#154 - The Pilot’s Guide to SDIRA Tax Traps with Mark Kohler

Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson welcome back Mark Kohler to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in self-directed IRA investing: UBIT and UDFI. Mark explains how these taxes show up in real estate syndications, why leverage can trigger tax inside an IRA, when C corp blockers may help, and what pilots should watch for on K-1s and 990-T filings. This episode gives high-income professionals a clearer way to evaluate SDIRA deals without letting tax fear cloud the bigger investment picture.Mark Kohler is a CPA, attorney, tax strategist, and longtime advocate for small business owners and investors. With decades of experience in tax law, entity structuring, retirement planning, and asset protection, Mark is known for making complex tax strategies easier to understand and apply. He brings practical clarity to the rules that affect pilots and high-income professionals using retirement dollars to invest beyond Wall Street.Show notes:(0:00)&nbsp; Intro(0:48) UBIT and self-directed IRAs(4:32) Understanding UBIT, UDFI, and 990-Ts(5:36) Why UBIT exists(10:05) How C Corp blockers work(14:37) Reading K-1 warning signs(18:57) How leverage creates UDFI(23:09) Comparing SDIRA and cash investors(31:18) Trust tax rates explained(37:41) When IRAs need an EIN(41:37) Real numbers on UDFI taxes(55:30) OutroConnect with Mark:Website: https://markjkohler.com/&nbsp;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjkohler/&nbsp;Related Episodes:&nbsp;#110 - The IRA Club Advantage: The Self-Directed IRA Strategy for Pilots with Ramez Fakhoury#36 - Decoding the Untapped Potential and Complex World of Self-Directed IRAs with Derreck Long#82 - From LLCs and HSAs to Roth IRAs: Mastering Wealth Protection with Mark KohlerIf you’re interested in participating, the latest institutional-quality self-storage portfolio is available for investment now at: https://turbinecap.investnext.com/portal/offerings/8449/houston-storage/&nbsp;— You've found the number one resource for financial education for aviators! Please consider leaving a rating and sharing this podcast with your colleagues in the aviation community, as it can serve as a valuable resource for all those involved in the industry.<span style="background-color: transparen