What is a 1031 Exchange?
Charles Cherney
Passionate about teaching after graduating from Harvard, I ultimately found myself drawn into the world of real estate in Cambridge and Somerville...
Passionate about teaching after graduating from Harvard, I ultimately found myself drawn into the world of real estate in Cambridge and Somerville...
What is a 1031 Exchange?
The short answer is that a 1031 exchange is a tax deferment strategy that allows an investor to "defer" paying capital gains taxes on an investment property when it is sold. Seek professional help if you are planning on doing a 1031 exchange.
The term 1031 Exchange is defined under section 1031 of the IRS Code. A 1031 exchange allows an investor to “defer” paying capital gains taxes on an investment property when it is sold, as long another “like-kind property” is purchased with the profit gained by the sale of the first property - in accordance with certain rules and within a defined period of time.
Recently, I came across an excellent blog post on the topic of 1031 exchanges.
CLICK HERE to read How To Do a 1031 Exchange: Important Rules and Definitions to Know.
In this blog post I just linked to, the author notes that "a 1031 tax-deferment is incredibly complicated, even for career investors. Even a small mistake can jeopardize the deferment of your capital gains taxes, which is why most investors seek professional help." So, remember, if you are planning on doing a 1031 exchange, be sure to get professional help.