For real property transactions (rental houses, farmland, office buildings, strip malls, etc.) the “like-kind” requirement does not mean selling and buying the exact same type of property. The term “like-kind” refers to the nature or character of the property not its grade or quality. For this reason nearly all real property is like-kind to each other.
The IRS is actually very broad scoped in the case of real property like-kindness. The regulations state that “all real property is like-kind to all real property”. Therefore, if you are selling a real property interest (anything that you have fee title to) you can look for any kind of real property as a replacement property.
There is a two-pronged test for properties to qualify for IRC §1031 tax-deferral treatment.
- Both the Relinquished and the Replacement Properties must be held by the Exchanger either for investment purposes or for productive use in a trade or business. The Exchanger’s purpose and intent in holding the property is the critical test. The use of the property by other parties to the exchange (Relinquished Property buyer or Replacement Property seller) is irrelevant.
- The Relinquished and the Replacement Properties must also be “like-kind.” The term “like-kind” refers to the nature or character of the property, ignoring differences of grade or quality. For example, unimproved real property is considered like-kind to improved real property, because the lack of improvements is a distinction of grade or quality; the basic real estate nature of both parcels is the same. Treas. Reg. §1.1031(a)-1(b). In essence, all real property in the United States is “like-kind” to all other domestic real property.
IRC § 1031(a)(2) specifically provides that real property held primarily for sale does not qualify for tax deferral under section 1031.
Following are examples of qualifying properties that could be exchanged:
- Raw land or farmland for improved real estate
- Oil & gas royalties for a ranch
- Fee simple interest in real estate for a 30-year leasehold or a Tenant-in-Common interest in real estate
- Residential, Commercial, Industrial or Retail rental properties for any other real estate
- Rental ski condo for a three-unit apartment building
- Mitigation credits for restoring wetlands for other mitigation credits
Under IRC §1031, the following properties do not qualify for tax-deferred exchange treatment:
- Stock in trade or other property held primarily for sale (i.e. property held by a developer, “flipper” or other dealer)
- Securities or other evidences of indebtedness or interest
- Stocks, bonds, or notes
- Certificates of trust or beneficial interests
- Interests in a partnership
- Choses in action (rights to receive money or other property by judicial proceeding)
- Foreign real property for U.S. real property
- Goodwill of one business for goodwill of another business
