Proper Component Depreciation of Acquired Real Property

A proper understanding of the depreciation of building components and site improvements of acquired properties is key to developing a qualified cost segregation study and limiting unwanted audit exposure. The IRS Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guide (IRS Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guide – Chapter 4 – Principal Elements of a Quality Cost Segregation Study and Report) states that depreciation is property handled by addressing physical deterioration and functional obsolescence. Physical deterioration, also known as physical depreciation, is defined by the IRS as the gradual reduction in the value of property due to physical deterioration. Physical deterioration is always present when analyzing acquired properties. From the moment that a property is placed into service, deterioration begins. Physical deterioration can take place slowly in fair weather climates and/or lightly used property. It can also take place quickly in harsh weather climates and/or heavily used property. Functional obsolescence is when a property can no longer adequately perform the function for which it was created. Though physical deterioration and functional obsolescence must ‘always’ be considered for each building and site improvement analyzed within a cost segregation study, functional obsolescence is rarely observed. Apartments, offices, hospitals, hotels, retail and other professional and residential facilities do not normally suffer from a lack of functionality over time. Some industrial, data and/or biochemical properties may suffer from technical functional obsolescence due to technological advances that take place within a specialized industry. For example, let’s assume identical carpeting is installed at two locations at the same time. One location is a small office with light floor traffic and the other location is an industrial environment with heavy floor traffic. We would expect the carpeting in the small office with light floor traffic to be in better condition after a three-year period than the carpeting in the industrial environment with heavy floor traffic.

Measuring Physical Deterioration

There are several different ways that physical deterioration can be measured. The most common way is through a physical age analysis. Physical age is defined as the age of the property since being placed into service. Physical age is determined through document review and/or a professional estimate. If a property is observed to be in better or worse physical condition then the physical age, an adjustment can be made to better represent the physical condition of the property. This adjustment to physical age based on observed physical deterioration is referred to as effective age. In the example above, utilizing a nationally recognized source, we determine that the expected physical life, also referred to as normal useful life, of the of carpeting is seven years. For purposes of this example we will assume that the carpet went into service four years ago:

• If the wear and tear of the carpet looks to be 4-years old, based on our 7-year carpet life, the physical age equals effective age, and thus the carpet has a depreciated cost adjustment of 57.14% (4-years ÷ 7-years).
• If the wear and tear of the carpet looks to be 2-years old, based on our 7-year carpet life, the effective age is 2- years, and thus the carpet has a depreciated cost adjustment of 28.57% (2-years ÷ 7-years).
• If the wear and tear of the carpet looks to be 5 years old, based on our 7-year carpet life, the effective age is 5- years, and thus the carpet has a depreciated cost adjustment of 71.43% (5-years ÷ 7-years).

As shown above, the effective age adjustment, made through observed physical condition can have a significant effect on depreciated value of the carpet. Without properly accounting for the physical deterioration of each building component, an improper allocation to the building components will take place. Long-lived property costs will likely be understated, while short-lived property costs will likely be overstated. The omission, or improper application of depreciation consideration, will produce a poorly prepared study and potentially increase audit exposure.

A Mini-Cost Segregation Exercise

In an acquired property, there are numerous building components that need to be properly depreciated; far too many to detail in this short article. Let’s look at a few different components to demonstrate the effect that proper depreciation has on a qualified cost segregation study. In this exercise, we will consider an office building placed into service three years ago. All property is observed to have an effective age of three years and there is no functional obsolescence observed. We will consider two types of long-lived property as classified by the IRS and given a 39-year tax life (concrete slab flooring and ceramic tile flooring) and two types of short-lived property as classified by the IRS and given a 5-year tax life (vinyl tile flooring and carpet). See Table 1 in PDF.

The Effect of Physical Deterioration on a Cost Segregation Study 

Let’s perform our mini-study and see how costs are allocated when physical depreciation is not considered: See Table 2 in PDF. The allocation of cost between long-lived and short-lived property is 61% and 39% respectively. Now, let’s perform our mini-study and see how costs are allocated when physical depreciation isconsidered: See Table 3 in PDF The allocation of cost between long-lived and short-lived property, considering physical depreciation is 72% and 28% respectively. This exercise highlights the shift in cost allocation between short and long-lived property after applying a depreciation factor. Long-lived property costs were understated by 11%, while short-lived property costs were overstated by 11% prior to considering depreciation.

Allocating to the Purchase Price

The final step, when performing a qualified cost segregation study, is to allocate (prorate) costs to the purchase price of the property; less the land, and other non-qualifying costs. After applying a purchase price adjustment factor to the depreciated cost, the property basis allocation will continue to distribute the property basis properly amongst the long-lived and short-lived property. The table below presents an upward adjustment factor based on a $1.5 million purchase price: See Table 4 in PDF The table below presents a downward adjustment factor based on a $750,000 purchase price: See Table 5 in PDF Whether the final allocation to the property basis is an upward or downward shift, the physical depreciated allocation will always distribute the costs properly amongst the long-lived and short-lived property. When it is time to engage a cost segregation professional for your next acquired property project, it would be advisable to ask: ‘How do you account for physical depreciation in a cost segregation assignment?’ Download PDF