The Mark Perlberg CPA Podcast

Hosted by Mark

Business Management

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Episodes

151

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Real estate, wealth building and tax reduction strategies through the eyes of a CPA and tax strategist.

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60 recent

August 20, 202637 min

EP 151 - Maximizing Your Business Value w/ Tom McElwrath

Send us Fan Mail Your business is not worth what your revenue says it’s worth. It’s worth what a buyer believes will keep working after you’re gone and they’re willing to pay up or discount hard based on risk. We sit down with Tom McElwrath of Kandem Services Group (KSG) to unpack what actually drives business valuation and enterprise value for high-income business owners. We talk through the risks that quietly destroy a sale price: founder dependence, customer concentration, undocumented processes, weak bench depth, and relationships that live only in the owner’s head. Tom explains why the smartest move is starting three to five years before a sale, because once an LOI shows up, diligence begins and negotiating power shrinks fast. We also connect operations to financial clarity and tax planning. If you don’t trust your books, you can’t forecast cash flow, manage EBITDA, or plan taxes with confidence. We dig into why a fractional CFO can be a game-changer, how clean financials make buyers more comfortable, and how tax savings can create liquidity to reinvest in systems and growth. Then we get tactical on valuation multiples, deal terms beyond purchase price, and one overlooked concept that can add real money at closing: adbacks. If you’re building toward an exit or simply want a company that runs without you, listen through and take notes. Subscribe, share this with a fellow owner, and leave a review with the biggest risk you’re going to de-risk first. Next Steps: for a free assessment of how advanced tax reduction can help build your wealth, go to: https://prosperlcpa.com/apply Connect with Tom at:Tom@kandem.com

July 1, 202618 min

EP 150 - Why the Wealthy Use Tax Strategy Stacking

Send us Fan Mail We break down why one “big” tax move rarely solves the tax problem for high-income earners, especially when legal limits cap how much any single strategy can do. We lay out how tax strategy stacking works so we can cut taxes now, manage risk, and keep layering savings year after year. • the hidden limits behind popular write-off strategies like cost segregation and business losses • the excess business loss limitation and why W-2 earners hit ceilings fast • attacking AGI first with practical moves like entity structuring and legitimate family payroll • layering charitable deduction strategies to reduce taxable income after other tactics max out • using capital loss harvesting to offset major capital gains events • diversifying tax strategies to hedge audit risk and law changes • layering year-two upgrades like solar credits on a short-term rental • deciding what to do with tax savings and adjusting W-2 withholding sooner Now, if any of this sounds interesting and applicable to you and you're interested on how this may apply, I strongly encourage you to go to https://www.prosperalcpa.com/apply . And there you'll fill out a quick survey, have a conversation with someone on the team, and we will personally share with you what may be possible for you based on your situation when we utilize advanced tax reduction strategies.

June 19, 202621 min

EP 149 - What Is the Intangible Drilling Cost (IDC) Deduction for Oil & Gas?

Send us Fan Mail Why does the intangible drilling cost deduction makes oil and gas investing so attractive for high-income earners? Faster write-offs and more control over timing. Learn about the rules, limits, and risks so you can weigh tax savings against real-world investment economics. • defining IDC versus tangible drilling costs with clear examples • why prepaid IDC can create a current-year deduction before a well produces • how working interest can make losses non-passive and usable against W-2 and other income • why Congress designed these incentives for domestic energy production and jobs • a $100,000 example showing how year-one deductions can translate into tax savings • the importance of binding drilling obligations, economic performance, and ethical operators • why you should not invest for tax savings alone • how oil and gas can complement real estate loss planning • future-year tax impact, profit timing, and the depletion allowance • state conformity differences, including California limits • potential constraints from AMT and the excess business loss limitation • year-end planning in Q4 and using deductions to target a better bracket If at any time you would like to get personalized insight on how this may apply to you and how we could help, I suggest you go to https://www.prosperalcpa.com/apply .

