Savvy investors can build wealth by deferring capital gains taxes via a 1031 exchange. Learn how it works and how it can help you as a real estate investor. For the in-depth information required to execute a 1031 exchange, a qualified intermediary is necessary.

What is a 1031 Exchange?

A 1031 exchange allows real estate investors to avoid paying capital gains taxes when selling an investment property and reinvesting in a replacement property. The name 1031 exchange comes from Section 1031 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

A 1031 is also called a like-kind exchange. It is essentially a swap of one investment property for another. The “like-kind” refers to the fact that the properties in the exchange must be similar (i.e., of like kind) and the exchange property must be of equal or greater value as the property sold.

How Does a 1031 Exchange Work?

Under IRS code section 1031, which applies to real estate, investors can reinvest proceeds from the sale of one property into another property within a specified time frame to avoid paying capital gains taxes (the taxes on the growth of an investment when it is sold). Because it is rare for an even property swap to occur between parties, the most common type of exchange is the delayed “forward” exchange. In this case, the sold property funds are sent to a qualified intermediary and later used to acquire a replacement property from a seller.

What is a Qualified Intermediary?

A qualified intermediary facilitates a 1031 exchange. They hold the transaction funds from the sale of the first property until those funds are transferred to the seller of a replacement property. The qualified intermediary also prepares the legal documents required for the exchange. The qualified intermediary can have no formal relationship with the exchange parties outside of the exchange.

1031 Exchange Important Deadlines

• The seller of the first property (the relinquished property) must identify a replacement property (their new investment property) within 45 days of the transfer of the relinquished property.
• The replacement property must be received by the exchanger within either (1) 180 days of the date the exchanger transferred the first Relinquished Property or (2) the due date of the exchanger’s tax return for the year that the transfer of the first relinquished property occurs.
• These are strict timelines and are not extended even if the 45th or 180th days fall on a weekend or holiday.

What You Need to Know about a 1031 Exchange

1031 exchange transactions should be handled by a professional qualified intermediary that is a third party (i.e., not a family member, friend, acquaintance, or business associate of either party involved in the exchange).

Exceptions

The IRS does not allow capital gains tax avoidance if the exchange:

• is U.S. real estate for real estate in another country
• involves property for personal use
• is between related parties and either disposes of the property within two years

Why Do Investors Use a 1031 Exchange?

• They can use what they would have paid in capital gains taxes to put more down on a replacement property to improve their buying power.
• The savings on federal capital gains taxes could be 15 to 20 percent.
• There could be savings at the state level (this varies by state, so your qualified intermediary should be consulted for this information).
• The amount of income taxes paid could be reduced due to depreciation of the investment property.

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A 1031 exchange is a tool that savvy real estate investors use to build wealth over time. To further understand how a 1031 exchange can benefit you, ask your CPA or accountant to help put you in touch with a qualified intermediary. Their guidance is critical in executing a 1031 whether you’re swapping two properties or working with a full portfolio of investment real estate properties.

It’s not just self-employed individuals who must pay estimated taxes. Here’s what you need to know.

W-2 income tax withholding isn’t perfect. You’ve probably had years when you owed more than you expected to on April 15. Or you were pleasantly surprised to receive a sizable refund. The idea, of course, is to try to come out as even as possible. You can usually do this by adjusting your withholding when you experience a life change like taking on a mortgage or having a baby.

Income taxes are also pay-as-you-go for self-employed individuals – or at least they should be. If you’re striking out on your own by starting your own small business in 2022 or you’re simply taking on a side gig to improve your finances, your tax obligation will change dramatically. Your income will not be subject to employer withholding every week or two. In most cases, you’ll get it all. But the IRS expects you to pay estimated taxes on that income four times a year.

Who Else Must Pay?

There are other situations where you’ll be expected to make quarterly payments. In fact, the only individuals who aren’t required to pay estimated taxes (besides W-2 employees whose withholding is on target) are those who meet all three of these conditions:

• You owed no taxes the previous tax year (line 24 on your 2021 1040—total tax—is zero, or you weren’t required to file a return).
• You were a resident alien or U.S. citizen for all of 2021.
• Your 2021 tax year covered a 12-month period.

You’ll find your total tax for 2021 on line 24 of the Form 1040. Notice, too, that line 26 asks for 2021 estimated tax payments.

There are numerous situations where individuals who have payroll taxes regularly withheld on their income may still be required to submit quarterly estimated taxes. For example, did you receive income from rents or royalties? Dividends or interest? Income from selling an asset? Gambling?

If you have an employer who withholds taxes, but you don’t think you’ll be paying enough given the deductions and credits you might receive, you need to plan for estimated taxes. Self-employed individuals are almost always required to submit them.

Special Rules for Some

As with all things IRS, there are many exceptions to the rules regarding estimated taxes. For example, there are special rules for:

• Fishermen and farmers.
• Some household employers.
• Certain high-income taxpayers.
• Nonresident aliens.

