Tax Accountant Real Estate/Rentals

[Zach Logan]

Hi everyone, I am posting in here to hopefully find someone knowledgeable and respected in the tax business for real estate professionals. I have been an agent for the past few years and a investor. I feel like many of the people I have used in the past just don't really grasp all the benifits of our profession. I'm looking for someone local in the PGH area if anyone has recommendations for when the time comes in the next few months. 

[Jason Malabute]

I’d actually focus less on finding someone local and more on finding someone who truly specializes in real estate. A lot of CPAs can file a return, but very few really understand the nuances of agents, investors, short-term rentals, cost segregation, entity structure, and compliance.

For example, I’m based in California, but I help clients nationwide, and many real-estate-focused CPAs operate the same way. The key is specialization, not geography.

When you’re interviewing CPAs, ask them this very basic question:

“How do you handle taxes and accounting differently for real estate agents versus real estate investors?”

If they can’t clearly explain the difference, that’s a sign they don’t truly specialize in the space.

Also, I’d throw in a simple trick question to see how deep their understanding is:

“Can I keep my bookkeeping for my real estate agent business and my real estate investments in the same workbook?”

If they say yes, be very careful .

And of course, always ask for references and make sure they have a proven track record working specifically with real estate professionals.