1031 exchanges - gorenberg
DESCRIPTION
Workshop presentation on 1031 ExcTRANSCRIPT
Presented by:
Citibank Financial Intermediaries Group
David M. Gorenberg, Esquire
Certified Exchange Specialist®
Presented:
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century – Regulatory Changes and Case Law Impact
Thank you.
Please Turn Cell Phones and Pagers to Silent or Off.
2 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Important Disclosures
This presentation does not constitute legal or tax advice. Citibank and its employees do not provide tax or legal advice and are not responsible for advising customers on the laws or regulations pertaining to any 1031 exchange transaction. Citibank and its employees will not make any representations regarding the tax consequences of any 1031 exchange transaction. It is the customer’s responsibility to seek tax and legal advisors in connection with any 1031 exchange transaction.
IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: To the extent that this material or any attachment concerns tax matters, it is not intended to be used and cannot be used by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law.
Citibank, N.A., Member FDIC. Citibank and Arc Design is a registered trademark of Citigroup Inc.
3 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Agenda
• 1031 Exchanges – Case Law and Regulatory Update
– The Good
• What is “Like-Kind” Property
– Real Property
– Personal Property
• Regulatory Review
– The Bad
• QI Fraud
• QI Bankruptcy
– The Ugly
• Choosing a QI
– Ethical Considerations
4 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
“The Good”
5
Overview of the Statute and Regulations
6 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
7
Why Exchange? - smaller property
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Why Exchange? - larger property
8 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Taxation 101
• Generally, all income is taxable, unless specifically exempted by law.
• Even illegal income, such as stolen or embezzled funds, must be reported on Line 21 of Form 1040.
9
Source: Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue
Service, Publication 525.
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
IRC Section 1031
• “No gain or loss shall be recognized on the exchange of property held for productive use in a trade or business or for investment if such property is exchanged solely for property of like kind which is to be held for productive use in a trade or business or for investment.”
• §1031 provides for deferral of taxes, not complete elimination.
10 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Like-kind Property
11
Foreign real property is not like-kind to U.S. real property.
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Business or Investment Use
• There are five tax classes of property:
1) property used in taxpayer’s trade or business;
2) property held primarily for sale to customers;
3) property which is used as your principal residence;
4) property held for investment; and
5) property used as a vacation home
• Section 1031 applies to the first and fourth categories (and perhaps the fifth)
12 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Less than Fee Interests in Real Property that Qualify for
Exchanges
• Leases with at least 30 years remaining, including renewal options
• Vendee’s interest in a land sale contract; not the vendor’s interest
• Undivided interest in one property for an undivided or 100% interest in another property
• Remainder interest in real property
• Timber rights, riparian rights, mineral rights
– As determined by state law
13 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Common Less-Than-Fee Exchanges
• Timber Rights
• Mineral Rights
• Oil Rights
• Riparian Rights
• Tenants in Common
• Transferrable Development Rights
• Others
14 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Like Kind Personal Property
• Under the regulations, personal depreciable property used in business or held for investment is exchanged with like-kind property if exchanged either for property of a like kind or like class
• Properties are of like class if they are in the same:
– General Asset Class – Rev. Proc. 87-56, or
– Product Class – SIC Manual (4 digits)
• Personal property is like kind if identical
15 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Common Personal Property Exchanges
• Aircraft
• Artwork
• Collectibles
• Equipment
• Fleet Vehicles
• Intellectual Property
– Licenses, Franchises, Patents, Trademarks
• Livestock
• Others
16 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Common Personal Property Exchanges
- Franchises Often Sold With Real Estate
17
• Franchises may be exchanged for
other franchises
• Nature of the franchise must also be
like-kind
• Lexus is not like-kind to Ramada
• Lexus is like-kind to Ford
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Common Multi-Asset Exchanges
- Personal Property Often Sold With Real Estate
18
• Personal Property for Personal Property
• Real Property for Real Property
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
§1031 in a Nutshell
• To obtain complete deferral of capital gains taxes, the taxpayer should:
– Purchase replacement property that is equal or greater in value to the relinquished property
– Have equal or greater equity in the replacement property
– Have equal or greater debt on the replacement property
– Receive nothing except like-kind property
– Avoid constructive receipt of exchange proceeds
– Use a qualified intermediary
19 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Time Restrictions
20
Day 0 Day 180 Day 45
Identification
Period
Exchange
Period
• 1984 Congress amends Section 1031
- 45 day identification period
- 180 day exchange period runs concurrent
- Or due date of tax return, whichever is earlier
- Calendar days, not business days
- No extensions
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Identification Requirements
• Signed, and in writing
• Delivered
– QI or seller of replacement property
• Unambiguously described
– Legal description
– Street address
– Distinguishable name (e.g., Mayfair Apartment Building)
• May be revoked or amended, with same formality as above
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century 21
Identification Rules
• 3 Property Rule – up to 3 properties, without regard to FMV;
or
• 200% Rule – any number of properties, so long as aggregate FMV does not exceed 200% of FMV of relinquished properties;
but
• 95% Exception – if first two rules violated, must acquire 95% of FMV of all identified properties
22 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Regulations: 1.1031
- safe harbors
• 1.1031(k)-1(g)
– (2) Security or Guarantee Arrangements
• Determination of whether the taxpayer is in actual or constructive receipt of the exchange funds is made without regard to existence of mortgage, standby letter of credit, third party guarantee, etc.
