1031 Exchange for Land Purchases – The Country Connection

You don’t need to become an expert on the 1031 exchange to buy rural land. Although, it’s worth your while to become familiar with the subject. It is good to know when it might be a viable option for facilitating your purchase.  1031 exchange rules allow its use with nearly any real estate asset, with the exception of a primary residence or second home.

A property owner may be highly motivated to sell. They may also be fearful of being heavily taxed on capital gains represented by a significant increase in value since the land was purchased.  Sometimes, the tax penalty for selling a property can exceed the amount of profit on the sale. 

But Section 1031 of the IRS tax code provides a perfectly legal way for him to defer paying those onerous capital gains taxes.  All that’s required is that he purchases another qualifying real estate asset of similar value. Then use the profit from the land being sold.  Both the purchase price and the new loan amount must be the same or higher on the replacement property. 

Methods of 1031

There are essentially three methods of 1031 tax exchange:  delayed, three-party, and simultaneous with a qualified intermediary.

In a delayed exchange, a facilitator holds the cash after you sell your property. They will then use it to buy the other real estate on your behalf.  The IRS then views the two transactions as a swap.  It’s important to note, the actual conveyance of the relinquished property must occur before the seller acquires its replacement.

A three-party exchange involves using an “accommodating party”. This is one who takes the title as a way of helping to facilitate the transaction for the taxpayer.  Most legal and tax advisors strongly advise their clients not to use this method.  It provides very little documentation to support the fact that an exchange has taken place other than the recording of the deeds. Additionally, it exposes the facilitators to any issues that may impact the 1031 exchange properties.

According to the 1991 Treasury Regulations, the only “safe harbor” for a simultaneous exchange is using the services of a qualified intermediary (QI). This is also sometimes called an exchange accommodator or facilitator.  That individual provides written instructions to the closing officers, prepares the exchange agreement and other necessary documents. The taxpayer is then insulated from any “constructive receipt” issues.  The QI format can be easily converted to a delayed exchange, which eliminates the time pressure of trying to close the entire transaction simultaneously.

Benefits

As an investor, there are a number of reasons you may consider a 1031 exchange, including:

  • Buyers who look at a property that has better return prospects, or buyers may want to diversify assets
  • A buyer may want to look into a managed property rather than one to manage themselves
  • Buyers may wish to consolidate several properties into one or divide a single property into several assets
  • The buyer may want to avoid depreciation recapture

The tax advantage the 1031 exchange provides, is a wonderful opportunity for investors purchasing rural land. Rule’s complexities allow for a great deal of flexibility. At the same time, they make it prudent for you to obtain competent professional assistance at nearly every step of the process.