American Society of Cost Segregation Professionals Marks 20 Years of Advancing Professional Standards

August 7, 2026

ASCSP celebrates 20 years of advancing professional standards on a maroon slide with newspapers

Wilmington, Delaware — August 7, 2026 — The American Society of Cost Segregation Professionals (ASCSP) is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026, recognizing two decades of leadership in advancing education, professional standards, and credentialing within the cost segregation industry.


Founded in 2006 by a small group of practitioners seeking to bring structure, consistency, and credibility to an emerging profession, ASCSP was established to promote technical rigor, ethical conduct, and defensible work product. Over the past two decades, the organization has grown to more than 300 members nationwide, representing engineers, accountants, tax professionals, and other specialists engaged in cost segregation services.


“ASCSP was created to elevate both the quality of cost segregation studies and the professionalism of those performing them,” said Ashley Sullivan, President of ASCSP. “Reaching our 20-year milestone reflects the commitment of our members to education, ethical standards, and continuous improvement in an increasingly complex tax and real estate environment.”

Reflecting on the organization’s origins, Greg Bryant, ASCSP’s first President, emphasized that the focus on professional discipline was intentional from the outset.


“When ASCSP was formed, cost segregation was growing rapidly, but there was limited consistency around methodology, documentation, or professional accountability,” Bryant said. “The goal from day one was to establish a framework that emphasized technical accuracy, ethical practices, and defensible results—principles that continue to define ASCSP today.”


ASCSP supports professionals at varying stages of experience through three membership levels — Associate Member, Member, and Certified Cost Segregation Professional (CCSP) — each designed to promote education, technical development, and adherence to industry standards.

The CCSP designation represents ASCSP’s highest professional credential, requiring demonstrated experience, successful completion of a comprehensive examination, and adherence to a formal code of ethics. For taxpayers, advisers, and CPAs, the CCSP designation serves as an important indicator that a practitioner possesses the technical expertise and professional judgment necessary to produce high-quality, audit-ready cost segregation studies.


As the industry continues to evolve, ASCSP has also highlighted the growing importance of professional experience and risk awareness amid rapid technological advancement and the widespread availability of tax-related information across digital and social media platforms. While emerging tools and technology can support efficiency and analysis, ASCSP emphasizes that incomplete or generalized information—when applied without appropriate context, experience, or judgment—can increase audit risk and lead to misinformed decision-making.


To support professional understanding and transparency, ASCSP’s annual industry conferences have included educational interaction with representatives from the Internal Revenue Service, providing members with first-hand insight into examination considerations, documentation expectations, and emerging areas of focus. These sessions are designed to promote informed compliance and reinforce the importance of defensible analysis in practice.


“In today’s environment, where information is readily accessible but not always accurate or complete, working with experienced, credentialed professionals—particularly those trained in audit support and risk considerations—has never been more important,” Sullivan added.

Looking ahead, ASCSP plans to continue expanding educational offerings, refining professional standards, and supporting the next generation of cost segregation practitioners as the industry grows in sophistication and scrutiny.


For more information about the American Society of Cost Segregation Professionals and its 20th anniversary initiatives, visit https://www.ascsp.org/ or contact Ed Walsh at edwalsh@ascsp.org.


About the American Society of Cost Segregation Professionals (ASCSP)


The American Society of Cost Segregation Professionals (ASCSP) is a professional association dedicated to promoting education, ethical conduct, and professional standards within the cost segregation industry. ASCSP provides training, certification, and technical resources to support practitioners across engineering, accounting, and tax disciplines.

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