DRAGEL REALTY Tax Strategy Brief · AZ
OBBBA · Active
Filed · 2026
Ref · DR-STR-04
Arizona Short-Term Rental · 2026 Playbook

Turn your Arizona STR into a $140,500 tax shield.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act reinstates 100% bonus depreciation for qualifying real estate components through 2029. Paired with cost segregation and the STR material-participation exception, high-earners can convert a single Arizona property into a seven-figure paper loss — deductible against active W-2 and business income.

$1,000,000
Property Basis
40%
5/15-Yr Reclass
$140,500
Est. Year-1 Savings
REAL ESTATE BASIS 40% RECLASSIFIED 60% 27.5-YR SL
FIG. 01 / COST SEG SPLIT n=1
MODEL YOUR SCENARIO
TERMINAL · DR-STR-04 SESSION · LIVE
Purchase PriceAZ · STR
$1,000,000
Property Basis
$350K$3M
Annual Income35% BRACKET
$500,000
W-2 / Active Income
$100K$2M
· Projection · Year 1REV 0001
Year 1 Tax Savings
$140,000
NET OF STUDY FEE · $130,000
Tax Savings · Allocation$140,000
Net Kept Study Fee
Cost Seg Deduction
$400,000
Federal Bracket
35%
Est. Annual Revenue
$64,000
Study Fee
$10,000
Net Savings
$130,000
5-Yr Appreciation
$250,000
Revenue estimates assume 80% occupancy based on Old Town Scottsdale market averages.

From purchase to write-off, in four moves.

§168(k) · IRC
Effective thru 12.31.2029
STEP 01
$1,000,000
Arizona STR acquisition — Scottsdale, Sedona, or Paradise Valley asset class.
BASIS
STEP 02
$400,000
Engineering-based cost segregation reclassifies ~40% into 5, 7, and 15-year property.
RECLASS 5/7/15-YR
STEP 03
$400,000
100% bonus depreciation deducts the entire reclassified basis in Year 1.
§168(k) · YEAR ONE
NET RESULT
$140,500
Federal tax savings at the 35% marginal bracket — offsets active income via STR loophole.
CASH KEPT
Assumptions: 35% federal bracket · 40% cost seg ratio · STR avg. stay ≤ 7 days · Material participation satisfied

Why Arizona STRs are the instrument of choice.

Advisory Brief
Q2 · 2026
— 01

Cost Segregation Acceleration

A licensed engineer dissects your property into its component parts — cabinetry, flooring, landscaping, electrical, appliances — and reclassifies 25–40% of basis from 27.5-year straight-line into 5, 7, and 15-year recovery periods. The shorter the life, the faster the deduction.

Typical Reclass 25–40%
— 02

Bonus Depreciation — 100%

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act reinstated full 100% first-year bonus depreciation for qualified property placed in service between 2025 and 2029. Every dollar of reclassified basis becomes a Year-One deduction — no waiting, no phasedown, no capital at risk.

Active Thru 12.31.2029
— 03

STR Material Participation

When average guest stays are ≤ 7 days, the property is not a "rental activity" under §469 — it's a trade or business. Satisfy one of seven material-participation tests (100+ hours often suffices) and losses flow against W-2, 1099, and active business income. No real estate professional status required.

Avg. Stay Threshold ≤ 7 DAYS

The difference is $400K of present-value cash flow.

$1M basis · 40% reclass
Figures in USD
Traditional — 27.5-Yr SL
Accelerated — Cost Seg + 100% Bonus
+$340K
Year-1 Advantage
$500K $375K $250K $125K $0 Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 $421K $36K Δ $385K
YEAR 1 Trad. · $36K Accel. · $421K
YEAR 2 Trad. · $73K Accel. · $443K
YEAR 3 Trad. · $109K Accel. · $465K
YEAR 4 Trad. · $145K Accel. · $487K
YEAR 5 Trad. · $182K Accel. · $509K

Run the numbers on your property.

A confidential, 20-minute strategy call to model your acquisition, coordinate with your CPA, and map a qualifying Arizona asset to your tax profile.

Connor Dragel
Licensed AZ & IL Broker · Fulton Grace Realty

Book Your Free Strategy Call

15 minutes · no spam · just math

or leave your info
I agree to receive text messages from Connor Dragel regarding my inquiry. Message frequency varies. Reply STOP to opt out. Msg & data rates may apply.

Your info stays with me. No lists, no spam, no selling your data.

You're In

I'll be in touch within 24 hours to schedule your strategy call. Check your inbox for a confirmation.