1. What is a 1031 exchange and what does it do?

Internal Revenue Code §1031 represents the ability to defer Federal capital gains and recaptured depreciation taxes when selling real or personal property held for investment or in the production of income or in a business and replacing with real or personal property held for investment or in the production of income or in a business. By deferring the tax, the Exchangor is able to use the tax deferred as additional capital towards the purchase of more real or personal property. Rather than paying the tax which is then deferred until the sale of the replacement property, the gain or the dollars it represents can be used to purchase a greater value of property, thus maximizing the marginal use of each taxable dollar.

Ok, so what does this mean? Given a rental property purchased for $50,000 with a $25,000 loan and later after ten years sold for $150,000. The structure is valued at $25,000 and was depreciated each year totaling $9,091. Selling expenses include realtor sales commission, title insurance and other associated closing expenses of $13,500. The total capital gain is $95,591. If a 1031 exchange is initiated, the total tax deferred is $15,248 (recaptured depreciation of $2,273 + Federal capital gain $12,975). Rather than exiting the closing with after tax equity of $96,252, initiate a 1031 exchange reinvesting $150,000 or more in the replacement property and allow the $15,248 to continue to work in your interest. Effectively, the 1031 is an interest free loan of $15,248 allowing a cash infusion to fund new opportunities. For more information - ask the expert.

2. Can an investment property be converted into a primary residence?

Yes. Land or a rental property can be converted into a primary residence as long as the Exchangor did not have a concrete intent to convert at the time of purchase. If the property is converted soon after the purchase, the IRS will most likely want to talk with you. If you have an undefined intent to build a home or the possibility of conversion exists, but no definite plans have been established or architectural drawings have been created, then this intent should not prevent the conversion.

Revenue Procedure 2008-16 provides a safe harbor helping us to understand on long a replacement property must be held prior to conversion. The property qualifies as replacement property if held for two years. If the replacement property is a rental, then it must be rented to another person(s) (non family member) at a fair market rental for 14 days or more; and the Exchangor's use does not exceed the greater of 14 days or 10% of the number of days during the two 12-month periods the property is rented. For more information - ask the expert.

3. What are the tax consequences when the primary residence represents replacement property in a 1031 exchange?

Now that the property is held as a primary residence, it is subject to §121 and is eligible for the $250,000 (if filing single) or $500,000 (if filing jointly) gain exclusion. The property must be held for a five year period beginning when the property was initially purchased as a replacement property. The §121 exclusion does not apply to the years the property was held as a rental property or not as the Exchangor's principal residence, otherwise known as "non-qualified use." 

Given two years held as an investment property, converted to a primary residence in year three and later sold at the end of the fifth year, the property is sold for a realized gain of $300,000. Two fifths of the gain is non-qualified representing $120,000 for the two years held as an investment property. Three fifths or three years is eligible for the gain exclusion or $180,000. There are multiple variable to consider when determining the tax consequences. See the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008 in the 2008 1031 Newsletter and seek the counsel of your accountant. For more information - ask the expert.

4. Do I need to reinvest only the net equity?

If the objective is to defer the entire Federal capital gain and recaptured depreciation, then both the debt retired at the closing and the net equity otherwise known as exchange proceeds must be reinvested. The first dollar received at closing is taxable. For more information - ask the expert.


5. What about the earnest money deposit or funds used to improve the property, can I take that out without having to pay Federal capital gains tax?

The IRS views this as taxable and yes, funds once in an exchange and removed will be taxed twice. You can receive the cash at closing but it will be taxed. For more information - ask the expert.


6. Can I do a partial exchange?

Yes. Whenever considering a partial exchange talk with your accountant to determine whether it is in your interest. There is a point once you get close to removing 50% of the total value (net equity plus debt retired) that it does not make sense to enter an exchange. For more information - ask the expert.


7. Can the replacement property be purchased from a family member?

Yes, if the family member is also exchanging into another property. If the family member is cashing out, then the answer is no. For more information - ask the expert.


8. Can the relinquished (old) property be sold to a family member?

Yes. But the family member cannot sell the property for two years; otherwise their transaction will trigger the tax you have deferred. The IRS is looking for what is called related party transactions on Form 8824 used to file the 1031 exchange with your yearly Form 1040. For more information - ask the expert.


9. What is a related party?

The term "related party" is any person bearing a relationship to the Exchangor described in Section 267(b) or 707(b)(1) including:

1. Family members (siblings, spouse, ancestors, and lineal descendants);
2. Individual and corporation, when more than 50% in value of the stock is owned directly or indirectly by or for such individual;
3. Two corporations part of the same control group;
4. A grantor and fiduciary of the same trust;
5. A fiduciary and a beneficiary of the same trust;
6. A fiduciary of a trust and the fiduciary or beneficiary of another trust where the same person is the grantor of both trusts;
7. A fiduciary of a trust and a corporation more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by or for the trust or by or for the grantor of the trust;
8. A person and a Section 501 organization, if the organization is controlled by that person or that person's family;
9. A corporation and a partnership is the same persons own more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of the corporation and more than 50% of capital interest or profits interest in the partnership.
10. An S corporation and another S corporation or a C corporation if the same persons own more than 50% of the value of the outstanding stock of each corporation;
11. A partnership and a person owning, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the capital interest, or profits interest, in such partnership;
12. Two partnerships in which the same person own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% capital interests or profits interests; and 
13. An estate executor and the beneficiaries of the estate.

