what are the costs associated with 1031 exchange lawyer

by Natasha Gleason 6 min read

There are several different costs associated with a 1031 exchange, including:

  • The cost of exchanging the properties
  • The cost of any new property purchased
  • Any fees associated with the exchange process itself

The average costs of doing a 1031 exchange are usually around $600 to $1,200, with most of the expenses in the form of fees paid to a Qualified Intermediary. This cost is for a straightforward deferred exchange, where you sell your relinquished property and acquire a replacement property.Aug 23, 2021

Full Answer

What closing costs are allowed in a 1031 exchange?

Mar 01, 2021 · It is not a tax-free transaction. Next, a 1031 exchange will result in an increase in transactional costs to taxpayers. These costs are oftentimes small, such as the exchange fee paid to the Qualified Intermediary for providing exchange services, title company or …

What are the advantages of a 1031 exchange property?

The costs involved in a 1031 exchange include fees paid to a Qualified Intermediary (QI) and the costs of doing a real estate transaction (s). Qualified Intermediary Fees One of the major costs in a 1031 exchange is the payment to the Qualified Intermediary.

What are qualified exchange expenses and how do they work?

Jun 30, 2019 · The average cost of a standard deferred 1031 exchange is around $1,000. This covers the basic administrative work involved with an exchange, which can include document prep, notary and messenger fees, and general processing. The standard fee usually includes one relinquished property, which is the property being sold, and one replacement property.

How much does a delayed exchange cost?

Aug 13, 2020 · Non-institutional intermediaries tend to cost less. Average 1031 exchange facilitator fees to accommodate a Delayed Exchange range from $600-$800 for non-institutional and $800-$1,200 for institutional intermediaries. This fee generally covers the qualifying, accommodation and administrative cost of completing a 1031 exchange.

Do closing costs count towards 1031 exchange?

Any cost that is incurred outside of escrow or the Closing process generally should not be paid for using 1031 Exchange funds, unless the exchange client is willing to pay tax on the amount spent. Such pre-closing items include all maintenance and fixer costs that are incurred to prepare the property for sale.Oct 17, 2018

What is a 1031 exchange intermediary fee?

$850.00 to $1,200.00Set-up, Administrative Fees and Per Property Costs Institutional Qualified Intermediaries, like Exeter 1031 Exchange Services, LLC, typically charge a set-up or administrative fee in the range of $850.00 to $1,200.00 for each 1031 Exchange transaction.

How much do Accommodators cost?

If the property to be parked with the Exchange Accommodator Titleholder, or EAT, is located in California, the Franchise Tax Board charges $800 for the EAT to do business in California, along with another $70 from the Secretary of State to register the EAT. Each state will typically charge a fee.Dec 10, 2018

What is the timeline for a 1031 exchange?

Once the relinquished property sells, the taxpayer has 45 days to identify replacement property(s) and 135 days after that to finalize their exchange for a total of 180 days.Aug 19, 2021

How much does a 1031 exchange cost?

What a 1031 Exchange REALLY Costs. A standard deferred 1031 exchange usually costs around $1,000 — but affordability is only one thing you should be considering during this detailed transaction. A standard deferred 1031 exchange usually costs around $1,000 — but affordability is only one thing you should be considering during this detailed ...

How long does it take to get a 1031 exchange?

A 1031 exchange can take up to 180 days, and your QI will have your sale proceeds for the duration of your exchange. Your money earns interest while it sits in an escrow account, and your qualified intermediary will take some — or all — of that interest income as part of their fee.

What is reverse 1031 exchange?

In addition, a reverse 1031 exchange is more complex than a standard deferred exchange, and requires the use of an exchange accommodation titleholder (EAT) — a kind of intermediary who holds onto the title of your property during the exchange, similar to how a standard QI holds your funds during a standard exchange.

What is a qualified escrow account?

A qualified trust or escrow account gives your money an added layer of security while it’s being held by your qualified intermediary. Generally, the cost of holding your money in a qualified escrow account is in the QI’s base fee. Some QIs will charge an additional fee.

What is a qualified intermediary?

Qualified intermediaries are either institutional (part of a bank or title company) or non-institutional (independent businesses who specialize in 1031 exchanges). Each type has its advantages and disadvantages, which we’ll touch on below.

