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1031 Exchanges - Good For Investors, Good For the Country

By: Trisha Coppley

A 1031 tax exchange is a tactic commonly used by investors in real estate to defer capital gains tax liability on a property's sale. This is accomplished by giving rights to a property one would like to sell to an intermediary, who holds the funds gained from the sale of the relinquished property and uses the money to purchase a replacement in compliance with the regulations set out in Section 1031 of US tax code.

Although the present interest in the 1031 may lead you to believe that Section 1031 only recently came on the scene, this is untrue. As a matter of fact, the history of the 1031 stretches as far back as 1921, although at its conception, it was significantly different from the exchange investors have come to know and love. Section 1031 really came into its own in the '70s, which saw many significant modifications in the way that exchanges were regulated. These modifications paved the way to a farther-reaching conception of the exchange process and also created greater interest among property investors.

The capital gains tax deferral an exchange provides to the taxpayer may, at first glance, appear to represent a sort of gift given by the US government, but it is, in reality, closer to an interest-free loan. This is because the taxpayer is expected to repay the funds acquired by way of the capital gains tax deferral by paying capital gains taxes on the subsequent sale of a replacement property. In addition, this “interest-free loan” is one that may be kept by the investor for an indefinite period of time; an investor may conduct any number of exchanges before ultimately electing to sell outright, at which point capital gains taxes must be paid.

The 1031 exchange constitutes a mutually beneficial arrangement between investors and the United States government, profiting the U.S. economy as a whole as well as the individual taxpayer. By looking upon the transfer of money in an exchange as representing an extension of a preexisting investment rather than as a discrete transaction liable for taxation, investors are given the opportunity to transfer their funds to the best possible investments. This, in turn, boosts the U.S. economy by bolstering the growth of new jobs.

Like anything else, Section 1031 has its skeptics. Some advocates of change in Section 1031 will argue that the tax free profit provided to the taxpayer in the exchange process lends them an unfair advantage. Another frequent issue of concern is that the stringency of the time limits imposed on steps in the exchange process may promote a frenetic rate of buying, resulting in an increase in asking prices for replacement properties. These criticisms, however, are only tenuously linked to reality, and the odds that the 1031 exchange procedure will go through any significant changes in the coming years are quite low. Looking at the big picture, most will agree that Section 1031 is immensely advantageous to all parties , as it allows investors increased profits on the sale of their property while also promoting job growth and consequently promoting the greater good of the country as a whole. Little doubt exists that the 1031 is destined to remain a mainstay of the investment world for decades to come.

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Many Types Of Investment Property Qualify For A 1031 Exchange. Consult With An Expert Who Can Facilitate A 1031 Deferred Exchange To Maximize Your Tax Savings. More Information Is Available At www.Top1031Exchange.com

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