the amount of money you pay for advisors, taxes, interest and insurance…and have those investments decrease as a percentage of your income.

To Change Your Tax You Must Change Your Facts

This is no different than the person who buys a horrible property in a terrible area and rents to the tenant from hell…then shows up at some poor property manager’s doorstep with a problem they need fixed.

In other words, if you want the property’s performance to improve, the conditions and circumstances need to change.  A property manager can only do so much with a bad situation.

The same is true for your taxes.

To get a beneficial tax result, you need to create better factual circumstances.  But it’s much harder to rewrite history, so it’s wise to understand basic taxation principles in ADVANCE, and then conduct your affairs in such a way that you create the most favorable tax result as you go along.

Obviously, this means getting an education and working closely ALONG THE WAY with your tax advisor.

Duh.  But knowing you need to do it and actually doing it are two different things.  So DO IT.

This Promises to Be a Crazy Tax Year

Tom tells us there are a number of items which are making tax filing a little more…taxing…this year.

The biggie is the new repair regulations.  Without getting lost in the weeds, the short version is that the IRS has issued new regulations designed to clarify a specific area of tax law which affects ALL real estate investors and most small business owners.

It has to do with how certain expenses are classified and whether they are treated as capital or ordinary expense.

Yeah, we don’t get it either.  That’s why you need a guy like Tom.

The point is that if it affects you…and if you own investment real estate, it probably does…then you’ll have to file one (or more!) of Form 3115 Change of Accounting Method.  So be sure to ask your tax advisor before you file for 2014.

The Affordable Care Act is making things more complicated for individuals and small businesses this year also.  But that’s been all over the news, so you’re probably aware of it.  If not, your tax advisor will help you.

A couple of other items Tom says to keep an eye on are President Obama’s proposal to charge capital gains tax at death (yes, it’s true…death and taxes together again);  and a proposal to change the “carried interest rule”, which would effectively cause real estate developers to pay ordinary income tax on certain items which are currently classified as long term capital gains.  Ugh.

So listen in to CPA Tom Wheelwright and find out what’s happening and how it affects you!

Listen Now: [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/realestateguysradio/New_Tax_Regulations_Every_Real_Estate_Investor_Must_Know.mp3″]

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8/19/12: Surviving the Fiscal Cliff – Ramifications for Real Estate Investors

What do the ancient Mayans and today’s financial pundits have in common?

They both predict doomsday at the end of 2012.

Perhaps you’ve heard about “taxmageddon” and the “fiscal cliff” the U.S. economy is headed toward? It’s when the expiration of Bush-era tax cuts converge with across the board spending cuts effective January 1st, 2013.

As you may recall, during “The Great Debt Ceiling Debate” last summer, Congress and the Obama Administration couldn’t agree on how to reduce the deficit (much less balance the budget). But they needed to raise the debt ceiling or (gasp!) Uncle Sam’s checks might bounce.

So, they raised the debt ceiling anway (shocker) and agreed to form a committee (great…we were just running low on committees) to come up with a deficit reduction plan.  Funny, we thought it was Congress’s job (not some 12 person council) to come up with a budget, but maybe their budget building muscles have atrophied.

Anyway, the deal was that if the commitee / Congress / Obama Administration didn’t get a it done by December 31, 2012 then the Bush
era tax cuts would expire. This is a defacto tax increase heaped upon the Affordable Healthcare program (“Obamacare”), which was deemed a tax by the Supreme Court.   In short, more taxes and more money going to the government.

So that’s the revenue side.

On the spending side, there’s an across the board cut which indiscriminately reduces discretionary government spending. While we’re tempted to comment on this, it isn’t the topic of this episode, so we’ll bite out tongues (ouch!).

So what in the world does all this mean? And most specifically, what does it mean to real estate investors?

To find out, we take our mobile microphones to Scottsdale, Arizona.  Sharing perspectives on the impending end of the financial world:

• Your main Mayan, host Robert Helms
• Your sheer drop off in talent, co-host Russell Gray
• Special guest, CPA and Rich Dad Advisor, Tom Wheelwright

The topic for this episode came up while we were attending a Rich Dad Advisor retreat.  Now, we’re not Rich Dad Advisors…more like
groupies…but our friend Robert Kiyosaki is kind enough to let us hang out with his team from time to time, so we found ourselves in
Scottsdale in August.  But don’t worry, we packed our parkas.