What is included in a standard fee for an exchange?

The standard fee usually includes one relinquished property, which is the property being sold, and one replacement property.

Do you need a qualified intermediary for a 1031 exchange?

A qualified intermediary is necessary because, according to U.S. tax law , the investor doing a 1031 exchange can’t receive or even control the funds from the initial sale, nor can they hold the titles of both properties at the same time. If they do, even for an hour, the 1031 exchange is invalid.

What are the costs of a 1031 exchange?

Yes, the cost of doing a 1031 exchange is high. Note though that the lion’s share of these costs#N#are: 1 broker commission 2 appraisal fee 3 finders fee 4 taxes 5 title fees.

How much do sellers pay in real estate taxes?

Sellers usually pay up to 110% of the latest real estate tax bill, prorated to the days owned at closing. The assumption is that the real estate taxes will have increased.

What is considered emergency funds?

Considered emergency funds, they are your savings balances left after closing. Lenders may require your liquid reserves be equal to several months or a year’s worth of loan payments. You’d multiply your monthly loan payment times the number of months specified by the lender to calculate the reserve requirement.

What is referral fee?

Often called a referral fee, it’s essentially a commission paid to a middleman. These fees are non-obligatory commissions paid to facilitators of transactions. They discover deals and bring together parties. Many states allow an intermediary asking fee to be from 3%-35% of the total value of the deal.

What is an assumption fee?

If you assume a mortgage on a property, an assumption fee is the charge paid by the mortgage holder. Typically, you’ve bought property that hasn’t been paid off yet. Still the original seller retains secondary liability except when released by the buyer. The assumption fee can’t exceed 1% existing loan balance at closing.

What is due diligence for commercial financing?

A physical review of buildings and land for any environmental problems is required due diligence for commercial financing. A qualified engineer would also review historical documents and other land-use records.

What happens if you take $25,000 out of an exchange?

Consider what happens if you take $25,000 out of the exchange to pay non-qualified expenses. It’s a recognized capital gain subject to tax. With a blended 30% tax rate, you’ll pay $7,500 in tax. Rather, paid with $25,000 in outside funds, you’ll preserve $25,000 in exchange funds and tax deferrals.

1031 Exchange Costs: Hidden Fees to Watch

While a 1031 exchange offers the average real estate investor several long-term benefits, the costs of doing a 1031 exchange must be considered. Like any other business transaction, the average costs of a 1031 exchange vary depending on the exchange company, number of properties, and even the location of the properties.

How Much Does a 1031 Exchange Cost?

When doing a 1031 exchange, most of the expenses you will encounter are usually in the form of fees paid to your qualified intermediary. On average, expect to spend around $600 to $1,200 in total exchange fees. More importantly, you may have to account for specific incidental fees like an overnight delivery charge.

Qualified Intermediary Fees

Since Qualified Intermediaries play most of the roles in a 1031 exchange, they tend to receive a greater portion of the fees. It is common for QI’s to earn two-third of their income from realized interest on exchange funds. The average cost to accommodate a typical Delayed Exchange ranges from $750-$1,250.

1031 Exchange Cost – 1031 Exchange Allowable Expenses

A typical 1031 exchange comprises several expenses to make the exchange process possible. While these expenses are an essential part of the exchange process, certain closing costs expenses paid out of the sales or 1031 exchange proceeds will result or not result in a taxable event for the exchanger.

Are 1031 Exchange Fee Tax Deductible?

Yes, several 1031 exchange fees are tax-deductible or do not trigger a taxable event to the investor. 1031 exchange fees such as broker commissions or title closing fees will not create a tax liability.

We Can Help

Sera Capital always recommends that the taxpayer consult their tax or legal counsel on all matters dealing with the Internal Revenue Service. We look forward to working with you on your next Section 1031 exchange at a flat fee.

What does it mean to pay less in escrow?

Paying less expenses through the escrow leaves more cash for the replacement property, which means you would be looking for a more expensive replacement property or getting a smaller loan. Of course your main goal in the exchange should be to find a good replacement property. Deferment of tax, while a significant element in the economic equation, ...

Is a net cash boot taxable?

It is important for you to analyze the costs to be paid through escrow. Net cash boot is taxable to you even if your new loan is larger than your old loan. If may be worth your while to pay some expenses outside of escrow.

