Interested in doing a 1031 exchange or wondering if it’s the right option for you?

If you are, you’re not alone. A 1031 exchange is a popular option for real estate newcomers and seasoned investors alike. However, it can also be a complicated process, and its potential benefits and drawbacks may not always be clear.

To help you decide if a 1031 exchange is right for you, in this article we’ll cover the basic information you need to know, including:

• What is a 1031 exchange?
• Potential Advantages of a 1031 exchange
• Potential Limitations of a 1031 exchange

What is a 1031 Exchange?

A 1031 exchange is arguably the most valuable tax advantage available to real property owners. Stemming from section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, a 1031 exchange allows a property owner to defer paying capital gains tax on the sale of their investment property by investing the proceeds into a “like-kind” property.

While this process is relatively simple in broad terms, there are a few specific requirements that must be met in order to qualify for a 1031 exchange.  Exchange-X can help you navigate those requirements and ensure you qualify for this tax benefit.

Refer to “What is a 1031 Exchange?” to learn more.

Potential Advantages of a 1031 Exchange

There are many potential advantages to a 1031 exchange, and each one can have a notable and positive impact on your portfolio. We have outlined the primary benefits below.

Tax Deferral

The most significant advantage of a 1031 exchange is the ability to defer capital gains taxes on the sale of an investment or business property. By reinvesting the proceeds from the sale into a like-kind property, the taxpayer can defer paying taxes until a future sale occurs without incurring any immediate tax liability.

Trade Up

1031 exchange rules state that in order to successfully defer all capital gain taxes, the exchanger must purchase a replacement property that is “equal or greater” value than the relinquished property.  Doing a 1031 exchange also allows you to “trade up” to a higher-value property if you choose to do so, growing the value of your portfolio while still deferring any capital gains taxes.

Diversification

Another advantage of a 1031 exchange is the ease with which you can diversify and expand your portfolio. Investors can reposition their portfolio into a diversified base of geographical locations, sectors and tenants.

Consolidation

A 1031 exchange allows investors to consolidate multiple properties into a single property. For example, an investor with several smaller properties can exchange them for a larger, more valuable property, which may provide better economies of scale, management efficiencies, or increased rental income potential.

Increase Depreciation

As you may know, depreciation on your property can be written off for tax purposes to account for the natural deterioration and obsolescence of the property over time.  However, the downside is that it eventually runs out.  In a 1031 exchange, you might be able to reset the depreciable amount of your investment, which would give you a bigger tax benefit.

Wealth Accumulation

By continually engaging in 1031 exchanges, investors can continuously defer taxes and potentially accumulate more wealth. They can sell properties that have appreciated in value, acquire new ones, and repeat the process. This strategy can enable the compounding of investment gains over time.

Estate Planning

A 1031 exchange can be a useful tool in estate planning. By utilizing 1031 exchanges during their lifetime, property owners can defer capital gains taxes and potentially pass on properties to heirs with a stepped-up basis, potentially reducing the tax burden on the beneficiaries.

We touch on these topics in greater detail in our articles titled A Solution for Your 1031 Exchange & 10 Potential Advantages of Owning a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST).

Potential Limitations of a 1031 Exchange

While there are numerous potential benefits of 1031 exchanges, there are also a few drawbacks that you need to understand. Below are the drawbacks that you will be most likely to run into.

Strict 1031 Deadlines

If you’ve done any research into 1031 exchanges before reading this article, you’ve probably seen that timing is everything. The Internal Revenue Code outlines a specific timeline that must be met for a 1031 exchange to be possible.

First, you must identify the property or properties you intend to purchase within 45-days of the sale.

Second, you must close escrow within 180-days from the time of the sale.

If either of those requirements are not met, the 1031 exchange will be disallowed and you will likely have to pay the necessary capital gain taxes.

Not All Properties are Created Equal

Another potential drawback of a 1031 exchange is that all properties are not created equal. Although the “like-kind” requirement is relatively lenient, it’s still up to you to find a suitable replacement property that meets your requirements. You might be able to avoid taxes in the short term but purchasing a poorly performing property purely for the tax benefits will not benefit your portfolio in the long term.

This potential drawback is why it’s so important to have an experienced team on your side during the 1031 exchange process. A team of experts can do the legwork of finding a suitable replacement property for you, leaving you with ample time to consider your options and make an informed decision.

Potential to Still be Taxed

Lastly, there are some situations in a 1031 exchange where you could still be taxed on a portion of the proceeds. The most common situation occurs when there is another form of taxable gain during the transaction, either due to leftover equity not spent on the replacement property, a change in your loan liabilities or a tax on the accumulated depreciation.

For example, if you sold your previous property for $2 million, but your replacement property only costs $1 million, you will be taxed on the difference.

As with the potential depreciation benefits discussed previously, we recommend you speak with your accountant or one of our experts to better understand how this potential drawback could impact your specific situation.

Conclusion

We hope this article has given you a good overview of what a 1031 exchange is along with the potential advantages and limitations.  Although a 1031 exchange can be complicated, they are a powerful tool that every real estate investor should have in their toolkit.

If you are considering a 1031 exchange for your property or have additional questions about the process, don’t go it alone. Our experts at Exchange-X have helped countless investors navigate the 1031 exchange process and we would love to assist you as well.

To see whether a 1031 exchange is right for you, visit our Resource Center or schedule a consultation with one of our experts today.

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Download your free copy of “The Power of 1031 Exchanges and Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs)” to learn more about how Delaware Statutory Trusts (DST) can complement your portfolio.