Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange (Part I)

An opportunity to defer taxes and build wealth arises when and individual or entity sells an investment property for more than he or it purchased it for. Generally, tax on the seller’s capital gain is due upon the sale of property. However, Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 provides an exception to this rule and allows a seller of investment property (referred to here as the “Relinquished Property”) to re-invest his proceeds into another investment property (referred to here as the “Replacement Property”) as part of a qualifying “like-kind” Exchange. Often misunderstood by taxpayers, capital gain deferred in an Exchange is tax-deferred, but it is not tax-free.

Qualifications

Owners of property that qualify for an Exchange include individuals, C corporations, S corporations, general and limited partnerships, limited liability companies, trusts, and any other taxpaying entity. As mentioned above, the property exchanged must be held for investment purposes. Therefore, property used for personal use, such as a primary residence, a second home, or vacation home, does not qualify for an Exchange. Furthermore, both properties involved in an Exchange must be “like-kind”. Like-kind is commonly defined as property of the same nature, character, or class. Usually, real property will be considered like-kind to other real property. For example, real property that is improved with a commercial building is like-kind to vacant land. However, there are exclusions. Real property within the United States is not like-kind to real property in another country and improvements that are conveyed without the land are not like-kind to land. In order to take full advantage of the Exchange, the seller must re-invest all of his equity into the Replacement Property and obtain the same or greater debt on the Replacement Property.

Process

The first step in the Exchange process is selling the Relinquished Property. It is imperative that the seller retain a qualified, professional Exchange facilitator known as an Intermediary. Because the seller may not receive actual or constructive receipt of the  proceeds from the sale of the Relinquished Property, the Intermediary holds the proceeds until the closing on the purchase of the Replacement Property.

There are strict time limits to complete the Exchange or the entire gain will be taxable. As such, within forty five (45) calendar days of the sale of the Relinquished Property, the seller must identify the Replacement Property (or Properties) he wishes to acquire. The Replacement Property must be of equal or greater value than the sale price of the Relinquished Property.  Further, the seller must clearly identify the Replacement Property in a written document often referred to as an Identification Notice. The Identification Notice must be executed by the seller and delivered to the Intermediary. In fact, delivering the Identification Notice to an attorney, real estate agent, accountant or similar agent is not sufficient. Moreover, the identification of the Replacement Property must be specific, including the legal description and street address.

The next step in the Exchange process is purchasing the Replacement Property. The closing of the Replacement property must occur no later than one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days after the sale of the Relinquished Property or the due date (including extensions) for the filing of the tax return for the tax year in which the transfer of the Relinquished Property occurs, whichever is earlier.

Reporting

The Exchange must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service on Form 8824 and filed with the tax return for the year in which the Exchange was performed.

It is important that the property owner consults with a tax professional and tracks and adjusts the basis correctly to comply with the stringent guidelines set forth in Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. When the Replacement Property is soled (not as part of an Exchange), the original deferred gain, plus any additional gain realized since the closing on the Replacement Property, is subject to tax.

Part II of this article will be published next month.

• Nicole Villaroel is a real estate attorney at Olive Judd. She focuses her practice on commercial and residential real estate transactions.