Material participation is the make-or-break rule behind the short-term rental tax strategy... and the first thing the IRS looks at in an audit.

In this episode of the Hidden Money Podcast, CPAs Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider explain what “material participation” actually means, why it determines whether STR losses can legally offset W-2 or business income, and how to document your involvement in a way that holds up under scrutiny. They break down the key IRS tests (including the 500-hour safe harbor and the 100-hour “more than anyone else” rule), what counts as participation, and the common mistakes that cause taxpayers to lose the deduction or create bigger problems than they expected.

If you’re a short-term rental investor, high-income earner, or business owner using real estate for tax strategy, this episode will help you protect the benefit and stay on the right side of the rules.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why material participation is the cornerstone of STR audit defense

• The IRS tests that determine active vs. passive treatment

• How to build proof with time logs, calendars, texts, and emails

• Why reconstructed or “too perfect” logs can backfire

• Practical steps to track participation without overcomplicating it

Want help building a defensible strategy? Get a free consultation at https://www.revotaxpayer.com/

Most short-term rental buyers assume they need 20–25% down and a traditional investment loan. But what if that assumption is costing you deals, cash flow, and tax leverage?

In this episode of the Hidden Money Podcast, Mike and Kevin sit down with STR lending expert Jeff Chisum to break down how short-term rental financing really works including the 10% down second-home loan strategy many investors overlook.

They unpack how the right financing structure can dramatically improve cash-on-cash returns, how tax strategy and lending strategy must work together, and why “expensing everything” on your tax return can actually hurt your ability to qualify for future loans.

If you’re buying your first Airbnb or scaling a short-term rental portfolio, this episode could change how you think about funding your next property.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How 10% down STR loans work

• Second home vs investment property loan differences

• Why some CPAs accidentally hurt lending approval

• How depreciation affects loan qualification

• How smart investors scale STR portfolios

Hidden Money isn’t about risky loopholes, it’s about understanding the rules and using them strategically.

Learn more about proactive tax strategy at Revotaxpayer.com Subscribe for weekly insights on tax, wealth, and financial strategy

Most people pay more tax than they legally owe, not because they’re doing anything wrong, but because they don’t have a real tax strategy. In this episode of the Hidden Money Podcast, CPAs Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider introduce a brand-new tool: a Free Tax Assessment that helps you quickly spot the gaps in your current approach and uncover where you may be leaving money on the table.

In about 10 minutes, you’ll answer a simple set of questions (no pressure, “open book” style) and get a clear tax score that highlights your biggest opportunities, whether you’re a W-2 earner, a business owner, or both. You’ll also learn why “meeting your CPA once a year” often leads to missed strategies, and why proactive planning puts you back in control of your results.

In this episode, we cover:

• How to tell if you’re overpaying taxes (and what to do about it)

• Why a written tax strategy matters more than a verbal plan

• Key questions that reveal your biggest planning gaps

• The difference between “tax preparation” and tax strategy

• How business owners and W-2 earners should think differently

• Why “AI-built tax plans” can be risky, and how to stay compliant and confident

• How real estate questions (bonus depreciation, cost segregation, ownership structure) impact your strategy
  

Take the Free Tax Assessment and find your tax saving opportunities at www.revotaxpayer.com/ai-tax-assessment

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I paying too much tax?” this episode is your starting line.

Want to pay less tax legally without gimmicks or sketchy shortcuts? In this episode of the Hidden Money Podcast, we break down 5 overlooked tax strategies that can put real money back in your pocket, whether you’re a W-2 earner, business owner, or investor.

Hundreds of thousands of taxpayers miss out on billions in tax credits simply because they don’t know what to claim. In this episode we walk through practical, real-world moves that clients use to lower taxable income, capture credits, and stop overpaying.

• Timing strategies - front-loading expenses, prepaying, and “bunching” deductions
• Entity structuring - why an LLC isn’t a tax strategy—and what might be
• Tax-advantaged investing - 401(k), IRA, Roth options, HSA, and more
• Estimated tax mistakes - how overpaying can cost you money and flexibility
  

....and the #1 overlooked strategy, working with a true tax strategist.

If you’ve ever thought “it is what it is” about taxes… this episode is your wake-up call.

