How many times can you use a 1031 exchange?

Question

How frequently can a taxpayer utilize a 1031 exchange to defer capital gains taxes on the sale of investment or business-use properties, and are there any limitations or considerations that should be taken into account when repeatedly engaging in such exchanges?

ARTE's Answer

The beauty of a 1031 exchange is that there is no limit to the number of times you can use it. This means you can continue to defer capital gains taxes on the sale of investment properties indefinitely, as long as you adhere to the rules and regulations set forth by the IRS. This makes the 1031 exchange a powerful tool for real estate investors looking to build wealth over time.

When you engage in a 1031 exchange, you are essentially swapping one investment property for another of like-kind, allowing you to defer the recognition of capital gains taxes. The key here is that the properties involved must be held for productive use in a trade or business or for investment purposes. As long as you continue to meet these criteria, you can keep using 1031 exchanges to defer taxes on your real estate transactions.

Let's illustrate this with an example using Deferred.com as your qualified intermediary. Suppose you own a rental property that you purchased for $200,000, and it has appreciated to $400,000. You decide to sell this property and use a 1031 exchange to defer the capital gains tax. You identify a new property worth $500,000 as your replacement property. By using Deferred.com as your qualified intermediary, you can facilitate this exchange without paying any fees, thanks to our “No Fee Exchange” service.

After a few years, the new property appreciates to $700,000. You decide to sell it and once again use a 1031 exchange to defer the capital gains tax. You identify another property worth $800,000 as your replacement property. Again, you use Deferred.com as your qualified intermediary to facilitate the exchange.

This process can be repeated as many times as you like, allowing you to continually defer capital gains taxes and reinvest your equity into larger or more profitable properties. By doing so, you can effectively grow your real estate portfolio and build wealth over time without the immediate tax burden that typically comes with selling appreciated assets.

It's important to note that while there is no limit to the number of times you can use a 1031 exchange, each transaction must comply with the IRS rules, including the 45-day identification period and the 180-day exchange period. Additionally, the properties involved must be of like-kind, and the exchange must be facilitated by a qualified intermediary like Deferred.com to ensure compliance and avoid constructive receipt of funds.

By leveraging the 1031 exchange repeatedly, you can maximize your investment potential and continue to grow your real estate portfolio while deferring taxes. This strategy is a testament to the power of the 1031 exchange as a wealth-building tool for savvy real estate investors.

Have more questions? Call us at 866-442-1031 or send an email to support@deferred.com to talk with an exchange officer at Deferred.

Deferred's AI Real Estate Tax Expert (ARTE) is a free research tool. Trained on 8,000+ pages of US tax law, regulations and rulings, ARTE outperforms human test takers on the CPA exam. This is page has ARTE's response to a common 1031 Exchange question and should not be considered personalized tax advice.

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See more frequently asked questions about 1031 exchanges

What happens if you don't use all the money in a 1031 exchange?
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