How it works
From first estimate to a signed, certified study
A CCSS-certified Cost Segregation Professional builds your study from your documents, photos and a virtual site visit. The Caliber Engine then re-evaluates the finished study so no reclassifiable item is missed — and your professional signs and certifies the result.
The standard we work to
Not the quickest study. Not the cheapest. One that holds up.
IRS Publication 5653 · Audit Techniques Guide, Chapter 4
The IRS Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guide lists “Preparation by an Individual with Expertise and Experience” as the first element of a quality study: knowledge of the construction process, experience in cost estimating and allocation, and command of the tax law that governs property classification.
Our Cost Segregation Professionals are trained and certified to that standard. Every Caliber Cost Segregation Professional is CCSS-certified by the National Board of Cost Segregation Specialist (NBCSS).
That is the difference between a study and an unsigned calculator output, or a software-only report with nobody accountable for it. Speed and a fixed fee are benefits of how we work — they are not what you are buying.
Why we built it this way
The professionals were never the problem. The process was.
A traditional cost segregation study starts with a site visit, followed by weeks of manually sorting building components into depreciation classes. Fees commonly run $5,000–$25,000 and timelines four to eight weeks.
Manual classification is tedious, time-intensive work. Cross-referencing tax authority across thousands of line items by hand leaves room for missed reclassification opportunities — however skilled the person doing it.
So we changed the process, not the standard. Our Cost Segregation Professionals still do the work a study depends on — reviewing the evidence, conducting the virtual site visit, identifying and quantifying every component, and classifying each one against MACRS and the IRS Audit Techniques Guide. What changed is the second set of eyes: The Caliber Engine re-evaluates the finished study against every document and photo, so a missed reclassification opportunity is caught before the study is signed.
The process
Your study, step by step
See your number, then choose your plan
Start with a free estimate: property type, purchase price, state, and year placed in service. In about 30 seconds you’ll see your estimated first-year savings next to the fixed study fee — before you pay anything.
When you’re ready, pick the tier that matches your property value — Essential (up to $1.5M), Professional ($1.5M–$3M), or Premier ($3M–$7M). Add a lookback study, rush delivery, or audit defense if you need them. Payment is processed securely through Stripe and intake opens immediately — no scheduling, no back-and-forth with a salesperson.
Every plan includes
- Full IRS-compliant cost segregation study
- Signed & Certified by a Cost Segregation Professional
- 100% bonus depreciation applied where the property qualifies
- Complete asset classification schedule
- Cost reconciliation to the dollar
- CPA-ready PDF with verification code
- 10-year depreciation projection
Tell us about your property
You complete a detailed property questionnaire covering construction type, finish levels, mechanical systems, and site improvements. This isn’t a quick form — we ask specific questions because specifics are what a defensible classification is built on.
Granite counters vs. laminate. Dedicated HVAC zones vs. central air. In-ground irrigation vs. surface drainage. Details like these can be the difference between, for illustration, a $30,000 and a $90,000 reclassification on the same property.
What we ask about
- Building structure & construction method
- Interior finishes — flooring, cabinetry, countertops
- HVAC type, age, and zoning
- Electrical — panel capacity, dedicated circuits, lighting
- Plumbing — fixture quality, water heaters, fire suppression
- Site improvements — parking, landscaping, fencing, drainage
- Renovations — dates, costs, scope of work
Upload documents and photos
Upload your closing statement (we need the purchase price and allocation details) plus any renovation receipts through the Secure Vault — encrypted in transit and at rest. Interior and exterior photos are the basis of the virtual site visit your Cost Segregation Professional conducts — in most cases that is all the property needs; when it requires an on-site visit, we arrange one.
Our upload guide tells you exactly what to photograph: electrical panels, HVAC units, flooring transitions, bathroom fixtures, exterior drainage, parking surfaces. If you have blueprints, they help — but they’re not required.
What to upload
- Closing / Settlement StatementRequired
- Exterior Photos (min. 4)Required
- Interior Photos (min. 10)Required
- County Tax AssessmentRecommended
- Renovation ReceiptsIf applicable
- Blueprints / Floor PlansOptional
Your Professional builds the study
A CCSS-certified Cost Segregation Professional — your Audit-Defense Lead of record — reviews your documents and photos, conducts the virtual site visit, and identifies and quantifies every component. Each one is then classified against IRS MACRS classifications, Rev. Proc. 87-56, and the Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guide, with its cost drawn from a published construction cost reference and adjusted for your region.
This is where judgment lives. Is that parking lot surface a 15-year land improvement, and does the curbing qualify alongside it? Does that carpet get 5-year treatment, or is it a structural component? Your professional tests each classification against the authority that governs it and documents the supporting case.
The study also carries a complete cost reconciliation — every dollar of depreciable basis accounted for, and the total tied to your records exactly. An IRS examiner will check this first, so your professional makes sure it ties.
What your study covers
- Every component mapped to MACRS 5, 7, 15, 27.5, or 39-year life
- Tangible personal property vs. structural component distinctions
- Land improvement identification and segregation
- Section 1245 vs. 1250 property classification
- Bonus depreciation eligibility for each component
- Cost basis reconciliation to the dollar
- 10-year depreciation projection with and without study
- Section 481(a) lookback calculation when applicable
The Caliber Engine second pass, then signature
Once the study is built, The Caliber Engine re-evaluates it against every document and photo you provided — consistently, across thousands of components — flagging any reclassifiable item that was missed and any classification that is inconsistent with the evidence. Your Cost Segregation Professional resolves each flag; the engine never overrides a professional’s judgment.
Your professional then signs and certifies the study, and it is delivered to your dashboard as a complete, audit-ready PDF — delivered in one to two weeks from complete intake. Hand it directly to your CPA.
Signed & Certified by a Cost Segregation Professional
What's in your report
- Executive summary with total estimated savings
- Complete asset classification schedule by MACRS life
- Cost reconciliation proving basis match
- Depreciation comparison — with and without study
- 10-year depreciation projection
- Property description and methodology
- IRS legal citations and regulatory framework
- Certification and signature of your Cost Segregation Professional
- Unique verification code for CPA validation
Defensibility
Built for IRS scrutiny
Every study addresses all 13 elements of the IRS Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guide.
ATG Alignment
All 13 elements the IRS Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guide describes for a quality study are addressed in every report. Examiners look for these first.
Cost Reconciliation
Total reclassified assets tie back to your depreciable basis to the dollar. No unexplained gaps or discrepancies.
Legal Citations
Every classification is backed by specific IRC sections, Treasury Regulations, Revenue Procedures, and relevant case law.
Signed & Certified
Every study is Signed & Certified by a Cost Segregation Professional — a named, CCSS-certified professional who is accountable for the work if it is ever examined.
Verification Portal
Every report includes a unique verification code. CPAs and auditors can independently verify authenticity online.
Audit Defense Available
Optional audit defense coverage — if the IRS questions your study, we stand behind it with documentation and support.
Start with your number
Ready to see what you could save?
Get a free estimate in 30 seconds — your estimated first-year savings and the fixed study fee, before you pay anything.