Our most burning …get it? Scottsdale in August…burning…?  Okay, that’s dumb.  So, our hottest question for Tom is: with only 4 months to go until the end of the world, what final preparations should real estate investors be making?

Tom cools us down by assuring us these tax increases largely apply only to those who actually have a tax liability. Then he
reminds us that real estate investors who are properly set up should have next to no liability.

Huh?

That is, Tom says that the tax rates mostly apply to TAXABLE income, not ALL income.  So if you use all of the great deductions available to real estate investors you can actually conform to the IRS code and still largely avoid any personal exposure to the tax increases.  Cool.

He goes on to say that most real estate investors shouldn’t be paying any income tax at all.  (But don’t worry, we make up for it with lots of property taxes!).

Of course, there are still the concerns about the overall impact of more money being sucked out of the private sector and into the public sector.

Just like running a business, if you pull resources away from the departments that generate revenue (marketing, sales and production) and spend it on those that don’t (accounting, legal, administration, etc), your business grows slowly.  Too much and it shrinks.  Keep it up long term and you’re out of business.

Now some argue that the spending cuts offset the tax increases, so the net affect on the private sector is minor.  In other words, even though businesses and individuals have less money to invest and spend,  government is using less.

But that doesn’t make sense to us.

Think about it.  If you’re spending more than you earn (which Uncle Sam does by over a trillion dollars per year), and you cut your
spending (which is good), but only by a fraction of your deficit, then you’re only going further into debt more slowly.

It’s like bailing water in a sinking ship. Unless you can bail it out faster than it’s coming in, you’re still sinking. Not that you shouldn’t try, because thinking slowly is better than sinking fast.  But it’s foolish to think that you’ve solved the problem.  You’re still sinking.

More importantly, if the government is taking more away from the private sector (tax increase) and recycling less to the private sector (spending cuts), then it’s a double whammy on the private sector while the public debt continues to grow.

So what’s the answer?  We don’t know.  We’ll leave that to the politicians and bankers (feel safe now?) since we can’t directly control it anyway.

The point is that for the forseeable future, the American economy is likely to struggle.

But you don’t have to.

Using effective tax planning, Tom says you can substantially reduce your taxes.  Then (we say) you can use the money you save on taxes to invest in helping heal America one property at a time – all the while improving your own financial strength.

Abraham Lincoln said, “The best way to help the poor is to not become one of them.” Brilliant!

As people in American get poorer, they will need affordable housing. Right now, there’s a ton of inventory in disrepair in the wake of the foreclosure crisis.

But investors can step in and purchase these properties well below replacement cost and the outstanding loan balances. This gets the bad debt out of the way, and allows the property to be re-habbed and put back into service. That ‘s good for the the tenant, the community, the economy and the investor.

Plus, with each property you acquire, you also pick up a fresh depreciation schedule to mitigate your tax liability.  You get more properties, more income and less tax!

Very cool.

So listen in to CPA Tom Wheelwright as we talk taxes on The Real Estate Guys™ radio show!

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Ask The Guys: Can I Deduct Travel Expenses?

Here’s a question we got from Sue in California (thanks Sue!):

If we have a property manager, can we write off travel costs from CA to Memphis for us to visit the property?  If so, how many times a year can we visit and write off the costs?

Since we aren’t tax gurus, we tossed the question to our good friend, CPA Tom Wheelwright, who answers:

The rule for any business expense is that in order for it to be deductible, it must have:

1. a business purpose;
2. be ordinary in the course of your business; and
3. be necessary

If you are visiting the property to check up on it and the manager, clearly this will be a business purpose.

If the amount of the expense is reasonable compared to the income you make from the property, then you should meet the “ordinary” test.

If visiting the property will help you make more money from the property (meeting with the property manager, coming up with new ideas to increase the rent, etc.), then you should meet the “necessary” test.

Each time you visit, or incur any expense for that matter, you must meet all three of these tests.  They are somewhat subjective, so be wise in how you document your expenses and the activities you pursue while you are visiting the property and/or the property manager.

So there you have it!  From the brain of Tom to our blog.

Tom Wheelwright is a Certified Public Accountant and Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Advisor® for tax planning.  Tom is also joining The Real Estate Guys™ as a faculty member for our 1oth Annual Investor Summit at Sea™ he will be teaching, talking tax and hanging with all of our Summiteers – including our very special guests Robert and Kim Kiyosaki LIVE and IN PERSON for the ENTIRE week!  Plus, Tom is a frequent guest on The Real Estate Guys™ radio show where he shares valuable pearls of tax wisdom.  Click here to hear the latest episode featuring Tom.

