What is a 1031 Exchange?

A 1031 exchange is a transaction tool that real estate investors can use to defer capital gains tax, increase return, and add to an estate plan for transferring assets.


A 1031 exchange allows a real estate investor to sell a piece of investment property and if they plan on reinvesting the proceeds into another property, they can defer all the capital gains tax due from the sale property if they structure the exchange correctly. The IRS has outlined the statutory requirements to complete a correct exchange in Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 1031:

productive use in a trade or business or for investment.”

Any gain earned on the sale of real estate held longer than one year is normally subject to long-term capital gains tax. If an investor structures a 1031 exchange, then they defer payment of capital gains tax and use the entire amount of gain to invest in a new property. If the investor passes a 1031 property over to their heirs, then the heirs receive the property at a stepped-up basis.


1031 Tax-deferred exchanges allow investors to defer capital gain taxes which can help leverage capital to build portfolio growth and increase their return on investment. In order to access the full potential of these benefits, it is crucial to have a comprehensive knowledge of the exchange process and the Section 1031 code. We often see investors use qualified intermediaries that, unfortunately, do not know the intricacies of the 1031 code, and either unnecessarily limit options, or are not educated enough to advise when the exchange may be in jeopardy of an IRS audit. Global Partners Exchange is a reliable resource for exchange information.

Ask us about your 1031 exchange options before you decide to initiate an exchange. We can help you plan and answer questions regarding your individual goals.

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