Case Study Category

Real Estate Professional Status Case Studies

Explore how our clients have successfully qualified for Real Estate Professional Status under IRC Section 469, unlocking passive activity loss deductions to offset W-2 and active income.

43
Total Studies
$3.2M
Total REPS Savings
$74K
Average Per Client

Featured REPS Case Studies

20 highlighted engagements showcasing proven strategies for qualifying and maximizing Real Estate Professional Status.

REPS Qualification PAL Offset

Physician Qualifies Spouse for REPS, Offsets $420K in Rental Losses Against W-2 Income

A dual-income household with seven rental properties structured the spouse's real estate management activities to meet the 750-hour test, unlocking over $420,000 in previously suspended passive losses to offset the physician's W-2 income.

$168,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
Material Participation 750-Hour Test

Retired Executive Meets Material Participation Through Active Property Management

After early retirement, this client transitioned to full-time property management across four residential rentals, documenting over 1,100 hours of qualifying activities to establish REPS and deduct $185,000 in rental losses.

$72,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
Grouping Election REPS Qualification

Real Estate Agent Uses Grouping Election to Combine 12 Properties for REPS

A licensed real estate agent with a portfolio of 12 single-family rentals filed a grouping election under IRC 469(c)(7)(A), treating all properties as a single activity to satisfy the material participation requirements and unlock $310,000 in deductions.

$124,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
PAL Offset Cost Segregation

High-Income W-2 Earner Offsets $550K Salary with REPS and Cost Segregation

Combining Real Estate Professional Status with a cost segregation study on two newly acquired properties generated over $680,000 in accelerated depreciation, fully offsetting the client's W-2 income and producing a $250,000 tax reduction.

$250,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
REPS Qualification Short-Term Rentals

STR Investor Qualifies for REPS Through Hands-On Property Operations

An Airbnb host managing five short-term rentals documented 780 hours of guest communications, maintenance coordination, and property oversight. Combined with the 7-day average rental period exception, the client achieved REPS and deducted $220,000 in losses.

$88,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
Material Participation Time Log Documentation

Dentist Spouse Documents 900+ Hours Managing Six Rental Properties

The non-practicing spouse of a dentist earning $480,000 annually maintained detailed time logs covering property showings, tenant management, and maintenance oversight across six units, qualifying for REPS and unlocking $175,000 in suspended passive losses.

$70,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
Grouping Election Multi-Property

Commercial Property Owner Groups Eight Properties Into Single REPS Activity

A commercial landlord with eight mixed-use properties elected to group all rental activities as one, streamlining the material participation analysis and generating a combined $390,000 in deductible losses against $520,000 in business income.

$152,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
REPS Qualification Real Estate Trades

Property Manager Leverages Real Estate Trade Hours to Qualify for REPS

A client working in commercial property management combined their W-2 hours in the real estate trade with personal rental management activities, easily exceeding the 750-hour threshold and unlocking $145,000 in passive loss deductions against other income.

$58,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
PAL Offset Prior Year Amendments

REPS Qualification Unlocks Three Years of Suspended Passive Losses via Amendments

After qualifying for REPS in the current year, our team identified that the client's spouse had also qualified in two prior years. Amended returns released $340,000 in suspended passive activity losses, generating refunds totaling $136,000.

$136,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
REPS Qualification Self-Employed

Self-Employed Contractor Restructures Schedule to Qualify for REPS

A self-employed construction contractor restructured their work schedule to allocate more than 50% of working hours to real estate activities, meeting both the 750-hour and more-than-half tests. This unlocked $92,000 in rental losses against contractor income.

$37,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
Material Participation PAL Offset

Attorney Spouse Achieves Material Participation in Nine-Unit Portfolio

The spouse of an attorney earning $650,000 dedicated 820 hours to managing a nine-unit rental portfolio, meeting the material participation standard under Test 1. This allowed $490,000 in cost segregation driven losses to offset the attorney's W-2 income.

$196,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
Grouping Election Audit Defense

IRS Audit Sustained After Proper Grouping Election and Time Log Documentation

When the IRS audited a client's REPS claim, our team's documentation strategy proved decisive. The properly filed grouping election and contemporaneous time logs withstood scrutiny, preserving $210,000 in claimed deductions with no adjustments.

$84,000
Savings Preserved
AE Tax Advisors Team
REPS Qualification Bonus Depreciation

Tech Executive Combines REPS with Bonus Depreciation on New Acquisitions

A technology executive earning $380,000 qualified their spouse for REPS while simultaneously acquiring two rental properties. Cost segregation studies paired with 100% bonus depreciation generated $540,000 in first-year deductions.

$205,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
PAL Offset W-2 Offset

Nurse Practitioner Offsets $320K W-2 Income Using REPS and Rental Losses

A nurse practitioner with three long-term rentals transitioned to part-time clinical work and full-time property management, meeting the REPS tests and deducting $195,000 in rental losses against remaining W-2 income for a $78,000 tax reduction.

$78,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
Material Participation Development Activities

Real Estate Developer Uses Development Hours Toward 750-Hour REPS Threshold

A client actively developing two residential projects counted development hours, including permitting, contractor oversight, and construction management, toward the 750-hour real estate professional test. This strategy unlocked $280,000 in passive losses from stabilized rental properties.

$112,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
REPS Qualification Passive to Active

Business Owner Converts Passive Rental Portfolio to Active Through REPS Election

A business owner with $750,000 in S-Corp income and ten rental properties worked with our team to restructure management responsibilities, qualifying for REPS and converting $380,000 in previously passive losses to deductible status.

$148,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
Grouping Election Mixed Portfolio

Mixed STR and LTR Portfolio Grouped for Streamlined REPS Material Participation

A client managing both short-term and long-term rentals used the grouping election to combine all fifteen properties into one activity, reducing the documentation burden and easily demonstrating material participation for a $165,000 tax benefit.

$66,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
PAL Offset Carryforward Losses

Five Years of Suspended Passive Losses Released Through First-Time REPS Qualification

After five years of accumulating suspended passive losses totaling $620,000, the client's spouse qualified for REPS. Our team structured the release of these carryforward losses over two tax years, generating combined savings of $242,000.

$242,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
REPS Qualification Part-Time Transition

Engineer Transitions to Part-Time Role to Unlock REPS Qualification

A software engineer reduced their corporate role to 20 hours per week while dedicating 30 hours weekly to real estate management. This transition satisfied both the 750-hour test and the more-than-half requirement, allowing $88,000 in rental losses to offset remaining income.

$35,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team
Material Participation REPS Qualification Partnership

GP Partner in Real Estate Fund Qualifies for REPS Through Fund Management Activities

A general partner managing a real estate investment fund counted fund management, deal sourcing, and asset management hours toward the REPS tests. With over 1,400 documented hours, the partner offset $510,000 in fund allocation losses against personal income.

$195,000
Tax Savings
AE Tax Advisors Team

Wondering If You Qualify for REPS?

Schedule a free consultation with our team to evaluate your real estate activities and determine whether Real Estate Professional Status could reduce your tax burden.

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