How Do You Estimate Your Quarterly Taxes?

That’s the hard part, especially if you’re new to the world of estimated taxes. There is no magic formula, no way to calculate to the penny what you’ll owe. You’re basically making an educated guess. Since you won’t know for sure what changes to the tax code will be put in place until the end of the year, you can’t be absolutely certain that you might get a particular credit or deduction.

But you know roughly what your income will be for a given quarter once you’re nearing the end of it. Do you have a lot of business-related expenses? Keeping track of those is critical, as they’ll offset your income. If you don’t, you’ll have to budget for a heftier quarterly payment. And you must keep in mind that you’ll be paying self-employment tax – that portion of your income taxes that your employer used to pay.

Once you’ve been self-employed for a full tax year and have seen what your tax obligation was, it will be easier to estimate in subsequent years. But you may have a difficult time your first year.

How Do You Pay Estimated Taxes?

Individuals and business that had to pay estimated taxes in 2021 submitted the Form 1040-ES four times. If you’re self-employed in 2022, you’ll need to submit similar vouchers with your payments, unless you’re paying online.

If you’re self-employed and you anticipate owing $1,000 or more in taxes on your 2022 income, you’ll need to file quarterlies using IRS Form 1040-ES vouchers (available on the IRS website) along with a check or money order. There are also ways to pay online using a credit or debit card or direct bank withdrawal. Corporations would file the Form 1120-W if they expect to owe $500 or more.

Estimated taxes for the 2022 tax year are due:

April 18, 2022 (January 1-March 31, 2022)

June 15, 2022 (April 1-May 31, 2022)

September 15, 2022 (June 1- August 31, 2022)

January 16, 2023 (September 1-December 31, 2022)

A Challenging Task

Estimated taxes are not precise. And it may be difficult to set aside money for them if your income is not where you’d like it to be. But as you might expect, the IRS will levy penalties on you if you don’t.

Year-round tax planning can help you in this critical area. We’ll be happy to set aside time to consult with you about estimated taxes. We’re also available to do tax preparation and to look at how your taxes fit into your overall financial situation. Contact us soon to get a jump on the 2022 tax season — or to finish up 2021.

There are various federal taxes that may apply to your small business. The type and form of business you operate determines what taxes you must pay and how you pay them. At the federal level, several different taxes may apply.

Excise Taxes

The IRS defines an excise tax as a tax imposed on the sale of specific goods or services, or on certain uses. Federal excise tax is typically imposed on the sale of items such as tobacco, fuel, alcohol, tires, heavy trucks and highway tractors, and airline tickets. Many excise taxes are placed in trust funds for projects related to the taxed product or service, such as highway or airport improvements.

An excise tax may be imposed at the time of import, sale by the manufacturer, sale by the retailer, or use by the manufacturer or consumer. Some excise taxes are collected by a third party, which then must remit the taxes to the IRS in a timely manner. An example of a third-party collector of an excise tax is a commercial airline, which collects the excise taxes on airline tickets that are paid by airline passengers. Businesses that are subject to federal excise taxes must generally file Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return. Certain excise taxes, such as those owed to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, are reported on different forms.

Income Taxes

Income taxes must be paid on business profits. How that tax is paid depends on how the business is structured. Most small businesses are pass-through entities, which means that the business’s profits or losses are passed through to the owners and reported on their personal income tax returns.

Partnerships and multi-member limited liability companies (LLCs) generally file a partnership business tax return for informational purposes only. The individual partners and LLC members pay income taxes for their share of the income of the business. Note, however, that some LLCs elect to be treated as a corporation for tax purposes.

An S corporation files an S corporation income tax return for the business. Like a partnership, an S corporation’s net income is divided among the owners, who pay tax on their share of that income individually.

A sole proprietor reports business profit or loss on a separate schedule filed with the sole proprietor’s individual income tax return. Unless an election to be treated as a corporation has been made, the owner of a single-member LLC also reports the company’s profit or loss directly on the owner’s return.

Social Security and Medicare Taxes

Employers must generally withhold Social Security and Medicare taxes from their employees’ wages and must pay a matching amount. Employers must also withhold the 0.9% additional Medicare tax on employee wages and compensation that exceeds a threshold amount.

Self-Employment Taxes

Self-employment tax is a Social Security and Medicare tax primarily for individuals who work for themselves. It is similar to the Social Security and Medicare taxes paid for other workers.

Federal Unemployment Tax

Employers are required to report and pay the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) tax separately from federal income taxes and Social Security and Medicare taxes. FUTA tax is not withheld from wages; employers are responsible for paying the tax.

Business owners should exercise extreme care when it comes to paying taxes since any mistakes on their part could result in significant penalties. For assistance, consult a tax professional.