1031 Exchange: Questions to Ask Your Tax Advisor
A 1031 exchange can defer a large capital gains tax bill, but the rules are strict and the windows are short. These are the questions to work through with a tax advisor first.
Read practical guides for business sales, real estate exits, equity liquidity, windfalls, and other moments where the right advisor questions matter.
A 1031 exchange can defer a large capital gains tax bill, but the rules are strict and the windows are short. These are the questions to work through with a tax advisor first.
The 180-day exchange period sets a hard outside boundary on when replacement property must close. Here are the topics worth raising with your tax advisor.
The qualified intermediary holds your sale proceeds and documents the like-kind exchange. Choosing one without input from your tax and legal advisors is a common and avoidable risk.
The 45-day identification window leaves no room for uncertainty. Clarifying the rules, the written requirements, and the interaction with your tax return deadline before the relinquished property closes can prevent the mistakes that disqualify exchanges.
A reverse 1031 exchange inverts the typical order - acquire first, sell second - but the tax rules, financing constraints, and timeline are significantly more complex than a forward exchange.
A 1031 exchange can defer a large capital gains tax bill, but the rules are strict and the windows are short. These are the questions to work through with a tax advisor first.