10. My property is being purchased by the State under condemnation or eminent domain, does a 1031 apply?

No, a 1031 exchange does not typically apply. Section 1033 is the relevant Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) and provides that the Seller have up to two years to replace the property. The Taxpayer has two choices either use the "similar or related in use" standard meaning the replacement property must have the same functional use of the condemned property. The replacement property can be improvements on land already owned by the Taxpayer. Or use the standard under I.R.C. §1033(g) which is the same as found und I.R.C. §1031, like-kind property for like-kind property. There is no need for an intermediary in a §1033 transaction.
For more information - ask the expert.

11. Does the relinquished property need to be held for a certain amount of time?

The general answer is no, however a one year hold time is suggested. The shorter the hold time the more supportive the facts need to be. Exchanges are composed of intent and facts. Hold time is one fact of many that support the intent to defer the taxes in a 1031 exchange.

If the relinquished property is a vacation home, Revenue Procedure 2008-16 applies effective for exchanges after March 10, 2008. The investment property must be held for 24 months prior to the sale and in each of the two 12-month periods: (1) the Exchangor rents the relinquished property to another person or persons at fair market rental for 14 days or more; and (2) the Exchangor's personal use must not exceed the greater of 14 days or 10% of the number of the rentals days for that period. The replacement property if a dwelling unit must adhere to a 24-month hold and usage requirements. For more information - ask the expert.


12. Can I exchange personal property for real property?

No, real property can be exchange for any real property; land for rental or storage units for parking garage. Personal property must be exchange for the same class or kind of personal property. For more information - ask the expert.


13. Can foreign property be exchanged for US property?

No, US property must be exchanged for US property while foreign property must be exchanged for any foreign property. For more information - ask the expert.


14. Can a self directed IRA purchase property I own or from a family member?

The general answer is no, you cannot purchase from yourself or ascending or descending family member. The IRS is gray on whether you can purchase from your brother or sister. For more information - ask the expert.
 

15. I am a developer of residential homes and commercial properties, can I use the 1031 exchange?

Yes, if those properties you wish to exchange are held separately from the properties you hold as inventory. Hold the properties either under a different company or at least have the properties accounted for differently as on a separate balance sheet. Inventory is not eligible for 1031 consideration. For more information - ask the expert.


16. Why should I consider a 1031 exchange when selling an investment property?

The tax deferral that can represent upwards of 40% of the sale given a Federal capital gains rate of 15% allows you to purchase more property, translating into greater appreciation and ultimately greater profits. In addition, there are a number of other reasons unrelated to the Federal or State tax deferral including:

1. Taxpayer is moving to another location, city or state and wants to be close to the property. 
2. The old property is located in an area that is no longer appreciating as fast as another locale.
3. Greater cash flow can be generated by a rental property versus land.
4. The old property has been or is close to being fully depreciated. Exchange to benefit from greater depreciation.
5. Exchangor wants to exchange several smaller investment properties into one or consolidate.
6. Exchangor wants to diversify from one property into many smaller properties.
For more information - ask the expert.

17. Is a 1031 exchange, really tax free?

Yes, if you die with the property and it is gifted to your heirs. Your beneficiaries receive the property at the stepped up basis not at the price you paid for it. Otherwise, no, a 1031 exchange defers the tax liability indefinitely until the replacement property is sold. There is no limit to the number of 1031 exchanges you can initiate. For more information - ask the expert.

18. Is an assignment considered real property?
It depends upon how the state.  Ask your attorney whether an assignment is considered real property.  Ask is there a hold time requirement.  Some states don't recognize the assignment as real property until it has been held for a minimum of one year.  For more information - ask the expert.

19. Can the Earnest Money Deposit for the replacement property be paid from exchange proceeds?
Yes, the EMD can be paid from the proceeds.  All that is needed is the amount and wire instructions.

20. If the lender requires the spouse on the replacement property loan and not the spouse who owns the relinquished property, how does that impact the exchange?
This is a complex question.  If the spouse on the old deed has debt and the other spouse not on the new deed is the required name on the new loan (the new debt replaces the old debt) the spouse on the old deed is receiving a benefit or mortgage boot.  The lender is not requiring the loan holder to be on the new deed.  The mortgage boot will trigger a tax calling into question whether the exchange will defer adequate gain to be worthwhile. For more information - ask the expert.

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