---
title: Write Off Your Building Faster
description: Real Estate Depreciation
image: https://info.ongandcompany.com/hubfs/building.jpg
---

[![](https://info.ongandcompany.com/hubfs/Backgrounds/ong-final_sig.jpg)](http://www.ongandcompany.com/)

# Write Off Your Building Faster

[Richard Ong](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/author/richard-ong) / April 24, 2019 /

[Real Estate](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/real-estate), [Starting a New Business](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/starting-a-new-business), [Tax Deductions](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/tax-deductions)

![](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/89ca6f67445537c2c631f1fe9d43c977)

Generally, it takes nearly four decades to fully depreciate the cost of a business building. That's a long time in most people's book. But you may be able to recoup the cost of certain components faster with a cost segregation study prepared by an expert.

**How tangible personal property can accelerate deductions**

Based on the main tax system for depreciation deductions — the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) — the usual write-off period for business real estate is 39 years. In contrast, MACRS allows you to write off "tangible personal property" over shorter spans like five, seven or 15 years. For instance, the MACRS period for computers is only five years.

Fortunately, you may not be necessarily stuck with the lengthy 39-year period for the entire building. Cost segregation studies can help taxpayers identify certain building components to be treated like tangible personal property so they can recover their costs over shorter depreciation periods. For example, a restaurant might accelerate hundreds of thousands of dollars in write-offs on a $5 million property.

What sort of components can be identified in a cost segregation study? The list includes, but isn't necessarily limited to, the following:

- Electrical installations
- Plumbing
- Mechanical components
- Removable carpeting and partitions
- Finishes

Finally, you might be able to accelerate expenses even more by using Section 179 expensing ($1,020,000 for 2019) and 100-percent bonus depreciation for qualified assets. Therefore, a cost segregation study may provide even greater benefits.

But be careful, the IRS has a long history of challenging accelerated deductions. Thankfully, the Audit Techniques guides the IRS agents use for guidance are also available to the public to provide insight into cost segregation choices likely to be accepted.

Call today with questions regarding your situation.

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

### Subscribe

### Recent Posts

### Topics

- [Business Taxes (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/business-taxes)
- [Client Spotlight (18)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/client-spotlight)
- [COVID-19 Relief (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/covid-19-relief)
- [Education Savings (5)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/education-savings)
- [Education Tax Benefits (10)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/education-tax-benefits)
- [Education Tax Credits (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/education-tax-credits)
- [Estate Planning (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/estate-planning)
- [Estate Tax (3)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/estate-tax)
- [Financial Statements (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/financial-statements)
- [Flexible Spending Accounts (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/flexible-spending-accounts)
- [Health Insurance (3)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/health-insurance)
- [Home Office Deductions (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/home-office-deductions)
- [Information Reports (3)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/information-reports)
- [Kansas Sales Tax (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/kansas-sales-tax)
- [Nonprofits (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/nonprofits)
- [One Big Beautiful Bill Act (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/one-big-beautiful-bill-act)
- [Partnership Rules (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/partnership-rules)
- [Payroll (6)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/payroll)
- [Real Estate (7)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/real-estate)
- [Retirement Savings (17)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/retirement-savings)
- [Self Employment (13)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/self-employment)
- [Starting a New Business (7)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/starting-a-new-business)
- [State PTET Updates (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/state-ptet-updates)
- [Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/tax-cuts-and-jobs-act)
- [Tax Debt (3)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/tax-debt)
- [Tax Deductions (82)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/tax-deductions)
- [Tax Fraud (5)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/tax-fraud)
- [Tax Planning (86)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/tax-planning)
- [Tax Representation (5)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/tax-representation)
- [The Corporate Transparency Act (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/the-corporate-transparency-act)
- [Unclaimed Property (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/topic/unclaimed-property)

[See all](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/write-off-your-building-faster#)

### Archive

- [June 2026 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2026/06)
- [May 2026 (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2026/05)
- [April 2026 (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2026/04)
- [March 2026 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2026/03)
- [January 2026 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2026/01)
- [November 2025 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2025/11)
- [September 2025 (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2025/09)
- [August 2025 (3)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2025/08)
- [July 2025 (4)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2025/07)
- [December 2024 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2024/12)
- [September 2024 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2024/09)
- [February 2024 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2024/02)
- [October 2023 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2023/10)
- [September 2023 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2023/09)
- [July 2023 (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2023/07)
- [June 2023 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2023/06)
- [November 2022 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2022/11)
- [September 2022 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2022/09)
- [July 2022 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2022/07)
- [December 2021 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2021/12)
- [November 2021 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2021/11)
- [April 2021 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2021/04)
- [January 2021 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2021/01)
- [December 2020 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2020/12)
- [October 2020 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2020/10)
- [June 2020 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2020/06)
- [April 2020 (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2020/04)
- [March 2020 (4)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2020/03)
- [February 2020 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2020/02)
- [January 2020 (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2020/01)
- [December 2019 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2019/12)
- [November 2019 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2019/11)
- [October 2019 (4)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2019/10)
- [September 2019 (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2019/09)
- [August 2019 (3)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2019/08)
- [July 2019 (4)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2019/07)
- [June 2019 (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2019/06)
- [May 2019 (3)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2019/05)
- [April 2019 (3)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2019/04)
- [March 2019 (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2019/03)
- [February 2019 (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2019/02)
- [January 2019 (3)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2019/01)
- [December 2018 (3)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2018/12)
- [November 2018 (4)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2018/11)
- [October 2018 (4)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2018/10)
- [September 2018 (4)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2018/09)
- [August 2018 (3)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2018/08)
- [July 2018 (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2018/07)
- [June 2018 (4)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2018/06)
- [May 2018 (5)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2018/05)
- [April 2018 (1)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2018/04)
- [March 2018 (2)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2018/03)
- [February 2018 (3)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2018/02)
- [January 2018 (3)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2018/01)
- [December 2017 (4)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2017/12)
- [November 2017 (6)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2017/11)
- [October 2017 (4)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2017/10)
- [September 2017 (6)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2017/09)
- [August 2017 (4)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2017/08)
- [July 2017 (4)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2017/07)
- [June 2017 (7)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2017/06)
- [May 2017 (5)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2017/05)
- [April 2017 (5)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2017/04)
- [March 2017 (4)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2017/03)
- [February 2017 (5)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2017/02)
- [January 2017 (6)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2017/01)
- [December 2016 (7)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2016/12)
- [November 2016 (5)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2016/11)
- [October 2016 (5)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2016/10)
- [September 2016 (6)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2016/09)
- [August 2016 (7)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2016/08)
- [July 2016 (5)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2016/07)
- [June 2016 (4)](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/archive/2016/06)

[See all](https://info.ongandcompany.com/blog/write-off-your-building-faster#)

 © Copyright 2016 | Ong & Company. All rights reserved.

**