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• The general rule is that a taxpayer must hold the property for at least two years before it can be considered for Tax-Deferred treatment. This rule applies both to the Relinquished Property and Replacement Properties.
• There is a stricter time requirement when related parties are involved (Under IRC Section 1031, you cannot buy from a related party and be eligible for tax-deferral unless the related party is doing an exchange as well).
• When selling to a related party, the related party must hold the Relinquished Property for at least two years. Selling the property prior to the two-year mark will disallow the Exchange.

• Section 121 (Primary Residence) and the 1031 Exchange:
  • If you convert investment property to your primary residence (live in 2 years), you must have owned it for 5 years before qualifying for the benefit of Section 121.
  • Exclusion up to $250,000 of the capital gains for a single taxpayer and $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly; and
  • The Taxpayer must own and use the home as a principle residence for two of the five years prior to the sale.  The ownership and use periods do not need to be concurrent.

You must own each of the relinquished and replacement two years.  Then when you go to sell the primary residence that came from a 1031 Exchange, you must be on title for at least 5 years.   The longer you live there, the bigger the proration gets.  However, the recapture from depreciation recapture doesn’t go away.

To illustrate the change let’s assume married taxpayers exchanged into a residence; rented it for three years, moved into it and lived in it for two years. The taxpayers then sold it and realized a gain of $500,000

the exclusion would be prorated between the qualified and nonqualified use (the numerator is the period of nonqualified use and the denominator is the number of years the property has been owned):

• Three-fifths (3 out of 5 years) of the gain or $300,000 would not be eligible for the exclusion; and
• Two-fifths (2 out of 5 years) of the gain or $200,000 would be eligible for the exclusion. As a consequence, the taxpayers would pay taxes on $300,000 of the gain (plus depreciation recapture) instead of just the depreciation recapture taxes.

• As stated by the IRS, a Qualified Intermediary must be used in every exchange, even if the Taxpayer has identified a replacement property prior to selling the old property.
• The Qualified Intermediary acts as the non-biased third party during an exchange transaction. The Intermediary holds all funds and prepares any necessary documentation pertinent to the Exchange.  If at any time the IRS feels that the Taxpayer has been in direct contact with the proceeds from the sale of the Relinquished Property, the Exchange will be disallowed. For this reason, it is extremely important that you use a trusted Qualified Intermediary. (Note: the use of one’s own CPA, Legal Counsel, or other agent within the last 2 years will disqualify the exchange.)

• To provide consultation, not tax advice.
• Security of Funds – Funds usually held in Money Market Accounts (second signer if needed)

You cannot buy from a related party unless the related party is also doing an exchange

When selling to related party, the related party must hold the property for two years or it will disallow your exchange.

The definition of related parties is a combination of related parties as defined pursuant to Sections 267(b) and 707(b) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Related parties include, but are not limited to, immediate family members, such as brothers, sisters, spouses, ancestors and lineal descendants.  Related parties do not include stepparents, uncles, aunts, in-laws, cousins, nephews, nieces and ex-spouses.

Corporations, limited liability companies or partnerships in which more than 50% of the stock, membership interests or partnership interests, or more than 50% of the capital interests or profit interests, is owned by the taxpayer is considered to be a related party. 

• IRC Section 1031 has been in existence since 1921. Over the years, however, numerous modifications have been made to the benefit of the Taxpayer.  Initially a tax break was provided to property owners who were simultaneously trading properties.  The theory was that since the nature of the investment for both owners was not changing as a result of the transaction, no taxes should be collected.  This method worked well for property owners who wanted to trade their property simultaneously, but this situation was very rare.
• In 1970, IRC Section 1031 was first questioned. Recognizing that a Simultaneous Exchange was rare, members of the Starker Family brought to court the idea that other methods of property exchange should also qualify for tax-deferred treatment.  Historically known as the Starker Decisions, members of the Starker Family vigorously fought to modify IRC Section 1031, making Delayed Exchanges, as well as Simultaneous Exchanges, eligible for tax-deferral.  The courts confirmed that an exchange did not need to occur simultaneously to qualify for tax-deferred treatment.  This was a monumental decision, but since the courts had made this decision at the state level and not at the federal level, a clear definition to the allowable method of a Delayed Exchange had not been defined nationwide.

An Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange represents a legal strategic method for acquiring or selling “Like-Kind” or qualified properties in order to defer capital gains tax.  If the Taxpayer meets the prescribed criteria as established by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), then capital gains taxes may be deferred by “Exchanging” property.

• A Tax-Deferred Exchange represents a method for selling qualifying property or properties and the subsequent acquisition of another qualifying property or properties within a specific time frame. This is the most common type of exchange and is referred to as a Delayed Exchange.  This “Exchange” of an investment property for another is tax-deferred and can give the investor greater buying power, and enhance the investor’s portfolio.  Note: An exchange may not occur with foreign property.

• Congress modified Section 1031 to provide consistent rules for Delayed Exchanges and in 1991 the Internal Revenue Service finalized regulations, which further clarified the rules under which Delayed Exchanges could be implemented. From these regulations stemmed the Safe Harbor Rules, which Qualified Intermediaries operate under.
• Generally, if a property is sold after one year and a day, then the long term capital gains would apply. 15-20% to IRS 13.3% to Franchise Tax Board (CA)
• If a property is sold within one year then the gains would be taxed at the rate of ordinary income. (Individual tax bracket applies)