June 10, 202635 min

EP 148 -The Tax Strategy That Creates 2X Real Estate Losses (C-Stores & DST's) w/ Larry Karp

Send us Fan Mail We break down how certain convenience store and gas station real estate investments can produce a massive first-year tax deduction using 100% bonus depreciation and fund-level leverage. We also map out who can use the losses, what returns can look like, and how to plan for depreciation recapture with smart exit options like DSTs and 1031 exchanges. • how C-stores can qualify for 100% bonus depreciation when gasoline revenue meets the threshold • why leverage inside the fund can turn $100,000 of equity into a much larger K-1 tax loss • how rental losses can offset passive real estate income and other passive income streams • when Real Estate Professional Status can open up active income and portfolio income planning • how failed 1031 exchanges and boot can be partially neutralized with the right loss strategy • what to expect in years two through exit, including projected hold periods and cash-on-cash returns • how depreciation recapture works and why rolling into a DST can help manage the tax hit • why DSTs can make sense for passive investors, debt replacement, and diversification by hold period The way to get a hold of me is first my email is Larry at 1031financial.com. The firm is 1031financial.com. And the way to get a hold of Lary directly is 516-350-2643. *Go to https://www.prosperlcpa.com/apply , and I will send you a personalized video illustrating what may be possible based on your situation.

June 4, 202615 min

EP 147 - How Oil & Gas Investors Reduce Taxes With Depletion

Send us Fan Mail We break down depletion allowance, the oil and gas version of depreciation, and show how it can reduce taxes on production income without reducing your actual cash distributions. We also explain why many high-income investors use depletion to improve after-tax yield while keeping an eye on the rules and the real-world limits. • depletion allowance defined as a deduction tied to shrinking natural resources • why depletion can increase after-tax cash flow through paper losses • cost depletion basics using units produced and remaining reserves • percentage depletion explained as a revenue-based formula • why percentage depletion can continue beyond original investment • key limitations in loss years plus rolling unused depletion forward • working interest versus royalty interest as different investing paths • what investors see on a K-1 and where it lands on the 1040 • IDC versus depletion, upfront deduction versus ongoing deduction • example math showing why the effective tax benefit can exceed 15% of cash received • combining depletion with broader tax planning like real estate losses, charitable planning, cost segregation, Roth timing, and state planning If you’re interested, you can go to https://www.prosperlcpa.com/apply to learn more.

May 27, 20261 hr 2 min

EP 146 - How Real Estate Investors LEGALLY Pay $0 In Taxes w/ Nonpassive Losses

Send us Fan Mail Real estate can create cash flow and wealth while lowering taxable income through depreciation, cost segregation, and smarter classification of rental activity. We also flag the traps that hurt first-time investors, especially when chasing write-offs instead of solid deal fundamentals. • why rental income can avoid FICA while W-2 income cannot • how depreciation works and why cost segregation accelerates deductions • what bonus depreciation is and how it can front-load year-one write-offs • why passive loss rules block many W-2 investors from using losses • how the 7-day average stay rule can turn short-term rentals into non-passive activity • what material participation means and how to track hours credibly • when real estate professional status applies and why it matters for long-term rentals • a real client example where accelerated depreciation wipes out a large tax bill • warnings about buying cash-flow negative properties just for tax savings • entity myths, LLC vs personal ownership, and why deductions are about the business purpose • S-corp complexity in Tennessee and the impact of franchise and excise tax • the Augusta rule and self-rental basics for legitimate business use To see if anything in this podcase or any other tax strategies may apply to you go to https://www.prosperlcpa.com/apply

May 20, 202629 min

EP 145 - Tax Planning from the Perspective of a Fulltime Real Estate Investor w/ Richard Gamble

Send us Fan Mail Paying almost nothing in taxes sounds like clickbait until you hear how full-time real estate investors actually operate. We sit down with Richard Gamble, a full-time investor with a wide portfolio across rentals, multifamily, and commercial assets, to talk about the real work behind “low tax” results and why the bigger win is building a repeatable system that scales. We get into the difference between basic tax preparation and real estate tax strategy: year-round planning, constant deal-structure conversations, and the compliance grind that shows up when you have multiple entities, partnership returns, and hundreds of units worth of reporting. We also break down key real estate investing tax tools like Real Estate Professional Status, accelerated depreciation and cost segregation studies, and why you sometimes hold depreciation back so you can use it when it matters most. Then we go deep on 1031 exchanges and the stress investors feel around hard deadlines, qualified intermediaries, and what can derail a great plan if you start too late. We also talk partnership realities: why you need everything in writing, how to choose partners you can actually work with, and how taxes and state policy can shape where you invest (including lessons from moving out of California and navigating Tennessee nuances). To wrap up, Richard shares what he’s most excited about next in development and how to connect with his My Tribe community. Subscribe for more practical tax planning and real estate investing conversations, share this with an investor friend, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re applying next. To learn more about how this topic or any tax reduction strategies may apply go to https://www.prosperlcpa.com/opportunityreport for a free consultation Or if you're interested in a free tax planning course go to https://www.taxplanningchecklist.com

