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February 17, 2024
Question

Confused about Form 8824 - Like-Kind Exchanges

  • February 17, 2024
  • 1 reply
  • 0 views

Suppose I buy a rental property for $200k. After a few years I sell it for $300k. I would have a capital gain of $100k (ignoring depreciation, improvements, and closing costs). Rather than pay taxes on the $100k gain, I decide to do a 1031 exchange; I buy a replacement property for $350k.

 

I am confused by what is entered on Form 8824.

Here is what I think should be entered on Form 8824 according to the IRS (from examples I have seen).

 

Line 16 - FMV of property received: $350k

Line 17: Same as Line 16 in this example: $350k

Line 18 - Adjusted basis of property sold: $200k

Line 19 - Realized gain (Line 17 - Line 18): $150k

Line 24 - Deferred gain (= Line 19): $150k

Line 25 - Basis of like-kind property received (= Line 18): $200k

 

These are different from how I think about these transactions.

 

 * I would think  the realized gain was 0 (since in order to purchase the new property I added $50k to the $300k received for the old property; I spent money, I didn't realize money).

 * I would think that the deferred gain was $100k, since that is the gain I would have had if I didn't do the exchange.

 * And I would think the basis of the property received was $350k, as that is the basis of my new property.

 

Can someone please confirm whether the amounts I listed as "should be entered" are correct, and explain why they are not what I would think they should be?

 

Thank you!

1 reply

Employee
February 17, 2024

You have the input on the lines you set forth in your post in the correct amounts based on your figures.

 

The more difficult part is, however, handling depreciation after the exchange.