#144 - Depreciation, Cost Segs, and the IRS Rules Pilots Miss with Brandon Hall

Tait Duryea is joined by Brandon Hall to break down one of the most misunderstood tools in real estate investing: depreciation. From straight-line depreciation to cost segregation and 100 percent bonus depreciation, this episode explains how so-called “phantom losses” can legally reduce or even eliminate taxable income for pilots and other high earners. They also cover depreciation recapture, common investor mistakes, and why experienced investors think in decades, not tax years.

Brandon Hall is the founder of Hall CPA, widely known as The Real Estate CPA. After working at Ernst & Young and PwC, he left the corporate world to build a national firm focused exclusively on real estate investors. His team supports everyone from first-time landlords to large syndications and funds, with a practical, no-nonsense approach to depreciation, cost segregation, and long-term tax strategy.

Show notes:

(0:00) Intro

(01:14) What depreciation really is

(03:06) Brandon’s CPA and real estate background

(09:20) Why assets depreciate while values rise

(11:15) Straight-line depreciation explained

(14:01) Leverage and real estate returns

(18:42) Tax losses vs operating income

(20:57) Cost segregation basics

(23:07) Bonus depreciation returns in 2025

(31:41) Depreciation recapture explained

(46:42) The “lazy man’s” 1031 strategy

(1:00:04) Outro

Connect with Brandon Hall:

• Website: https://www.therealestatecpa.com/ 
• Podcast: https://www.therealestatecpa.com/podcasts/ 

If you’re interested in participating, the latest institutional-quality self-storage portfolio is available for investment now at: https://turbinecap.investnext.com/portal/offerings/8449/houston-storage/ 

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*Legal Disclaimer*

The content of this podcast is provided solely for educational and informational purposes. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson, and do not reflect those of any organization they are associated with, including Turbine Capital or Spartan Investment Group. The opinions of our guests are their own and should not be construed as financial advice. This podcast does not offer tax, legal, or investment advice. Listeners are advised to consult with their own legal or financial counsel and to conduct their own due diligence before making any financial decisions.