Follow the show for more tax planning, deductions, credits, and wealth-building strategies hidden in the tax code.
Share this episode with someone who’s probably overpaying and visit https://www.revotaxpayer.com/https://www.revotaxpayer.com/ for a free consulation!

#TaxPlanning #PayLessTax #TaxStrategies #TaxStrategy #CPA #SmallBusinessTaxes #PersonalFinance

Want your tax refund faster, and less risk of someone filing in your name? In this episode of Hidden Money, Mike and Kevin break down why filing early (and filing electronically) can put your money back in your pocket in Q1, not months later.

They also unpack a growing issue: tax-related identity theft, where fraudsters file a return using your Social Security number before you do then disappear with the refund. You’ll learn simple, practical steps to protect yourself, streamline your document gathering, and make tax season feel less like a scramble.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why filing early + e-filing speeds up refunds

• The “interest-free loan” you might be giving the government

• How refund fraud happens (and why procrastination increases risk)

• A smarter way to gather and send your tax documents

• One extra protection step: an IRS Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)

If you’re tired of the stress, the last-minute chaos, or watching your refund arrive way too late... this one’s for you.

Next step: If you want a proactive plan to keep more of what you earn, schedule a consult with the Revo Tax team: https://www.revotaxpayer.com/

Taxes don’t have to feel like a mystery tax you pay for being busy.

In this Hidden Money episode, Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider break down why good bookkeeping and clean records aren’t just “admin”... they’re one of the fastest ways to keep more of what you earn. If you’re growing a business but avoiding the “bean counting” until tax time, this conversation is your wake-up call (without the guilt trip).

You’ll hear why sloppy books can quietly cost you tens of thousands, how clean records make tax planning possible, and why outsourcing the bookkeeping can be one of the highest-ROI decisions a business owner makes.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why recordkeeping directly impacts how much tax you end up paying

• The “we don’t even know what you make” problem (and how it kills tax strategy)

• A simple way to think about bookkeeping: routine maintenance vs. a painful cleanup

• Why banks and the IRS ask for the same things and what happens when you can’t produce them

• The real cost of “saving money” by skipping a bookkeeper

Want help getting your records in order?
Visit revotaxpayer.com or revoyourbooks.com to schedule a consultation.

Hidden Money Podcast - practical tax strategy for business owners and high earners who want to keep more of what they make.

It’s the end of the year, and while year-round planning is the goal, there’s still a move that can make a real difference right now: prepaid expenses.

In this episode of The Hidden Money Podcast, CPAs Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider explain how cash-basis taxpayers (which includes most individuals and small businesses) can use prepaying certain normal, recurring bills to increase deductions in a high-income year... without creating fake expenses.

They break down the 12-month benefit rule, common examples (rent, insurance, phone, internet, software), the risks of prepaying the wrong vendors, and why this strategy can become a year-end “train” you need to plan your way off. You’ll also hear how prepaid expenses can pair with bunching (doubling up itemized deductions like property taxes and charitable giving) to maximize your tax outcome.

If you’ve ever wondered why people negotiate everything—except their taxes, this episode is your reminder: don’t pay sticker price on your tax bill.

Educational content only; not tax advice. Always consult your own tax professional.

Most people think about tax deductions and completely overlook tax credits, even though credits are often worth far more.

In this episode of the Hidden Money Podcast, Mike and Kevin dive into tax credits as “gifts” from the government, and how smart planning can help you actually receive them instead of unknowingly saying “no thanks.”

They break down:

• The difference between tax credits vs deductions

• Refundable vs nonrefundable credits

• Why lowering your AGI is the key to unlocking more credits

• Energy and solar credits, home efficiency upgrades, and expiring timelines

• College and education credits (and how they tie into FAFSA and tuition planning)

• The underused R&D credit, even for non-tech, service-based businesses

• Overlooked business credits for employers: health insurance, retirement, paid leave, work opportunity hires, restaurant tips, and more

Whether you’re a high-income earner, business owner, or simply someone who doesn’t want to leave free money on the table, this episode will change the way you think about credits, AGI, and tax planning.

Want a tax planning team in your corner?
Learn more at RevoTaxpayer.com and find out how proactive tax strategy can help you legally pay less in tax and keep more of what you earn.