What is a 1031 Exchange and can it work for you?
Thanks to IRC Section 1031, a properly structured 1031 exchange allows an investor to sell a property, to reinvest the proceeds in a new property, and to defer capital gain taxes.
1031 EXCHANGE FOR REAL ESTATE INVESTORS – THE BENEFITS
Whether an investor’s property is owned free and clear or encumbered, the benefits of a tax deferred exchange can be significant. The tax dollars saved by doing an exchange can be used to buy additional investment property.
An investor who exchanges is able to defer the capital gain tax and buy a replacement property worth more than the investor who simply sells and reinvests with after tax dollars.
1031 Exchange for real estate investors provides one of the best tax strategies for preserving the value of an investment portfolio. By using an exchange, the investor is able to defer the recognition of capital gain taxes that would otherwise be due with the sale of an investment property. To qualify as an exchange the relinquished and replacement properties must be qualified “like-kind” properties and the transaction must be structured as an exchange.
1031 EXCHANGE FOR REAL ESTATE INVESTORS – NON TAX BENEFITS
In addition to deferring the capital gain tax, tax deferred exchanges provide the investor with a wide range of non-tax opportunities that may suit an investor’s portfolio
- Reposition assets
- Change property types
- Increase leverage
- Increase depreciation deduction
- Reduce management obligations
- Provide for estate and retirement planning
- Allow for relocation
- Improve cash flow
- Achieve property consolidation or diversification
- Eliminate or create joint ownership
THE EXCHANGE PROCESS
Most exchanges, involve three parties: the investor, (exchanger), who is doing the exchange, the buyer who is buying the exchanger’s old (relinquished) property, and the seller who is selling the exchanger a new (replacement) property. To create the exchange of assets and to obtain the benefit of the “Safe Harbor” protections of the tax code, it is wise to employ an Exchange Accomodator, or Exchange Facilitator. This qualified intermediary becomes a fourth party principal in both simultaneous and delayed exchanges.
The steps for completing an exchange are relatively simple with qualified intermediary:
- The exchanger signs a contract to sell a relinquished property to the buyer.
- Exchanger enters into an exchange agreement with a Qualified Intermediary and assigns rights in the sale contract to the intermediary, including the right to receive the exchange funds.
- At the closing of the relinquished property, the exchange funds are wired to the intermediary and the intermediary instructs the settlement officer to transfer the deed directly from the exchanger to the buyer.
- The exchanger has a maximum of 180 days in the exchange period to acquire all replacement property.
- Unless the exchanger can acquire all replacement property within the first 45 days from the close of the relinquished property, the exchanger must identify possible replacement properties in writing to the intermediary within the 45 day identification period.
- The exchanger signs a contract to buy the replacement property with the seller and the exchanger assigns the exchanger’s rights in the purchase contract to the intermediary.
- At the closing of the replacement property, the intermediary wires the exchange funds to complete the exchange and the intermediary instructs the settlement officer to transfer the deed directly from the seller to the exchanger.
EXCHANGE REQUIREMENTS
As a general rule of thumb, to avoid paying capital gain taxes in an exchange, the investor should always attempt to:
- Buy a property of equal or greater value, (net sales price).
- Reinvest all of the net equity in replacement property
- Obtain equal or greater debt on replacement property.
*Exceptions: A reduction in debt can be offset with additional cash from exchanger, but increasing debt cannot offset a reduction in exchange equity.
Do you own an investment property and thinking about selling it to buy another that might have more cash flow or less management headaches? We can help. Give me a call or send me an email, let’s talk about what’s possible for your situation.
Cathi and Ben Walter
Cathi(at)DesertAreaHomeFinder(dotted)com
760.218.5752