Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We list lots of questions and answers below. But if you have questions about your specific situation, please schedule a consultation and we will be glad to help you.
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General Questions

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The IRS regulations are very clear. The taxpayer may not receive the proceeds or take constructive receipt of the funds in any way, without disqualifying the exchange.
That's us. The IRS says if you touch the money you pay the tax. However, if you use a qualified intermediary to transfer the money from the sold property into the purchased property, you qualify for a tax free exchange. The IRS does not permit your accountant, attorney, or escrow company to be your qualified intermediary. Click Here to View our Bond
Any investor can qualify! Section 1031 of the IRS code lets you sell your property and buy a new property without paying any taxes. You simply follow specific rules. That's where we come in. As a professional qualified intermediary, we'll help you qualify and gain the advantages of a 1031 tax free exchange.
No, the IRS doesn't allow us to act as both your qualified intermediary and your attorney or tax advisor. We will work with your attorney and CPA to make sure your tax-free exchange goes smoothly.
Yes. However, to have a full tax deferred exchange all notes must be paid by buyer and the acquired property must close within the 180 day period. If the notes are not paid within 180 days then the portion of the exchange proceeds in the 1031 Exchange can be exchanged for like kind property and the funds from the note are classified as an installment sale and are taxable when received. Example 1: Relinquished property sells for $500,000.00. Buyer pays $200,000.00 cash and seller gives a $300,000.00 carry back note with a term of 3 months. The $200,000.00 is placed in the 1031 Exchange account and the $300,000.00 note is made payable to the Exchange Accommodator. When the 3 month term is up the buyer pays the $300,000.00 to the Exchange Accommodator and the taxpayer (seller) buys replacement property for $500,000.00. This is a fully deferred exchange. Example 2: Relinquished property sells for $500,000.00. Buyer pays $200,000.00 cash and seller gives a $300,000.00 carry back note with a term of 3 years. The $200,000.00 is placed in the 1031 Exchange account and the $300,000.00 note is made payable to the Seller. Seller then buys replacement property for $200,000.00 and receives payment on the note in installments. This is a partial exchange and the note installment proceeds are taxable when received.
No, you do not have to spend all of your funds. However any amount not spent will be considered cash boot and will be subject to capital gains taxes and any applicable recaptured depreciation. For example: The Relinquished (sold) property is sold for $500,000.00. The Acquired (bought) property is bought for $400,000.00. The $100,000.00 would be considered cash boot and would be taxable.
The IRS regulations are very clear. The taxpayer may not receive the proceeds or take constructive receipt of the funds in any way, without disqualifying the exchange.
Yes, you can. By simply following the 1031 exchange rules every time you sell one or more properties and buy replacement properties, when you die your estate escapes all the capital gains taxes forever!
You can eliminate paying any capital gains taxes, and you can eliminate paying the even higher-rate taxes on the recapture of depreciation you've taken on your property. By exchanging into a higher priced property you'll also gain additional depreciation deductions which can increase your after-tax income.
Yes, there are many non-tax reasons to exchange. For example, if you no longer like managing property, you can exchange your management intensive property for triple-net management free property, or exchange multiple smaller properties for one that can be professionally managed. Or, say your current property cannot be easily refinanced. You could exchange out of that property for a new property which could be refinanced more easily so you can take some cash out. Or, you might exchange to improve cash flow.
Almost every kind of real estate is considered "like kind" and can be exchanged for any other real estate, including vacant land for apartments, a rental house for a shopping center, an office building for a leasehold interest with 30 years or more remaining, as long as you hold them for investment or business use. Check with us on the specific properties.
Yes, you can buy a new property before selling the old property and still qualify. This is called a "reverse" exchange. The qualified intermediary takes title to the new property you buy and holds it for you until you sell your old property. Here is a video that describes this in more detail:
Yes, one way is to complete the exchange first and then refinance the new property.
Yes, if you do it right. Using an IRA for real estate requires a special Self-Directed IRA. Your Self-Directed IRA at Charles Schwab or Fidelity does NOT permit you to hold real estate or any asset other than securities. This can be solved by moving your IRA to a custodian that allows for real estate in the plan document. With the right Self-Directed IRA (known as Real Estate IRA) and proper structuring, you partner with your IRA to buy leveraged real estate. When it comes time to sell, you can 1031 your portion of the gain while the IRA gets its portion of the gains tax exempt. For more information on how you can use an IRA to purchase real estate please visit www.MyRealEstateIRA.com.
