A cost segregation study is one of the most powerful tools for 2026. It allows you to reclassify portions of a building (like fixtures, landscaping, and flooring) from 27.5/39-year property into 5, 7, or 15-year property. This lets you accelerate depreciation deductions, drastically lowering taxable income in the early years of ownership—especially with 100% bonus depreciation still in effect . 👉 Tip: Best performed in the year you purchase, construct, or renovate a property. Have you ever done a cost segregation study on a rental property? What was the impact?

For 2026, the criteria for Real Estate Professional status remains a powerful tool. If you qualify (more than 50% of personal services in real estate trades with over 750 hours), your rental activities are considered non-passive. This allows you to deduct unlimited rental losses against your other income (like W-2 wages or business profits)—a game-changer for high-income investors. 👉 Tip: Meticulously log your hours. A contemporaneous time log is your best friend during an audit. Have you ever qualified for Real Estate Professional status, or do you plan to track your hours to try this year?

Under current law, businesses can expense qualifying property (equipment, vehicles, tech) using Section 179 up to multi‑million limits and also claim 100% bonus depreciation where eligible. 👉 This means you can often write off large purchases the year you buy them. What piece of equipment would you expense this year?

The IRS limit for business gifts per person per year is $25 — but if the item is branded promotional merchandise, it may be treated as marketing rather than a gift and not subject to that cap. 👉 Think logo’d coffee mugs, branded closing kits, or custom welcome signs. What’s the most memorable branded gift you’ve given a client?

Costs for training, real estate courses, and performance‑boosting programs used in your business are deductible if they maintain or improve professional skills. 👉 Keep receipts and syllabi — they help support business purpose. What course helped your business growth the most?