Understanding the potential advantages of the 200% Rule in a 1031 exchange

Is that your final answer?” You may recognize the question made famous by the popular TV game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Choosing the right answer in this game gives you a shot at winning big money, while the wrong answer leaves you with nothing. Investors conducting a 1031 Exchange face a similar make or break decision when it comes to identifying suitable replacement properties.

The right choices can help streamline a smooth and successful execution of a 1031 Exchange. Choosing wrong with properties that may not be viable or deals that are unable to close within the 180-day time period can derail the entire 1031 Exchange. The good news is that investors do get to identify more than one replacement property. However, just like the gameshow, once that 45-day deadline hits for identifying replacement options, those answers are final. Making the most of that short list is one reason that the 200% Rule is a popular choice for many investors. The 200% Rule allows an investor to identify the largest number of replacement options with four or more properties or Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) replacement investments.

Under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, taxpayers who are seeking to defer recognition of capital gains and related federal income tax liability from the sale of a property are required to formally identify a replacement property or properties within 45-days from the date that the original property is relinquished (the day they closed the escrow on the property they sold). The tax code gives taxpayers three different options for identifying replacement properties on that 45-Day Property Identification Form – the 200% Rule, the 3-Property Rule or the 95% Rule. So, which is the best option to use? Every situation is different. However, for those investors who want to maximize their potential options and identify four or more replacement properties, the 200% Rule is a good choice to explore.

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