Yeah, depreciation recapture is one of those nasty surprises that hits you right when you think you've got it all figured out. I get why some folks prefer DIY—saving money, feeling in control—but honestly, taxes on rental properties are tricky enough that a pro usually pays for themselves. I used to be skeptical about hiring someone too, thinking it was just another expense eating into profits. But after my CPA caught deductions I'd totally missed and explained how to structure things better, I realized it's more of an investment than a cost.
Still, keeping your own detailed records is smart. Even the best tax pro can't help if your documentation's a mess. A good spreadsheet plus a professional eye at tax time seems like the sweet spot to me...best of both worlds without too much risk.
I used to handle my rental taxes myself too, thinking I had it all down pat...until I got hit with a hefty adjustment from the IRS over missed depreciation. Lesson learned the hard way. Now I gladly pay my CPA—she's saved me way more than her fee every year since. Totally agree on keeping your own records though; a pro can't magically fix sloppy bookkeeping. It's definitely a team effort.