– (3) Qualified Escrow Accounts and Qualified Trusts
• Determination of whether the taxpayer is in actual or constructive receipt of the exchange funds is made without regard to whether the funds are held in a Qualified Escrow Account or Qualified Trust
– QEA – Escrow holder is not a disqualified person; escrow agreement contains “(g)(6)” limitations
– QT – Trustee is not a disqualified person; trust agreement contains “(g)(6)” limitations
– (4) Qualified Intermediary
– QI is not considered an agent of the taxpayer; is not a disqualified person; QI enters into “exchange agreement” that contains the “(g)(6)” limitations
– (5) Interest and Growth Factors
• Determination of whether the taxpayer is in actual or constructive receipt of exchange funds is made without regard to the fact that the taxpayer is or may be entitled to receive any interest or growth factor with respect to the deferred exchange.
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century 23
Regulations: 1.1031
- (g)(6) Limitations
• (i) An agreement limits a taxpayer's rights as provided in this paragraph (g)(6) only if the agreement provides that the taxpayer has no rights, except as provided in paragraphs (g)(6)(ii) and (g)(6)(iii) of this section, to receive, pledge, borrow, or otherwise obtain the benefits of money or other property before the end of the exchange period.
• (ii) The agreement may provide that if the taxpayer has not identified replacement property by the end of the identification period, the taxpayer may have rights to receive, pledge, borrow, or otherwise obtain the benefits of money or other property at any time after the end of the identification period.
• (iii) The agreement may provide that if the taxpayer has identified replacement property, the taxpayer may have rights to receive, pledge, borrow, or otherwise obtain the benefits of money or other property upon or after
– (A) The receipt by the taxpayer of all of the replacement property to which the taxpayer is entitled under the exchange agreement, or
– (B) The occurrence after the end of the identification period of a material and substantial contingency that –
• (1) Relates to the deferred exchange,
• (2) Is provided for in writing, and
• (3) Is beyond the control of the taxpayer and of any disqualified person (as defined in paragraph (k) of this section), other than the person obligated to transfer the replacement property to the taxpayer.
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
24
Treasury Inspector General for
Tax Administration
25 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
• Reference 2008-30-154; August 27, 2008
– “Guidance Could Be Enhanced for Deciding to Use a Qualified Intermediary in Like-Kind Exchanges”
• “This report presents the results of our review of qualified intermediary regulations and qualification requirements. The objectives of this review were to examine transactions subject to Internal Revenue Code Section 1031, assess the qualification requirements for qualified intermediaries, and determine the legal protections available to taxpayers. We conducted this review in response to a request by the Chairman of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services.”
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century 26
Regulations under Sections 468B and 7872
27 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Treasury decision 9413
- Regulations Update
• Designated settlement funds – escrow accounts, trusts, and funds used in deferred like-kind exchanges; loans to exchange facilitators.
• “468-B” Regulations – The regulations provide rules regarding the taxation of income earned on escrow accounts, trusts, and other funds used during deferred like-kind exchanges of property
• “7872” Regulations - regarding below-market loans to facilitators of these exchanges.
• Effective for all transactions commenced on or after October 8, 2008.
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century 28
468-B Regulations
• IF:
– The exchange funds are $2,000,000 or greater; OR
– The exchange funds remain with the QI for 6 months or longer
• THEN:
– All interest earned on the exchange funds must be paid to the taxpayer
• Applicable Federal Rate
• 91-day (13-week) T-Bill rate
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century 29
“The Bad”
30 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
QI Bankruptcy
- A Tale of Two Cities
• Southwest Exchange
– Henderson, NV; Donald K. McGhan and others in his family
– 2007; 130+ clients; $97.5MM+
– Funds used to acquire breast implant company, 19-passenger jet, lavish meals, etc.
31 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
QI Bankruptcy
- A Tale of Two Cities
• 1031 Tax Group
– Richmond, VA; Edward H. Okun and others in his business
– 2007; 300 +/- open exchanges; $151MM+
– Funds used to acquire jewelry, sports cars, helicopters, shopping malls and other “toys”
32 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
QI Bankruptcy
- The LandAmerica saga
• Millard Refrigerated Services v. LandAmerica
– http://www.les1031creditorcommittee.com/76_3147.pdf
– DeGroot v. Exchanged Titles
• 159 B.R. 303 (1993)
– Cook v. Garcia
• 110 F.3d 67 , 1997 WL 143827 (1997)
– In re San Diego Realty Exchange Co., Inc.
• 24 F.3d 249, 1994 WL 161646 (1994)
– Cook v. 1031 Exchange Corp.
• 29 Va. Cir. 302, Not Reported in S.E.2d, 1992 WL 885015 (1992)
– In re. Sale Guaranty Corp.
• 220 B.R. 660 (1998)
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century 33
QI Bankruptcy
• Southwest Exchange $ 97.5 Million
• 1031 Tax Group $151 Million
• LandAmerica Exchange Services $424 Million
Total $672.5 Million
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
State Regulation of Qualified Intermediaries
• Enacted
– California
– Colorado
– Idaho
– Maine
– Nevada
– Oregon
– Virginia
– Washington
• Pending
– Arizona
– Oklahoma
– Texas ≈ Bill Died
35 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
“The Ugly”?
36 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Choosing a Qualified Intermediary
• Phone Book?
• Internet?
• Referrals
• Qualifications
– When was firm established
– Primary business, or sideline
– How many transactions completed
– Financial stability
– Security of exchange proceeds
– Fees, and what is included
– FEA
• www.1031.org
– Certified Exchange Specialist®
• www.1031ces.org
37
Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Your Questions
38 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
On the Web:
39 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century
Contact Information
David Gorenberg, Esquire
Certified Exchange Specialist®
Senior Vice President, 1031 Exchange Services
Citibank, N.A.
1650 Market Street, Suite 3550
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Office: 267.385.3624
Fax: 866.767.8201
Mobile: 610.883.2181
E-mail: [email protected]
THANK YOU!
40 Section 1031 Exchanges in the 21st Century