The Research Credit Group focuses solely on providing highly specialized tax services. Our experience and expertise in these areas goes far beyond that of traditional accounting services. Our goal is to assist CPA's and businesses achieve the full benefit of the tax code. To learn more about our services, please click one of the links below.

The R&D Tax Credit Study :: The Cost Segregation Study

The R&D Tax Credit Study - The RCG Difference

The Research Credit Group Staff is made up of a uniquely qualified group of accountants, attorneys, engineers, researchers and writers with over 75 years of combined experience in Research and Development. Though other firms may claim to provide "industry-leading service", our track record shows that we stand alone when it comes to providing a complete R&D Tax Credit Study package of quality investigation, thorough support documentation, and, when needed, successful audit defense.

We at the Research Credit Group take pride in the fact that our services go the extra mile compared to those of our competition. In the information-technology age, most companies are moving toward being dependant upon e-mail and teleconferencing as the primary tools in the provision of their services. We at Research Credit Group believe that there is no substitute for direct person-to-person contact and communication. This is why every R&D Tax Credit Study we perform includes a visit from one of our on-site investigation teams. While some may view this as a more expensive practice, we have found that our investigators often uncover many activities and expenses that otherwise would have been overlooked. In addition, our on-site investigation usually leads to a significant reduction in completion time for the study, thus expediting the benefits of the R&D Tax Credit Study for our clients. Please click on the numbers above for an outline of our proven five-step process.

The Cost Segregation Study

Cost segregation is a tax planning tool that allows owners of commercial properties to reclassify the depreciable life of significant portions of their properties from 27.5 or 39 years to five, seven, and 15 years. In most cases, accelerating the depreciation on real estate properties can help business owners substantially lower their taxable income levels.

A cost segregation study may be performed in various ways. The most common type of cost segregation study, and the only method available for purchased existing buildings, is the engineering method. The engineering method is where a qualified architect, construction engineer, or construction estimator generates asset takeoffs through blueprint analysis and then estimates the costs using nationally recognized cost estimating procedures acceptable to the IRS.

Other considerations are necessary as well in order to come to a complete and reasonable cost estimate. Since most studies require the engineering method, the IRS requires the use of qualified architects, construction engineers, or construction estimators, and that a cost segregation study performed without adequate records to support the segregated costs will not be accepted. Due to this engineering requirement, most CPAs are generally not equipped to perform cost segregation studies in-house and must out-source in order to provide this service to their clients. The Research Credit Group has the in-house engineering expertise required to provide full cost segregation services to all of our clients.