May 6, 202637 min

EP 144 - Oil & Gas vs Stocks: Which is Actually for Taxes?

Send us Fan Mail We break down how oil and gas working interests and stock portfolios differ when taxes are the real scoreboard, from upfront deductions to long-term rates and liquidity. We walk through depletion, step-up basis, passive loss planning, and the advanced strategies that can turn a big income year into a smarter long-term wealth plan. • upfront tax deductions from oil and gas working interests and why stocks usually do not offer them in taxable accounts • how oil and gas losses can offset W-2 income, capital gains, business profits, and even Roth conversions • why long-term capital gains and qualified dividends often face lower federal tax rates than ordinary income • depletion allowance basics and how it reduces taxable oil and gas distributions • step-up in basis and why it can make stocks a powerful legacy asset • liquidity differences and how borrowing against a stock portfolio can create tax-free access to cash • using suspended passive losses from real estate to offset oil and gas passive income • capital gains mitigation tools for stocks including loss harvesting, trusts, charitable strategies, and qualified opportunity zone funds • timing control advantages with stocks versus third-party timing in oil and gas • portfolio sizing framework for oil and gas risk and diversification go to ***To see how this or any of our advanced tax strategies can help you, go to https://www.prosperalcpa.com/apply ***

April 16, 20261 hr 1 min

Ep 143 - Advanced Oil & Gas Tax Strategies (Exclusive Client Workshop Preview!)

Send us Fan Mail We share an exclusive client workshop on advanced oil and gas tax planning and how the tax code can turn a passive energy investment into a powerful deduction strategy. We lay out how IDC and depletion work, where the real risks live, and how to coordinate oil and gas with real estate, capital gains, and retirement moves. • why working interest oil and gas can create non-passive losses that offset W-2 income • how intangible drilling costs drive large first-year deductions and why timing matters • what depletion deduction does for ongoing cash flow tax efficiency • differences between investing with an operator, a diversified fund, or royalty rights • oil and gas versus real estate tradeoffs on appreciation, leverage, and tax control • stacking cost segregation losses with oil and gas profits for smoother tax outcomes • using oil and gas planning for capital gains mitigation and potential 1031 exchange paths • retirement planning ideas including self-directed IRA considerations and Roth conversion tax math • gifting strategies for estate planning and income shifting to family members • qualified opportunity zone fund concepts tied to oil and gas and why the exit can matter • how we model after-tax ROI so decisions are based on math, not hype *If you want to see how any of these strategies may apply to you, go to http://www.prosperlcpa.com/apply and I'll personally send you a video illustrating what's possible.

April 6, 202642 min

EP 142 - How Much You Pay in Taxes in California from 300K to $1.5M (it gets worse)

Send us Fan Mail California’s tax system can make a big raise feel small, especially once you cross the income points where rates jump and deductions phase out. We walk through California brackets, federal brackets, hidden payroll taxes, and real tax software examples, then map out planning options that can reduce the damage without forcing a move. • California marginal brackets and why the early tiers look deceptively friendly • The extra California layers like SDI and the mental health services tax • Federal tax brackets plus why Medicare can push your true marginal rate higher • Mock return examples at $300k, $400k, $500k, $750k, $1M, and $1.5M • “Tax on the increase” and why 40% to 50% of a raise can disappear • QBI phaseout and lost credits after key income thresholds • Why oil and gas deductions often help federal but not California • Why California limits real estate professional status benefits and bonus depreciation • Charitable deduction strategies that can offset federal and state taxes • Pass-through entity tax election for California business owners • Timing retirement distributions and stock sales to reduce California tax exposure 👇 Ready to optimize your wealth and stop overpaying the IRS? Go to https://www.prosperlcpa.com/apply