What does QI charge for?

Some QIs charge a set fee for the documentation and support of one sale and one purchase (a typical exchange). Other QIs charge one fee for the sale and another for the purchase. Verify what additional fees, if any, apply. For example, some QIs charge for wire transfers, expedited services, or dual signatory accounts.

What is QI in escrow?

Traditionally, QIs have commingled exchange funds in a trust or escrow account that is under their exclusive control . But your strongest protection is the use of a dual signatory, segregated, FDIC-insured exchange account.

Do small law firms charge higher rates?

Small law firms that only do a few exchanges a year will usually charge higher rates. They typically provide excellent personal service. However, because they don’t see that many exchanges, their pool of knowledge may be expanded at your expense. This is because so much of 1031 law involves ongoing interpretation and case law, not the original statute. Select a QI with up-to-date experience.

Customary Expenses

Most taxpayers conducting a 1031 exchange want to know if they can pay their legal fees using the sales proceeds from the exchange. This can get a little dicey. You are allowed to pay customary transactional expenses using the sales proceeds. This would include any legal fees that are directly associated with your 1031 exchange.

When in Doubt, Pay Cash

If you are at all nervous about how to handle your legal fees in a 1031 exchange, it’s always a good idea to simply pay them in cash at the closing table. This completely avoids any potential issues. Your qualified intermediary will be able to guide you in the right direction with these issues.

Commercial Partners

At Commercial Partners, our team has been facilitating 1031 exchanges of real estate for more than twenty years. We bring those years of experience to the table for every single exchange.

What is the consequence of an exchange?

In most cases, the consequence is likely the payment of tax and penalty on the amount at issue , rather than disallowance of the entire exchange. In the exchange context, there are three potential cost categories that can overlap, but have different implications: 1) allowable expenses (do not violate rules and do not trigger a tax consequence;

Can a taxing authority examine settlement statements?

In general, it is rare that a taxing authority closely examines the settlement statement or closing disclosures. However, there is still a risk that a taxing authority could take issue with the use of exchange funds to pay for non-exchange costs.

Can you use exchange proceeds to pay costs related to financing?

Some experts argue that using exchange proceeds to pay costs related to financing will not violate the 10 31 rules if obtaining a loan is a necessary and express condition in closing the real estate acquisition.

Does 1031 provide legal advice?

The short version of this article can be found here. Legal 1031 does not provide tax or legal advice, nor can we make any representations or warranties regarding the tax consequences of any transaction. Taxpayers must consult their tax and/or legal advisors for this information.

What are non-allowable closing costs?

Common NON-allowable closing costs which are listed on a settlement statement include: To avoid a tax liability, a buyer could deposit their own funds to pay any loan-related expenses. In addition, some of the unallowable expenses that create a tax liability are offset by a tax deduction.

What are the closing costs for a mortgage?

Common NON-allowable closing costs which are listed on a settlement statement include: 1 Costs related to financing:#N#loan costs,#N#application fees,#N#points, and#N#other lending fees 2 Title insurance fees for lender’s title insurance policy 3 Property taxes 4 Insurance premium payments 5 Appraisals required by a mortgage lender 6 Environmental checks required by a mortgage lender 7 Mortgage loan reserve amounts 8 Non-transactional costs such as:#N#utility bills,#N#association fees,#N#credit card bills, etc. 9 and, also mentioned above: Security deposits, and 10 Prorated rents

What expenses are offset by a tax deduction?

Prorated rents. To avoid a tax liability, a buyer could deposit their own funds to pay any loan-related expenses. In addition, some of the unallowable expenses that create a tax liability are offset by a tax deduction.

Can I use 1031 exchange funds to purchase real estate?

The I.R.S. would rule that exchange funds are not being utilized to purchase real estate. Consequently, the I.R.S. would most likely fail the exchange, since the taxpayer received the 1031 proceeds. The taxpayer would then need to report both the sale and the purchase of the real estate instead of a 1031 exchange transaction.

Is closing cost taxable if you pay 1031?

Other common closing costs that are NOT exchange expenses can result in tax liability if they are paid with 1031 proceeds. For example, security deposits and prorated rents for the sale of exchange property that are paid with 1031 proceeds WILL create a taxable event. To avoid this, have the security deposits and pro-rated rents paid outside ...