Avoid Paying Capital Gains Tax with Exchange 1031

As a common cliché would have put it, taxes areto, or more than the net sales proceeds of the sold
inevitable.  However, we break tradition in this articlereal estate property.
as we discuss a method to avoid paying taxes.- The entire equity from the sale of relinquished real
Exchange 1031 is a provision that allows theestate property must be used to pay for the
homeowner to keep the entire proceeds for the salereplacement ‘like kind’ real estate property.
of a real estate property by exemption of payment ofThe amount of liability for violation will be determined
capital gains tax.by the violation of any of these two conditions.  In the
A Closer Look at Exchange 1031event that the replacement property is bought at a
This privilege is governed by the provisions of the IRSprice less than the net equity of the sales proceeds of
Code under section 1031, thus the term Exchange 1031.the relinquished real estate property, an accrued tax
This incentive aims to perk up business activities in theliability is incurred by the one who availed a tax
real estate sector by giving due consideration fordeferral under Exchange 1031.
homeowners who sell their real estate property withThe amount of accrued tax liability is based on the
the primary purpose of using the sales proceeds toextent of the amount of net equity not utilized for the
purchase another real estate property.payment of the replacement ‘like kind’ real
A graphical demonstration of how significant Exchangeestate property.
1031 is on the entire buying process would be byThis only means that exclusion of tax incentives under
looking at the impact of capital gains tax onExchange 1031 is not absolute when applying the
subsequent buying of ‘like kind’ property.above cited prerequisites.  The application of the
Capital gains tax levied against the sales proceeds ofprovisions allow for partial exchange as a result of
a real estate property hover in the range of 20% tofailure of absolute compliance under the two
30%.  This is translated to a diminished buyingprerequisites.  Exchange under this condition is
capacity of the same proportion for a replacementsubjected to partial deferment of capital gains tax
property.  In other words, you are left with a netliability.  Tax liability is applied on that portion of equity
amount corresponding to 70% to 80% of what it wasthat is subject of tax deferral under Exchange 1031
during the sale of the real estate property.used for ‘non-like kind’ real estate property. This
There are pre-conditions that have to be met for thetax incentive is an essential tool for homeowners and
deferment of realized capital gains tax for the sale ofinvestors to retain in full the equity generated in the
a real estate property under Exchange 1031.  Thesesale of a real estate property for as long as it is
include the following prerequisites:intended to be used for the purchase of another
- The fair market value of the replacement ‘like‘like kind’ real estate property.
kind’ real estate property should always be equal