Copyright: Mark Van Scyoc
NMHC spearheaded a March 23 letter from real estate organizations to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin asking that administrative action be taken to delay deadlines applicable to like-kind exchanges that are currently underway. Specifically, the letter requests that the deadlines to identify replacement property and / or complete like-kind exchanges should be extended to the later of 120 days or to the last day of the general disaster extension period authorized by an IRS News Release or other guidance.
The COVID-19 crisis is threatening the ability of real estate investors to complete like-kind exchanges. Under the most common type of like-kind exchange, a taxpayer sells a relinquished property and deposits the proceeds with a Qualified Intermediary. The taxpayer subsequently has 45 days to identify replacement property and 180 days to complete a transaction. Failure to meet the strict deadlines for identifying trade properties and then actually closing on a replacement property result in immediate recognition of capital gain income that could otherwise be deferred.
Like-kind exchanges support the real estate sector by encouraging investors of all sizes, including small businesses and individuals, to remain invested in real estate while still allowing them to balance their investments to shift resources to more productive properties, change geographic location, or diversify or consolidate holdings. Like-kind exchange rules encourage investors to remain invested in real estate by allowing property owners to defer capital gains tax if, instead of selling their property, they exchange it for another comparable property. As long as the taxpayer remains invested in real estate, tax on any gain is deferred. When the taxpayer ultimately sells the asset, the capital gains tax is paid.
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