For CPAs, EAs & advisors
Engineering-based studies your clients need. Documentation you can file.
I bring specialist cost segregation, short-term-rental, R&D, and payroll studies to your clients. You keep the relationship and the return. You get a CPA-ready package, not a sales pitch.
Studies delivered through CSSI — 65,000+ studies completed since 2003.
Why CPAs work with me
You keep the client and the return.
- You stay the advisor. I never prepare returns or take positions on them. Every study is built for you to review and implement.
- Engineering-based, not percentage guesses. Studies follow IRS Audit Techniques Guide standards and are delivered through CSSI, which has completed 65,000+ studies since 2003.
- Free screen before anyone spends money. If the numbers don't pencil, I'll tell you and your client.
- One contact for four specialties. Text or call me directly at (612) 781-5000.
What I can screen for your clients
Four studies, one contact.
| Study | Good-fit client | What you receive |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Segregation (incl. Partial Asset Dispositions) | Commercial or rental property placed in service, acquired, or renovated; generally $500k+ building basis | Engineering report, asset-by-asset depreciation schedule, Form 3115 / §481(a) package for look-backs |
| STR Cost Segregation | Short-term rental owners, often $250k+ purchase, furnished, average stay of 7 days or less | Same report plus FF&E inventory; usability (material participation, short-stay exception) stays the CPA's call |
| R&D Tax Credits | Manufacturers, engineering, software, and architecture firms with W-2 technical staff | Credit study with Form 6765 business-component detail and supporting documentation |
| PCMP Payroll-Tax Savings | Employers with roughly 25+ W-2 employees | Program review showing payroll and benefits impact, implemented with the provider |
Talking points for year-end planning
Four things worth raising with clients now.
- 100% bonus depreciation is permanent for property acquired and placed in service on or after January 19, 2025. That makes 2026 acquisitions prime study candidates before you file.
- Look-backs need no amended returns. Property placed in service in earlier years can catch up missed depreciation through Form 3115 and a §481(a) adjustment on the current return.
- Manufacturing clients have a new lever. §168(n) permits 100% expensing of qualifying production space, and IRS Notice 2026-16 names cost segregation as an accepted allocation method.
- R&D refund windows. 2022 amended-return windows have largely closed, so 2023 is now the oldest year to review for most calendar-year clients.
How it works
Four steps, no surprises.
- 1
Screen (15 min).
You share basic facts: property type, cost, and placed-in-service date, or headcount and the type of R&D work. No returns or sensitive identifiers.
- 2
Estimate.
Within 2 business days you get a fee quote and an estimated benefit range, or an honest “not worth it.”
- 3
Study.
The engineering team does the work. I coordinate with you and your client.
- 4
Hand-off.
You receive the report, schedules, and the Form 3115 package where it applies, and decide how to implement.
FAQ
Questions CPAs ask first.
Will you solicit my client for other services?
No. I work through you, and anything new goes through you first.
Who's responsible for the return position?
You are, as always. The study provides the engineering classification and the documentation to support it.
What does the client pay?
The study fee is quoted up front after the free screen. There's no cost to you.
Do you pay referral fees?
I'm happy to discuss what fits your firm's independence and professional-conduct rules. Many CPAs prefer that the value go to the client.
What if my client gets audited?
Studies are documented to the IRS Audit Techniques Guide, and the provider supports the study's methodology if it's questioned.
Free resources for your clients
Hand these to a client today.
- STR Cost Segregation Guide — PDF, client-facing, includes a CPA checklist.
- Cost seg, R&D, and 179D estimators
- 15-minute lunch-and-learn for your staff on bonus depreciation, look-backs, and QPP (in person in the Twin Cities, or Zoom).
Have one client in mind? Let's screen them in 15 minutes.
Book a client screenDan Hayes · (612) 781-5000 · Twin Cities, MN