This is a commonly asked question - you are in great company. . .

 In responding to your question - it is important to understand the role of a CPA / Accountant.  For the largest majority of tax preparers / CPAs / Accountants, clients provide the necessary documentation and reports at the end of a quarter or year.  The CPA will then reconstruct the previous tax period and complete the requisite tax returns for the tax payer.  Suffice it to say that most CPAs / Accountants are more of a financial historian than a pro-active counselor. 

 Second we should understand that most CPAs / Accountants are not Tax Specialists.  A Certified Public Accountant maintains an important role of ensuring that our business and personal books are kept accurately throughout the year.  The final act is that of completing the year end tax returns based on the information provided to the CPA by his/her client. 

When we begin to discuss applicable tax strategies, it is important to consult a professional whose expertise is workign with the over 100 tax programs available for investment property owners.  As cost segregation is a highly specialized tax planning strategy that CPAs simply do not have the expertise to employ.  Cost segregation requires the reading of AIA (architectural) documents, blueprints and costing docments that most CPA / Accountants simply do not have the training to marry the architectural / engineering tasks with the requisite tax code. 

Cost segregation firms will work with your CPA / Accountant to apply the results of your cost segregation study because the IRS disallows the entity completing the study to also apply the study results to the tax payers returns.  A joint partnership ensure the tax payer receives the best of both worlds - minimizing (if not eliminating) unnecessary tax payments while ensuring tax code and IRS requirements are met.