Retail and neighborhood shopping centers
CALIFORNIA COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Reviewed August 17, 2026 · Updated for current federal bonus-depreciation guidance
Turn one building basis into documented asset classes.
Commercial real estate is generally placed on a 39-year building schedule before a detailed component analysis. Cost segregation identifies supported personal property and land improvements that may qualify for 5, 7 or 15-year recovery.
- ✓ No study work before payment
- ✓ CPA-ready final report
- ✓ California statewide
WHY IT MATTERS
Move eligible basis into faster recovery periods.
The opportunity depends on the property type, depreciable basis, land allocation, acquisition and placed-in-service dates, improvements, documentation and the owner’s ability to use deductions. A free screen should test the economics before professional engineering work begins.
Plain English: you are not creating a new deduction. You are identifying when supported pieces of the property may be depreciated.
WHAT WE REVIEW
Commercial property types we analyze
Office and medical-office buildings
Warehouse, industrial and distribution facilities
Hotels, motels and hospitality properties
Self storage and specialty facilities
Mixed California commercial portfolios
SHOW ME THE NUMBERS
Illustrative commercial example
Illustrative only. This assumes a 37% federal marginal rate where shown and that the owner can currently use the deduction.
- Property value
- $6,000,000
- Estimated depreciable basis
- $4,800,000
- Potential faster basis
- $768,000 to $1,344,000
- Potential upfront federal effect
- $284,000 to $497,000
- Study or comparison benchmark
- $7,500 to $20,000+
This is a timing illustration, not guaranteed permanent tax savings. California commonly requires a separate depreciation schedule because it generally does not conform to federal bonus depreciation.
DOES IT FIT?
Strong candidates usually have four things.
✓
Income-producing or business-use property
✓
Meaningful depreciable building basis
✓
Recent purchase, construction or improvements
✓
Owner and CPA can use the resulting schedules
PORTFOLIO PRICING
More properties. Lower cost per study.
Order and pay for the properties together to receive a simple portfolio discount.
2 properties5% off3 to 4 properties10% off5+ properties15% off
STRAIGHT ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions.
What commercial property types qualify?+
Most depreciable business-use and income-producing buildings can be screened. The size of the economic benefit varies by asset class, basis and facts.
Does the land value receive depreciation?+
No. Land is not depreciable. The study begins with a supported depreciable basis after land and other nondepreciable amounts are removed.
Is the free estimate a completed study?+
No. It is an illustrative screen using the facts you provide. No engineering takeoff, professional certification or tax opinion is included. Technical work begins only after a signed and paid engagement.
Does my CPA need to approve the study first?+
No. It is smart to ask whether you can currently use additional depreciation, but the paid study does not require advance CPA approval. Your CPA makes the final filing decision.
Do you guarantee tax savings?+
No. A study accelerates the timing of eligible depreciation. Results depend on basis, property facts, placed-in-service dates, passive-loss rules, tax rates and the owner's filing position.
AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES
Reviewed against current IRS and California guidance.
Last reviewed August 17, 2026. Tax rules and procedures can change. Your CPA should confirm the law that applies to your acquisition date, placed-in-service date and return.
FREE PRELIMINARY PROPERTY SCREEN