Do you own business or investment property that has gone up in value? Would you like to acquire new property?
If you sell the old property, you’ll have to pay tax on your profits. Don’t do that. Instead, do a tax-deferred Section 1031 transaction.
With a properly constructed Section 1031 transaction, you
1. sell your old property,
2. buy the replacement property, and
3. pay no taxes.
To make this work, your first step is to engage a Section 1031 intermediary.
Second, you need to buy a replacement property of equal or greater value than the property you sell.
You may have noted that I left out the word “exchange” when introducing Section 1031. I did that on purpose, because to exchange means to trade. In the Section 1031 exchanges I’m familiar with, it’s never a swap of properties. Instead, it’s a sale and purchase using the Section 1031 rules to defer the taxes.
The Section 1031 exchange rules are complex and include strict deadlines for identifying and acquiring the property involved. To do this right, you need a qualified intermediary, which can be a bank, a lawyer, or a Section 1031 company.
In the past, Section 1031 allowed both personal property and real property exchanges. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated personal property exchanges, such as trading in your vehicle for a replacement.
But real property exchanges remain. They are true tax-saving machines. And the new IRS regs make it clear that a Section 1031 transaction does not get in the way of cost segregation—a method used to speed up depreciation on real property.
In conclusion, we recommend to talk with a tax pro if you would like to discuss the possible use of a Section 1031 transaction to upgrade your rental or business property portfolio.
Takeaways
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact me by scheduling a call, or by emailing at [email protected].
We specialize in helping clients clarify their taxes so they keep more of their money. Many small business owners who come to see us in Fort Worth, TX generally do not understand the tax law enough to explain it to a fifth grader.
Tatsiana B. Bender
Bender CPA, PLLC
Fort Worth, TX 76107
[email protected]
Phone: (817) 313-4352
Bender-CPA.com
