Real estate agent accounting that captures every deduction.
Commission tracking, mileage, marketing, MLS dues, and the S-corp election that can save a top producer $15K+ a year. Built for Denver-metro agents and small teams.
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Real estate is one of the most under-deducted small businesses we see. Agents pay self-employment tax on every commission dollar, write off a fraction of what they could, and never run the S-corp election math even when their net is well above the threshold. The difference between an average tax bill and an optimized one is typically $8,000 to $25,000 per year for a producing agent.
We work with solo agents, small teams, brokers, and property managers. The framework adjusts based on volume but the patterns are the same: capture every legitimate deduction, run S-corp math at the right threshold, plan quarterly, and treat the agent as the business they actually are.
What we handle for real estate agents
- 1099 commission income tracking — by transaction, with broker split and any team split documented.
- Mileage logging — guidance on apps (MileIQ, Stride) and review at year-end. Most agents under-deduct mileage by 30%+.
- Marketing and lead-gen deductions — Zillow Premier, Realtor.com leads, postcard campaigns, signs, photography, videography, drone work.
- MLS, association, and license expenses — categorized correctly for Schedule C or S-corp.
- S-corp election analysis when net commission exceeds about $80,000.
- Quarterly estimated tax payments calculated and submitted on time.
- Retirement account setup — SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k) for high-earners.
Pricing
| Production | Engagement | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10 transactions/year | Year-end tax + Q4 planning call | $700 – $1,200 |
| 10–25 transactions/year | Quarterly check-ins + tax | $1,800 – $3,500 |
| $200K+ in commission, S-corp | Monthly bookkeeping + payroll + tax | $5,000 – $9,000 |
| Team or brokerage | Custom monthly engagement | $8,000+ |
A producing agent doing $260K in gross commission and $185K in net income was paying full self-employment tax on every dollar — about $26,000 in SE tax alone. We elected S-corp status, set a reasonable owner salary at $90K, and moved the rest as distribution. Federal SE-tax savings the first year: $14,500. The cost of the S-corp setup, payroll, and corporate return: about $3,800. Net win: ~$10,700.
If you do under $80K in net commission, stay on Schedule C and focus on capturing every deduction.
If you do $100K+ in net consistently, run the S-corp math — most agents who do this once never go back.
If you run a team or brokerage, monthly bookkeeping with team payroll is the right setup.
Most agents leave $5,000+ in deductions on the table every year.
Get a year-end tax review or a quarterly engagement that catches what the strip-mall tax preparer misses.
Frequently asked questions
Should I be an LLC or S-corp?
Most agents start as a single-member LLC (filing as a sole proprietor on Schedule C). Once net commission exceeds about $80,000–$100,000, the S-corp election usually saves more than it costs. We run the actual math at our discovery call.
What can I deduct as a real estate agent?
Mileage, MLS dues, association dues, license renewals, marketing (signs, postcards, photography, videography, online ads), home office (if eligible), continuing education, professional development, software (CRM, transaction management), client gifts (within IRS limits), and a portion of cell phone, internet, and vehicle. The list is long — we walk through it at engagement.
How do I track mileage?
Use an app — MileIQ, Stride, or QuickBooks Self-Employed all auto-track miles via GPS. Manual logs are technically allowed but rarely accurate enough to survive an audit. We review the year-end mileage report and apply the standard rate (or actual-expense method, whichever is better for your situation).
What about retirement contributions?
SEP-IRA is simple and allows up to 25% of compensation. Solo 401(k) is more complex but allows higher contributions and a Roth option. For S-corp agents, the math gets interesting — your salary level affects how much you can put away. We model this annually as part of tax planning.
Can you help me prepare to apply for a mortgage as a self-employed agent?
Yes. Lenders look at 2 years of tax returns and add back specific non-cash items (depreciation, certain home-office deductions). We run the lender-friendly version of your income before you apply so you know what they will see — and what to do for the next return if it matters.