{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “FAQPage”,
“mainEntity”: [
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How should I structure my real estate portfolio across multiple LLCs?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “For Los Angeles investors with 3+ properties, the most common structure is a holding company LLC (the ‘parent’) that owns multiple property-specific LLCs (the ‘children’). This provides liability isolation between properties while allowing centralized management and tax reporting. The holding company can also hold your management company, creating additional liability protection. KDA’s real estate CPA team works with real estate attorneys to design structures that optimize both tax efficiency and liability protection.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What credentials should I look for in a real estate CPA?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The key credentials are CPA or EA licensure, real estate specialization, and IRS representation rights. Beyond credentials, look for a firm that does proactive planning year-round — not just tax prep in March. KDA Inc. is a full-service real estate tax advisory firm with licensed CPAs and EAs in Los Angeles who specialize exclusively in real estate investor tax strategy.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What is Proposition 19 and how does it affect real estate investors in California?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Prop 19’s impact on Los Angeles real estate investors is significant. If you own rental properties with low Prop 13 assessed values and plan to pass them to your children, those properties will be reassessed at current market value upon transfer — potentially tripling or quadrupling annual property taxes. Mitigation strategies include: (1) transferring properties before death via irrevocable trusts; (2) using LLCs with gifted interests; or (3) selling and doing a 1031 exchange into properties with higher assessed values. KDA’s Los Angeles team will model the Prop 19 impact on your estate plan.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How does real estate investing affect my ability to contribute to retirement accounts?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “For Los Angeles real estate investors, the interaction between rental income and retirement accounts is nuanced. Passive rental income doesn’t qualify as earned income for IRA contributions. But if you have a real estate management company or qualify for REPS, you may have earned income that supports larger retirement contributions. A Solo 401(k) or SEP-IRA can be powerful tools for real estate professionals to shelter active income. KDA’s team will design a retirement contribution strategy that complements your real estate tax plan.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What is the fix-and-flip tax treatment and how is it different from buy-and-hold?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Fix-and-flip investors in Los Angeles face a harsh tax reality: profits are ordinary income, not capital gains. Unlike buy-and-hold investors who enjoy 15–20% capital gains rates, depreciation deductions, and 1031 exchange eligibility, flippers pay ordinary income rates (up to 37%) plus self-employment tax (15.3%) on their profits. The best mitigation strategies are: (1) S-Corp election to reduce SE tax; (2) maximizing deductible expenses (materials, labor, carrying costs, professional fees); and (3) timing sales across tax years. KDA’s Los Angeles team specializes in flip tax optimization.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What is the net investment income tax (NIIT) and how does it affect real estate investors?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “NIIT is the ‘hidden’ 3.8% tax that many Los Angeles real estate investors don’t account for in their planning. Combined with the 20% capital gains rate and 13.3% California state tax (or 2.5% Arizona), the total tax on a large real estate gain can exceed 37%. REPS qualification eliminates NIIT on rental income. A 1031 exchange defers NIIT along with capital gains. KDA’s Los Angeles real estate CPA team will calculate your NIIT exposure and integrate NIIT avoidance into your overall tax strategy.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Do I need a specialized real estate CPA or will any CPA do?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The IRS tax code contains hundreds of provisions specifically designed for real estate investors. A general CPA may know 10–20% of them. A real estate CPA at KDA knows all of them and applies them proactively to your portfolio. In Los Angeles’s competitive real estate market, the investors who win long-term are the ones with the best tax strategy — and that requires a specialist.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How does the QBI deduction apply to rental real estate?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The permanent QBI deduction (OBBBA) is a 20% deduction on qualified business income from pass-through entities — including qualifying rental real estate. For Los Angeles investors, the critical steps are: (1) document 250+ hours of rental services annually (safe harbor); (2) maintain a contemporaneous time log; (3) ensure your rental activity is not a triple-net lease (excluded from safe harbor); and (4) consider the W-2 wage/UBIA limitation for high-income investors. KDA’s Los Angeles real estate CPA team will structure your rental activities to maximize QBI deduction eligibility.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What is California’s real estate withholding requirement?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “California’s 3.33% real estate withholding is a significant consideration for Los Angeles property sales. The withholding applies to the GROSS sales price — not the gain — meaning on a $1M sale, $33,300 is withheld regardless of your actual tax liability. For investors doing a 1031 exchange, this withholding must be avoided entirely (using FTB Form 593-E) or it will reduce your exchange proceeds and potentially trigger taxable ‘boot.’ KDA’s Los Angeles real estate CPA team will prepare all required withholding certificates and coordinate with your escrow officer.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What is the tax treatment of real estate options?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “A real estate option gives the buyer the right (but not the obligation) to purchase property at a set price within a specified period. Tax treatment for the option buyer: the option premium paid is not immediately deductible — it becomes part of the property’s basis if the option is exercised, or a capital loss if the option expires. Tax treatment for the option seller: the premium received is not immediately taxable — it’s recognized as income when the option is exercised (as part of the sale proceeds) or when it expires (as ordinary income or capital gain depending on the seller’s status). KDA’s Los Angeles team will structure real estate option transactions for optimal tax treatment.”
}
}
]
}