business exchange

Can I do a 1031 on a Building that my Business Leases?

business 1031 exchange

Many people want to expand their business and they want to buy a like-kind replacement property that they will eventually rent to their own business. Is this allowed under section 1031?

Business 1031 Example

Let’s look at an example. Say you have taxpayer A forming an LLC, and the LLC buys the replacement property. Then the LLC enters into a lease with the taxpayer’s separate operating company - the business that the taxpayer operates for their livelihood. It might be a metal fabricating business or some kind of light manufacturing business. There are many tax and legal advantages of owning your real property in a separate entity and then renting it to your operating company; because the rental payments may be received as passive income, and you are protecting yourself from predatory creditors by compartmentalizing your assets into different business entities.

That is a great way for taxpayers to grow and expand their businesses to effectively be their own landlord. Since they're holding the replacement property for investment or business purposes for rent to their own business, that qualifies under Section 1031. In fact I'd argue that was what Congress intended when they thought up section 1031 - to stimulate economic growth and to allow people to move Capital to the most advantageous investment, in this case the new location of their own company and hopefully allow them to expand their net worth.

  • Start Your 1031 Exchange: If you have questions about 1031s and business leases, feel free to call me at 612-643-1031.

Defer the tax. Maximize your gain.

© 2016 Copyright Jeffrey R. Peterson All Rights Reserved

721 Contributions & 1031 Exchanges

721 contributions and 1031 exchanges

Sometimes a property seller is interested in contributing a portion of his or her real estate into the project as equity, but also wants to take some cash out for a 1031 exchange. Here's a strategy to accomplish that.

721 Tax-Free Contributions

One way to structure the sale agreement is to have the taxpayer (seller) enter into two agreements with the buyer — typically an LLC taxed as a partnership.

  • First, the taxpayer agrees to sell to the LLC an undivided X percent of the property for cash that will be assigned to a qualified intermediary for a 1031 tax-deferred exchange.

  • Second, the taxpayer agrees to contribute the remainder of his or her interest in the property to the same LLC in a 721 tax-fee contribution in exchange of a partnership interest (LLC membership interest).

By splitting the transfers in two and doing the 1031 sale first, the taxpayer is able to get the most tax efficient treatment on both transfers.

Potential Complications

There are some potential complications if the LLC distributes cash to the members after the contribution, so you need to be careful when taking-out construction financing. Here are some issues to consider:

  • What amount of debt — if any — encumbers the property at this time?

  • What is the seller’s current adjusted basis in the property? (check for “MOB” mortgage over basis)

  • What is the cash price allocated for the sale portion of the transaction?

  • What is the value or amount of the LLC/partnership interest being given in exchange for the contribution or the remainder of the property?

Having a qualified intermediary on your side to tackle these issues can ensure the most tax-efficient strategy possible.

  • Start Your 1031 Exchange: If you have questions about the 1031 exchanges combined with 721 contributions, feel free to call me at 612-643-1031.

Defer the tax. MAXIMIZE your gain. 

© 2016 Copyright Jeffrey R. Peterson All Rights Reserved