Tuesday, January 29, 2019

The Truth About Cost Segregation for Automotive Dealerships after the TCJA Changes

The automotive dealership industry is unique because each dealership is in a constant state of construction, remodeling, expanding or purchasing existing properties. The only way to ensure this constant state of flux doesn’t bankrupt a dealership is to review these assets to determine the shortest recovery life possible, expensing in the current tax year.

By taking advantage of all eligible tax deductions it opens up cash flow for your dealership that would have otherwise been lost. A fixed asset review can easily be done by having a cost segregation study performed.

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act or TCJA was the most sweeping tax code change in 30 years and has significant impact on the automotive dealership industry along with the tax incentives that allow you to obtain the benefit from a cost segregation study.

There are three significant aspects of the TCJA that when combined make for an interesting ride for auto dealerships looking to obtain their rightful tax deductions. Let’s take a look.

Section 179
The TCJA expanded section 179 from a $510,000 limit to $1 million and now includes improvements it did not previously such as: roofing, fire protection and alarm systems. All of which are large expenses for an auto dealership in the midst of new construction or remodeling.

Floor Plan Interest

The TCJA preserved the 100% deduction of floor plan interest. If you are eligible for floor plan interest you must claim it, it is not optional. However, there is a catch. If you are eligible you cannot claim bonus depreciation. This doesn’t mean an automatic sigh and slump in your chair, not all dealerships qualify for floor plan interest and bonus depreciation is not the only aspect of a cost segregation that benefits auto dealerships.

Bonus Depreciation
Bonus Depreciation was highly expanded with the TCJA. It was increased from 50% to 100% and applies to both new and used properties acquired through December 31, 2022. This is an unheard of expansion of bonus depreciation and has such a significant impact that the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) is currently working through hearings with the IRS demanding the 100% bonus depreciation because the TCJA eliminated the like-kind exchange tax benefit for all but real property. We expect to see continued discussion on this topic over the next several months.

Although some automotive dealerships won’t be able to benefit from the expansion of bonus depreciation because of the changes with the TCJA it does not eliminate the enormous financial impact that a cost segregation study has for an auto dealership.

To find out more please contact us today at www.BusinessRefundEstimate.com

Monday, January 28, 2019

You Have Been Contacted.

Our mission is to make the hiring process easier for all parties involved. One of the biggest problems facing companies when hiring is determining the most qualified candidates. We have created a platform that allows employers like yourself to pre-qualify employment candidates for tax credits as well as obtain tax incentives for existing employees.

Our program has generated over 500 million in tax benefits for our clients.

You can easily determine if your company would qualify for any of these credits and incentives. The process is quick and simple and does not place you under any obligation. Take a moment and check it out at www.yourwotc.com now

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Auto Dealerships Tax Benefits From Renovation

Many automobile dealerships implement significant renovations as the industry morphs due to technology changes and as manufacturers rebrand. The goal of the renovations are, of course, to improve top line performance (sales).

Top line goals can effectively be achieved more quickly by capitalizing on the tax benefits associated with the renovations; for instance, it’s not uncommon for $1MM in renovations to conservatively equate to a $60,000 tax related improvement in the bottom line. Given a 10% profit margin, that equates to a $600,000 increase in top line results.

What Tax Benefits?

Tax benefits associated with construction costs can be procured through an Engineering Based Cost Segregation Study. This Study applies tax compliant depreciation time-lines to certain non-structural components. For instance, instead of depreciating carpeting over 39 years as if it were a structural item, it would be depreciated in five years. Many other non-structural building components can be depreciated in 5, 7 and 15 years versus 39 years.

Furthermore, the tax benefits of properly depreciating current renovations can apply to the entire existing facility, including past renovations..

So, here are the benefits of reducing Federal and State taxable income by safely ‘accelerating’ depreciation on certain building components with a rigorous Study:

New renovation, purchase or construction will result in increased cash flow in the first 6 years.
Owned for 5 or more years qualifies for all unrealized depreciation carried forward into the current tax year.

From our experience, its not uncommon to document as much as $200,000 in accelerated depreciation per $1MM worth of building; assuming a 35% tax rate, the resultant reduction in taxable income would translate to a $70,000 bottom line improvement.

A project fee for a Study is typically between $10,000 and $20,000 per building, and can depend on property size, construction quality, location, availability of accurate construction documents, other.

So, a $2MM building could provide a $140,000 bottom line improvement; that’s about a 10:1 benefit-to-cost ratio for performing the Study (…and that’s not considering the net cost basis of the Study after writing it off as a business expense!).

In summary, cost segregation analysis is a logical tax strategy dating back to 1959 when the Tax Court first allowed component-based depreciation of buildings (though greatly clarified over the past decade with the IRS’s Audit And Technique Guidelines). Even properties purchased years ago can capture benefit with a very attractive cost-to-benefit ratio for performing an Engineering Based Cost Segregation Study. Any auto dealership whether purchased, constructed or renovated for costs should consider this service.

Best source to keep abreast of tax incentives for US businesses.

Friday, January 25, 2019

Why Automotive?

Over the years and throughout the country, GMG has successfully worked with nearly every major automotive dealership brand including niche brands such as Harley Davidson.

If you are like many of our Auto Dealer clients, you have been forced to make significant improvements to your facility. These improvements are generally to your showroom, office areas and building facade and are often in excess of $1,000,000. These improvements are eligible for Cost Segregation, and potentially 100% Bonus Depreciation!

GMG also specializes in reducing Property Taxes for Auto Dealerships which are often exorbitantly high due to the large lot size. If you own an Auto Dealership and have not completed an Engineering-based Cost Segregation study or Property Tax Review, GMG would love to work with you.