You trade up by getting a bigger loan on the new property, or adding cash, or equities in other properties, or notes carried back from the sale of other properties, etc. Done right, it's all tax free.
Yes, you can refinance the property you are selling before you exchange, or refinance the property you are buying after you exchange, and the proceeds are tax-free. Check with us for the details as the timing and contract dates are critical.
Yes, the payments you receive are taxed as you get them, if received past 180 days, on an installment sale basis. The balance of your equity is exchanged tax free.
Yes, provided your sale has not closed yet, simply contact us and we will turn your taxable sale into a tax free exchange with some simple paperwork. You can call us right up until the day before closing.
No, you do not have to reinvest 100% of your net sales proceeds, however the amount that you do not reinvest will be subject to depreciation recapture and capital gain income tax liabilities. This is called trading down in value or completing a partial 1031 exchange and will result in mortgage boot and/or cash boot. You will need to reinvest 100% of your net sales proceeds if you want to defer 100% of your income tax liabilities.
Most tax professionals advise that the best and safest way to complete this exchange is to purchase as a single person and then add the spouse at a later date after the completion of the exchange. The spouse may be also added to the title of the relinquished property if the exchange is planned ahead of time.
Realized gain is the increase in the taxpayer's economic position as a result of the exchange. In a sale, tax is paid on the realized gain. Recognized gain is the taxable gain. Recognized gain is the lesser of realized gain or the net boot received.
Boot is any property received by the taxpayer in the exchange which is not like-kind to the relinquished property. Boot is characterized as either "cash" boot or "mortgage" boot. Realized Gain is recognized to the extent of net boot received.
Mortgage Boot consists of liabilities assumed or given up by the taxpayer. The taxpayer pays mortgage boot when he assumes or places debt on the replacement property. The taxpayer receives mortgage boot when he is relieved of debt on the replacement property. If the taxpayer does not acquire debt that is equal to or greater than the debt that was paid off, they are considered to be relieved of debt. The debt relief portion is taxable, unless offset when netted against other boot in the transaction.
Cash Boot is any boot received by the taxpayer, other than mortgage boot. Cash boot may be in the form of money or other property.
Yes. There is no limit as to how many relinquished properties or how many like-kind replacement properties you can have within the same 1031 tax-deferred exchange transaction. As long as the aggregate value of all of the relinquished properties is equal or greater than the purchase price of the acquired property, you will still have a valid 1031 exchange.
No, as long as the taxpayer has not transferred title, or the benefits and burdens of the relinquished property, she can still set up a tax-deferred Exchange. Once the closing occurs, it is too late to take advantage of a 1031 exchange (even if the taxpayer has not cashed the proceeds check).
The value of the replacement property must be equal to or greater than the value of the relinquished property. The equity in the replacement property must be equal to or greater than the equity in the relinquished property. The debt on the replacement property must be equal to or greater than the debt on the relinquished property. All of the net proceeds from the sale of the relinquished property must be used to acquire the replacement property.
Once the money is deposited into an exchange account, funds can only be withdrawn in accordance with the Regulations. The taxpayer cannot receive any money until the exchange is complete. If you want to receive a portion of the proceeds in cash, this must be done before the funds are deposited with the Qualified Intermediary.
No, The current tax rate will be charged when you defer taxes but it will be based on your gain from the first and all subsequent transactions.
A Section 1031 exchange is one of the few techniques available to postpone or potentially eliminate taxes due on the sale of qualifying properties. By deferring the tax, you have more money available to invest in another property. In effect, you receive an interest free loan from the federal government, in the amount you would have paid in taxes. Any gain from depreciation recapture is postponed. You can acquire and dispose of properties to reallocate your investment portfolio without paying tax on any gain.
The value of the replacement property must be equal to or greater than the value of the relinquished property. The equity in the replacement property must be equal to or greater than the equity in the relinquished property. The debt on the replacement property must be equal to or greater than the debt on the relinquished property. All of the net proceeds from the sale of the relinquished property must be used to acquire the replacement property.
Once the money is deposited into an exchange account, funds can only be withdrawn in accordance with the Regulations. The taxpayer cannot receive any money until the exchange is complete. If you want to receive a portion of the proceeds in cash, this must be done before the funds are deposited with the Qualified Intermediary.
Yes! While your tax basis would be carried forward from your relinquished property, your basis would be depreciated on a brand new 27.5 year (for residential) or 39 year (for commercial) schedule.

