The Skinny on 1031 Exchange: Maximizing Profits by Minimizing your Tax Liability
A 1031 exchange refers to Section 1.1031 of the Internal Revenue Code which was passed in 1990. Normally, when you sell all real and personal property, the tax code requires the payment of the Capital Gains Tax. That is to say, when you sell your office for $100,000 more than you bought it for, you must pay the gains upon those earnings. However, after the passing of a 1031 Exchange that is no longer necessarily the case.
What types of Property Qualify?
A 1031 Exchange allows sellers of some real and personal property the opportunity to avoid paying capital gains taxes (which are 15% plus state taxes) by exchanging their sold property for newly purchased property. However, certain restrictions apply. The most important restriction is that only business property and investment property applies. So, an exchange under a purely residential home does not qualify, whereas exchanging a property that your business has used for its office, or even one used simply for investment diversification does.
But simply selling your office isnt enough to qualify you for a 1031...