1031 Exchange Traps: Three Mistakes That Will Instantly Trigger a Tax Bill
A 1031 Exchange is arguably the greatest wealth-building tool in the tax code, but it is not forgiving. The IRS views it as a strict legal procedure, and even a minor technical misstep can completely disqualify your exchange, leaving you with an unexpected, massive tax bill at the end of the year. Before you list your investment property, make sure you are fully aware of these three common pitfalls: 1. The "Same Taxpayer" Rule The entity that sells the old property must be the exact same entity that buys the new property. For example, if you personally own a rental property, you cannot sell it and then buy the replacement property under your corporate LLC or your spouse’s name. The titles and tax ID numbers must match perfectly, or the IRS will disallow the entire tax deferral. 2. Accidentally Creating "Boot" To defer 100% of your capital gains taxes, you must buy a replacement property of equal or greater value, and you must reinvest all the net cash proceeds....