1031 Exchanges in NYC: An Investor's Introductory Guide

Taxes aren’t exactly the most enticing of topics, unless of course you are an accountant. However, when it comes to real estate investors confronted with the potential of capital gain taxes, there is one topic that is extremely exciting - 1031 Exchanges!

The old adage says that there are two things you can’t avoid - death and paying taxes. What if you could defer them though? 1031 Exchanges do just that, allowing real estate investors to defer their capital gain taxes. In this article we'll highlight some of the key 1031 Exchange rules.

Definition of a 1031 Exchange

A 1031 Exchange, also known as a Section 1031 Exchange or a Like-Kind Exchange, is a portion of the US tax code that enables real estate investors to defer or postpone paying capital gain taxes following the sale of a business or investment property provided the proceeds are reinvested in a similar property under a like-kind exchange. These gains deferred under IRC Section 1031 are tax-deferred, and not to be confused with being tax-free.




What types of property qualify for Like-Kind Exchanges?

If you are not a veteran real estate investor, you are probably asking yourself, what actually qualifies for a Like-Kind Exchange?

First and foremost, both the property you are selling and the property you are exchanging for both need to be used for business or investment purposes. Primary residences and vacation homes do not qualify under this definition.

Second, like-kind property is such that both properties are similar. The IRS defines like-kind as “property of the same nature, character or class.” The rules are fairly vague and should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure compliance. One of the standout exceptions under section 1031 of the Internal Revenue code is that properties located in the United States are not considered like-kind to properties located outside of the United States, so keep it domestic!

What types of property are excluded?

Just as there are clear rules on what types of property qualify for a Like-Kind Exchange, the IRS is as explicit with what property is excluded under IRC Section 1031. These exclusions include the following:

  • Inventory or stock in trade
  • Stocks, bonds, or notes
  • Other securities or debt
  • Partnership interests
  • Certificates of trust

1031 Exchanges - How are they structured?

  • Simultaneous exchange: The most straight-forward type of 1031 Exchange is a simultaneous swap of one property in exchange for another. This is often viewed as the simplest exchange and poses less timing risk as the disposition of the relinquished property and acquisition of the replacement property are occurring at the same time.
  • Deferred exchange: The most common form of exchange is a deferred exchange where an investor disposes of one property and subsequently exchanges for one or more other like-kind properties provided time restriction rules are met. In addition, according to the IRS, “the disposition of the relinquished property and acquisition of the replacement property must be mutually dependent parts of an integrated transaction constituting an exchange of property.”
  • Reverse exchange: The most complex exchange is called a reverse exchange. In this case, the replacement property is acquired and held by an intermediary as an exchange titleholder for a period of no more than 180 days. During this period of 180 days, the taxpayer must dispose of the relinquished property in order to complete the exchange.

What are the time restrictions for deferred exchanges?

There are two time limits that you, your tax, legal, or accounting professionals, as well as the qualified exchange intermediary or facilitator need to be aware of when considering deferred exchanges:

  • 45 Days: As the first time limit during a transaction, an investor has 45 days from the date they complete the sale of the relinquished property to formally identify (in writing) a list of possible replacement properties. This list of properties needs to be submitted to a qualified exchange intermediary or facilitator that is involved in your 1031 Exchange transaction.
  • 180 days / Due date: In addition to the 45 days limit for identifying replacement properties, you need to be aware that you will need to acquire the replacement property or properties and complete the exchange no later than 180 days after the sale of the relinquished property or the due date, with extensions, of the federal income tax return for the tax year in which the relinquished property was disposed of, whichever is earlier.

What is a qualified exchange intermediary or facilitator?

In order to adhere to a deferred exchange being an integrated transaction, investors use a qualified intermediary or exchange facilitator to ensure compliance. These intermediaries should be contacted and engaged prior to considering or executing any part of an exchange transaction.

Upon sale of the relinquished property, the proceeds of the sale are held by the qualified intermediary, not you. Following your notification of potential replacement properties to your intermediary, and after selecting the replacement property or properties, the funds held by your qualified intermediary are then used to acquire the replacement property and complete the exchange within the statutory time limits.

Why don’t primary residences qualify under IRC Section 1031?

It is not uncommon for home owners to ask - do these exchange rules apply if I sell my primary residence and want to buy a different personal residence? The answer is no. While at first it may seem like you are missing out compared to investment property owners, it is important to remember that the federal tax code has separate provisions and exclusions for capital gain taxes on primary residences. According to the IRS on home sales, “If you have a capital gain from the sale of your main home, you may qualify to exclude up to $250,000 of that gain from your income, or up to $500,000 of that gain if you file a joint return with your spouse” The one timing exception on this is that you need to use the property as your primary residence for a minimum period totaling 2 years out of the last 5 years prior to the sale of the property.

The key benefits and why real estate investors should care

The ability to defer taxes on your gains allows those potential future gains to compound without having to pay Uncle Sam til later down the road. The best analogy for the novice real estate investor is that of retirement accounts like IRA’s and 401k’s where your savings are allowed to grow without taxation until you retire and begin pulling money.

As we’ve discussed above,1031 exchanges are far more complex than retirement savings, however the goal of letting your investments grow as tax efficiently as possible is something all investors can be happy as the put themselves on a path of greater wealth potential.





Categories: Buyer NYC Taxes