10/2/11: Zero Tax! Deductions and Benefits that Matter Most to Real Estate Investors

Active real estate investors should NEVER pay tax on their cash flow or gains..EVER!  So says CPA Tom Wheelwright, our hero with a zero (taxes that is) and Rich Dad’s tax advisor to Robert Kiyosaki.

And unless you’re Warren Buffett, we’re guessing you’d probably rather pay LESS tax than more.

Maybe when we’re multi-mega-billionaires like Warren, we’ll want to pay more too.  Give us a few years and we’ll let you know. For right now, less tax is better.  We’d rather save on taxes today and use the money to buy more real estate.  Weird, we know…but that’s just us.

The GOOD NEWS is that even while most governments’ appetites for taxes is growing, real estate investors still enjoy some of the best tax deductions and benefits there are!

To learn more about this taxing topic, we flew to Arizona and met face to face with Tom Wheelwright.  He says with proper planning, real estate investors can get their effective income tax rate to ZERO!

Manning the microphones for another exciting escapade into broadcast brilliance:

• Your host with benefits, Robert Helms
• Your big zero co-host, Russell Gray
• A master of brilliant deductions, Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Tax Advisor and CPA, Tom Wheelwright

Zero tax!  Now THAT sounds pretty stimulating.  In fact, Tom says the tax code is a treasure map to a series of stimulus programs.  So to get your personal economy working better, be sure to organize your investing to maximize tax deductions and tax benefits.

Tom tells us:

• Why the tax code is a powerful tool for increasing your cash flow and accelerating  your real estate wealth building
• How to avoid the number one MOST COMMON MISTAKE real estate investors make on their tax returns
• How to save money on everyday items by using the tax code to make more of your expenses tax deductible
• Why every dollar saved in taxes is worth five dollars of real estate!

And there’s even more!  So grab a note pad and listen in as The Real Estate Guys™ interview CPA Tom Wheelwright.

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• Don’t miss an episode of The Real Estate Guys™ radio show.  Subscribe to the free podcast!
• Stay connected with The Real Estate Guys™ on Facebook!

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

1/24/10: Practical Tax Tips and Insight with CPA Tom Wheelwright

It’s the most wonderful time of the year….

Not Christmas. Tax time!  This is the time of year when all the bills from the holidays show up in the mail, along with your 1098’s, 1099’s, W2’s, 1040’s and our personal favorite, the K1.  Let the fun begin!

Before you tune out, we invite you to listen to our recent interview with CPA Tom Wheelwright.  He promised us he could make taxes fun, to which we said, “Great!”

So we broke out some month-old eggnog, stoked the fire in the fireplace, and tossed a few chestnuts into the pan for some good old fashion roasting.

Huddled around the microphones to talk taxes:
•    Your Host, Robert Helms
•    Co-host and Financial Strategist, Russell Gray
•    A man who has probably paid more taxes than everyone else on the show combined, The Godfather of Real Estate, Bob Helms
•    Certified Public Accountant, Tom Wheelwright

Like little kids on Christmas morning, we came into the studio to open up gifts of tax wisdom from one of the brightest real estate tax advisors we know.  After a few opening comments, we got Tom Wheelwright on the phone and started the grilling.

Tom opened up with some paradigm breakers as he explained that taxes are not only fun, but actually a very powerful tool for wealth creation.  Wow! Sounds good to us!

Then we asked him, “What are the most common and costly mistakes most real estate investors make?”  One of his answers astounded us when he told us about a special form every investor should know about, but few use properly.  Getting it wrong can cost you many thousands of dollars!

It would be sacrilegious to talk taxes and leave out 1031 exchanges, but for most experienced investors, the 1031 is old news.  And in today’s challenging economy with so much equity in hiding, who cares about a 1031 anyway?  So Tom gave us some great tips on why we might NOT want to use a 1031 exchange.  What????

Now that the eggnog was kicking in, we got into some of the tax changes for 2010 (and beyond) that affect real estate investors.  Then he gave us the inside scoop on how to find a great real estate CPA.

Before we knew it, the show was over!  Time flies when you’re having fun.  The topic wasn’t as taxing as we thought!

Listen Now

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