Identification Rules

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You must identify the replacement property(ies) within 45 days of the close of escrow of the relinquished property.
The IRS states that identification must be in writing, signed by you and delivered to a person involved in the exchange like the qualified intermediary.
A valid identification will have the replacement properties clearly described. In the case of real estate, this means the legal description, street address or distinguishable name and proposed purchase price.
There are 3 methods for identification but you may only choose one. The "three property" rule, the "200%" rule, and the "95%" rule. Please call us at 866-944-1031 for details.
If the taxpayer is within the 45 day identification period, correction or substitutions may be made to the identification. If the taxpayer has identified property and has passed the 45 day identification period, other property cannot be substituted.

Exchange Timelines

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There is no holding period. You can exchange the day after you buy a property. Remember you don't want to be considered a dealer or speculator so be certain not to have a contract on the record to SELL before you have actually closed on the property you are BUYING..but you can enter a contract to sell right after you buy.
Property(ies) to be acquired must be identified and delivered by midnight of the 45th day following the date of close of the relinquished property. All replacement property(ies) must close escrow by midnight of the 180th day following the date of close of the relinquished property.
There are no actual holding rules given by the IRS. Many tax advisors advise that the property be held at least 12 moths prior to the exchange. The amount of time the property is held is not the only thing the IRS looks at when determining the validity of a 1031 Exchange. Another important factor is the intent to hold the property for business or investment use.
For the most part the answer is no. However, the IRS has issued extensions to areas affected by natural disasters. Your accommodator will have the latest information regarding limit extensions. An example of an extension issued by the IRS is here.
The exchange must be completed by the tax filing date of April 15th unless a taxpayer files for an extension to file federal and state tax returns. Once the extensions of time have been filed, you must complete your 1031 exchange transaction within the 180 days before you actually file your Federal and state income tax returns.

Related Party

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Related parties include, but are not limited to, immediate family members, such as brothers, sisters, spouses, ancestors and lineal descendents. A corporation, limited liability company or partnership in which more than 50% of the stock, membership interests or partnership interests, or more than 50% of the capital interest or profits interest owned by the taxpayer is also considered to be a related party. The executor of an estate and the beneficiary of the estate in a trust are also considered related parties.
The IRS has issued Revenue Ruling 2002-83 which describes its position on related party exchanges. Click here for document. A taxpayer can SELL a property to a related party and acquire like-kind replacement property from a non-related party without violating 1031 rules, however both parties must hold the respective properties for a minimum of 2 years to qualify. The IRS has offered several private letter rulings which may dispose of the 2 year holding period for the related buyer. Click to view a selected private letter ruling: PLR200709036, PLR200712013, PLR2007280108. A taxpayer cannot SELL to a related party and BUY property from a related party unless both parties are completing their own 1031 Exchange or can prove that the transaction was not completed to avoid taxes. A taxpayer cannot sell to an unrelated party and buy from a related party.

Explanations

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The three (3) property identification rule limits the total (aggregate) number of like-kind replacement properties that you can identify to three (3) potential like-kind replacement properties. The vast majority of Investors today use this three (3) property identification rule.
You can identify more than three (3) like-kind replacement properties as long as the total (aggregate) fair market value of all the identified like-kind replacement properties does not exceed 200% of the total (aggregate) net sales value of your relinquished property(ies) sold in your 1031 exchange. The limitation is only on the total (aggregate) identified value. There is no limitation on the total number of like-kind replacement properties.For example, if you sold relinquished property(ies) in the amount of $2,000,000 you would be able to identify as many like-kind replacement properties as you want as long as the total (aggregate) value of the identified like-kind replacement properties does not exceed $4,000,000 (200% of $2,000,000).
Its good to have choices, but be careful with this exception. It is an exceptionally useful tool under the right circumstances, but can present some tricky problems. You may need to identify significantly more like-kind replacement properties than the first two identification rules permit. There is no limit as to the total (aggregate) number or value of identified like-kind replacement properties permitted under the 95% exception as long as you actually acquire and close on 95% of the value identified. However, if you do not acquire and close on at least 95% of the value of the identified like-kind replacement properties the entire 1031 exchange transaction will be disallowed.

IRS Reporting

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Requires that you provide the IRS with the description of your relinquished and replacement properties, the date your relinquished property was acquired by and conveyed to the buyer, the date the like-kind replacement property was identified to your Qualified Intermediary by you, and the date the like-kind replacement property was acquired by and conveyed to you. These last two (2) items are to ensure that you have complied with the 45 calendar day identification rule and the 180 calendar day 1031 exchange period. IRS Form 8824 also asks for any related party information. Click here to download IRS Form 8824.
Any taxable gain recognized will be reported on IRS Form 4797 or Schedule D depending on the character of the relinquished property. Your taxable gain must be allocated between ordinary income depreciation recapture, unrecaptured Section 1250 taxable gain, Section 1231 taxable gain, and capital gain.
You may be able to report all or a portion of the taxable gain under the installment sale basis pursuant to Section 453 of the Internal Revenue Code if you accepted a seller carry back note as part of the consideration from the buyer of your relinquished property by completing IRS Form 6252.