A reverse exchange is closing on the purchase of the replacement property before closing on the sale of the relinquished property. Many investors utilize a reverse exchange to immediately acquire a desirable replacement property in a seller’s market where there may be competing offers or there is a pressing need to close quickly. Other investors may initially set out to perform a delayed exchange, but they quickly find an ideal replacement property that must close on quickly. In this second scenario, the taxpayer avoids the pressure-filled problems associated with the 45-day identification rule. There are several different reverse exchange variations including the replacement property parked option, the relinquished property parked alternative and the reverse-improvement exchange. Read the full article, Reverse Exchanges.
A delayed exchange happens when the taxpayer closes on the sale of their relinquished property on one date and then acquires a replacement property from a seller at a later date. A taxpayer has a maximum of 180 calendar days, or their tax filing date, whichever is earlier, to complete their exchange. This is called the “Exchange Period”. In addition, the taxpayer must identify their potential replacement property or properties by midnight of the 45th day after closing on the sale of their relinquished property. This is called the “Identification Period” and the 45 days are inclusive within the 180-day Exchange Period. Read the full article, The Delayed Exchange.
There are three steps involved in determining the capital gain taxes that are owed. The first is to determine the net adjusted basis – this is calculated by starting with the original purchase price, adding the capital improvements and subtracting the depreciation taken. The second step is calculating the actual capital gain by taking today’s sales price, subtracting the net adjusted basis and then subtracting the cost of sale to arrive at the capital gain. The third and final step is determining the capital gain owed. Under this formula, the recaptured depreciation is all taxed at 25% and the remaining economic gain is taxed at the maximum capital gain tax rate which is currently 15%. Finally, the state tax rate, when applicable, is also applied to the capital gain. All three of these amounts, the depreciation recapture, the federal amount and the state tax, are added to arrive at the total capital gain tax due. Use our, Capital Gain Tax Calculator.
For full tax deferral, a taxpayer must reinvest all of the new proceeds in “like-kind” replacement property and have the same or greater amount of debt on the replacement property or properties. Another way of looking at this is to purchase replacement property of equal or greater value and reinvest all of the net equity. Read the full article, Requirements for full tax deferral.
Although a taxpayer can identify more than one replacement property, the maximum number of properties that can be identified is limited to one of the following three rules: 1) Three replacement properties without regard to their fair market value (the “3 Property Rule”); 2) The value does not exceed 200% of the aggregate fair value of all relinquished properties (the “200 Rule”); and 3) Any number of replacement properties without regard to the combined fair market value, as long as the properties acquired amount to at least 95% of the fair market value of all identified properties (the “95% Rule”). Read the full article, Identification Rules.
Every taxpayer should always review all aspects of their specific facts and circumstances with their own tax and/or legal advisors. Although a qualified intermediary cannot provide specific legal or tax advice, feel free to contact Asset Preservation, Inc. for a complimentary consultation by email or by calling 800-282-1031.
Yes, a taxpayer can do a partial exchange and not reinvest all of the net equity or take on debt in the replacement property – the property being acquired – that less than the debt in the relinquished property – the property being disposed of. The taxpayer must recognize as income the exchange proceeds received and/or the reduction of debt to the extent there is a capital gain. Read the full article, Partial Exchanges.
No, an LLC member interest, where the LLC elects to be treated as a partnership, or partnership interest is considered personal property and cannot be exchanged. IRC Section 1031(a)(2)(D) specifically prohibits the exchange of partnership interests. However, both an LLC or partnership (or any other entity for that matter) can do a 1031 exchange on the entity level, meaning the entire partnership relinquishes a property and the entire partnership stays intact and purchases a replacement property. If you are in a situation where some LLC members or some partners would like to exchange, but others don’t, consult with your tax or legal advisors and discuss the issues involved with strategies and the timing of performing what is known as “drop and swap” or a “swap and drop” alternatives. In a community property states only, a husband and wife who are the sole members of a two-member LLC may be considered a single-member disregarded LLC for Federal tax purposes – check with your tax or legal advisors to discuss this more thoroughly. Read the full article, Partnerships and 1031 Exchanges.
A tenant-in-common ownership program, often referred to as a “TIC”, is where a taxpayer acquires fractional ownership in a larger commercial property with up to 35 other co-owners. There are many benefits to TIC ownership including professional property management, geographic diversification, appreciation, predictable cash flow, depreciation and flexibility without management problems. A properly structured TIC program should not be a joint venture or a partnership. Read the full article, Tenant-In_Common Basics.
The central issue is whether or not the investor has the intent to “hold for investment”, not just the period of time. There is no “safe” holding period to automatically qualify as being held for investment. Time is only one of the factors the IRS can look at to determine the taxpayer’s intent for both the relinquished and replacement properties. Every investor has unique facts and circumstances and it is up to them, and their tax or legal advisors, to be able to substantiate that their primary intent was to hold property for investment purposes. Read the full article, How Long to Hold.
Real property held for productive use in a trade or business or for investment can be exchanged for any other real property held for productive use in a trade or business or for investment – these properties are considered “like-kind” to one another. Examples of like-kind investment real estate include: exchanging unimproved for an improved property; a fee interest for a leasehold with 30 or more years left; exchanging vacant raw land for a commercial building, or exchanging a single family rental for a small apartment complex. Read the full article, Like-Kind Property.
The improvement exchange, sometimes referred to as a construction or build-to-suit exchange, allows an investor, through the use of a qualified intermediary, to make improvements on the replacement property using exchange equity. The improvement exchange can often result in a better or more suitable investment property that those readily available on the open market. The ability to refurbish, add capital improvements, or build from the ground up, while using tax-deferred dollars, can create tremendous investment opportunities. Read the full article, Improvement Exchanges.
IRC Section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges allow real estate investors to defer capital gain taxes on the sale of real property held for productive use in a trade or business or for investment. This tax savings provides many benefits including the obvious – 100% preservation of equity. Investors can take advantage of 1031 exchanges to meet other objectives, including A ) Leverage: exchanging from a high equity position or “free and clear” property into a much larger property with some financing in order to increase their return on investment. B) Diversification: such as exchanging into other geographical regions or diversifying by property type such as exchanging from several residential units into a retail strip center. C) Management Relief: for example, exchanging out of multiple relinquished properties into either a replacement property like an apartment complex with an on-site manager or a tenant-in-common ownership program. Read the full article, Sale vs. a 1031 Exchange.
Boot is any non-like-kind real property received by the taxpayer and is taxable to the extent there is capital gain. “Cash boot” is the receipt of exchange proceeds by the taxpayer. “Mortgage boot”, also sometimes referred to as “debt relief,” is the taxpayer having less debt on the replacement property or properties that they had on their relinquished property. Cash or mortgage boot can be offset by the taxpayer adding outside cash to the replacement property purchase. If the taxpayer wants to receive cash boot, it must be received either at the closing of the relinquished property or after they have purchased all property they are entitled to under the exchange agreement- which is generally the end of the exchange period. Read the full article, What is Boot?