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“name”: “KDA Inc. u2014 Real Estate CPA Malibu”,
“description”: “Specialized real estate CPA services for Malibu, California investors. Cost segregation, 1031 exchanges, REPS, STR loophole, and entity structuring.”,
“url”: “https://kdainc.com/real-estate-cpa-malibu-ca”,
“telephone”: “+1-800-KDA-TAXES”,
“areaServed”: {
“@type”: “City”,
“name”: “Malibu”,
“containedInPlace”: {
“@type”: “State”,
“name”: “California”
},
“postalCode”: “90265”
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“Real Estate CPA”,
“Cost Segregation Analysis”,
“1031 Exchange Planning”,
“Real Estate Professional Status Qualification”,
“Short-Term Rental Tax Strategy”,
“Real Estate Entity Structuring”
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“@type”: “Service”,
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“@type”: “Offer”,
“itemOffered”: {
“@type”: “Service”,
“name”: “REPS Qualification”
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{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What is a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) and how does it work in a 1031 exchange?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “DSTs are the ‘retirement vehicle’ of 1031 exchanges. You sell your active rental property, exchange into a DST, and receive passive income from institutional real estate without any landlord responsibilities. The DST qualifies as like-kind property under IRS Revenue Ruling 2004-86, so all capital gains and depreciation recapture are fully deferred. For Malibu investors approaching retirement or simply wanting to exit active management, a DST exchange is one of the most powerful options available. KDA coordinates DST exchanges and can connect you with qualified DST sponsors.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What are the California FTB audit triggers for real estate investors?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “California’s FTB is one of the most aggressive state tax authorities in the country. Common audit triggers for Malibu real estate investors include: REPS elections (FTB scrutinizes the 750-hour requirement), large STR loophole claims, out-of-state 1031 exchanges subject to clawback, and residency changes combined with property sales. KDA’s team maintains meticulous documentation for every tax position — time logs for REPS/STR claims, cost segregation reports, exchange documentation — so that every position can be defended if the FTB comes calling.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What credentials should I look for in a real estate CPA?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Look for a CPA license (Certified Public Accountant) or EA designation (Enrolled Agent), combined with demonstrated specialization in real estate tax. Ask how many of their clients are real estate investors, whether they own investment properties themselves, and whether they can explain cost segregation, REPS, and 1031 exchanges fluently. KDA’s Malibu team checks every box — licensed, specialized, and deeply experienced in real estate tax strategy.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How do I calculate my basis in a rental property?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Calculating basis for a Malibu rental property requires tracking several components: (1) original purchase price plus closing costs; (2) plus capital improvements over the ownership period; (3) minus accumulated depreciation (including cost segregation deductions); (4) minus any casualty losses claimed. The resulting ‘adjusted basis’ determines your taxable gain when you sell. Many investors underestimate their accumulated depreciation, leading to surprise tax bills at sale. KDA’s team maintains detailed basis schedules and models your gain exposure annually.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What records should I keep for my rental properties?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Good records are your first line of defense in an IRS audit. For Malibu rental property owners, the most critical records are: basis documentation (to calculate gain on sale), depreciation schedules (to track accumulated depreciation and recapture), expense receipts (to support deductions), and time logs (for REPS or STR loophole claims). KDA’s real estate CPA team provides clients with a complete record-keeping framework and conducts annual reviews to ensure your documentation is audit-ready.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What happens to my rental property losses when I sell the property?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The sale of a rental property triggers the release of all suspended passive losses from that property — a potentially significant tax benefit for Malibu investors. If you’ve owned a property for 10 years with $200,000 in suspended passive losses (because your AGI was too high to use them), those losses are released upon sale and can offset the capital gain, depreciation recapture, or any other income. KDA’s team maintains a passive loss tracking schedule for every client property and factors the suspended loss release into your sale planning.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What is the difference between active, passive, and portfolio income for real estate investors?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Understanding the three income categories is fundamental to real estate tax planning for Malibu investors. Rental income is passive — no self-employment tax, but losses are trapped in the passive bucket unless you qualify for REPS or the STR loophole. Capital gains from property sales are portfolio income — taxed at favorable long-term rates (0%, 15%, or 20%) plus NIIT for high earners. Active real estate income (flipping, real estate agent commissions) is subject to both income tax and self-employment tax. KDA’s team will structure your activities to minimize taxes across all three categories.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How does the tax treatment of real estate differ for foreign investors?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “For foreign investors in Malibu real estate, the U.S. tax system creates significant complexity. FIRPTA requires 15% withholding on gross sale proceeds — not just the gain — which can create a cash flow problem even if the actual tax liability is much lower. The solution is to file a U.S. tax return and claim a refund of excess withholding. For ongoing rental income, making the ‘net election’ allows foreign investors to deduct expenses and pay tax only on net income. KDA’s Malibu real estate CPA team has expertise in FIRPTA compliance and foreign investor tax planning.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Should I hold my rental properties in an LLC?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “An LLC provides liability protection — separating your personal assets from your rental properties — but it does NOT provide tax benefits for most rental property owners. A single-member LLC is a disregarded entity for tax purposes, meaning it’s taxed identically to owning the property in your own name. The tax benefits of an LLC come from the liability shield, not the tax structure. KDA’s Malibu team recommends LLCs for liability protection while ensuring the tax structure is optimized separately through depreciation strategies, REPS, and entity elections.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How should I structure my real estate portfolio across multiple LLCs?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Multi-property LLC structuring is as much a legal question as a tax question. From a tax perspective, the structure should preserve your ability to do 1031 exchanges, maintain the stepped-up basis benefit, and not create unnecessary self-employment tax. From a liability perspective, isolation between properties is key. KDA’s Malibu team will coordinate with your real estate attorney to design a structure that achieves both goals — and we’ll ensure the tax reporting is set up correctly from day one.”
}
}
]
}