PLR 1302009: IRS approves a debt-subject like-kind exchange structure

Plain-English summary

A partnership-owned real estate business asked whether assigning its rights in an agreement to transfer property subject to debt could qualify as a transfer of relinquished property in a like-kind exchange. The proposed structure used a qualified intermediary, replacement property, and debt or cash financing. The IRS ruled that the assignment to the qualified intermediary would be treated as a transfer of the relinquished property for purposes of determining whether the transaction involved property held for business or investment under IRC § 1031(a). The ruling did not address whether the transaction qualified for tax deferral in every other respect.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Would the taxpayer's assignment of rights in the transfer agreement to a qualified intermediary count as a transfer of relinquished property under IRC § 1031?
• Outcome: Approved as described, limited to the specific issue addressed.
• Key authorities: IRC § 1031(a); Treas. Reg. § 1.1031(k)-1(g)(4)(v)

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201302009 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 1/11/2013 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Person To Contact:
Index Number: 1031.00-00 ----------------------, ID No. -------------
Telephone Number:
--------------------
------------------- Refer Reply To:
---------------------------------------- CC:ITA:B04
------------------------------------------------- PLR-125315-12

----------------------- Date:
----------------------------------- October 10, 2012

LEGEND:

Taxpayer = -------------------------------------------------
EIN: ----------------

LLC = -------------------------

Complex = -------------------------------

State A = ----------

Date 1 = -------------------

X = --------------

Lenders = -----------------------------------------------------

Dear ------------:

This responds to your request for a private letter ruling dated June 13, 2012. Your
request concerns the qualification of a transaction as a like-kind exchange under
§ 1031(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Taxpayer, a limited liability company treated as a partnership for federal income tax
purposes, owns all of LLC, a disregarded entity. LLC owns Complex in State A, which it
uses in its trade or business. On Date 1, Taxpayer refinanced existing mortgages and
encumbered the buildings in Complex with $X of 10 year nonrecourse loans issued by
Lenders. Because the current market value of Complex is believed to be less than the
PLR-125315-12 2

outstanding principal debt, Taxpayer has been negotiating to transfer title of Complex,
subject to the debt, to Lenders pursuant to the Transfer Agreement.

Taxpayer will enter into an exchange agreement with a qualified intermediary (QI) as
defined in § 1.1031(k)-1(g)(4)1 of the regulations to accomplish an exchange intended to
qualify as a like-kind exchange under § 1031 of the Code. QI will acquire and transfer
to Taxpayer like-kind replacement property approximately equal in value to the total
amount of the outstanding principal debt. Taxpayer will assign to QI its rights in the
Transfer Agreement with notice being given to Lenders. Taxpayer will enter into a
contract for the acquisition of the replacement property and the rights will be assigned to
the QI with notice being given to the seller of the replacement property. The
replacement property will then likely be acquired with cash (which Taxpayer would
transfer to, or on behalf of, the QI) and/or debt.

Section 1.1031(k)-1(g)(4)(v) provides that if a taxpayer enters into an agreement for the
transfer of relinquished property and thereafter assigns its rights in that agreement to an
intermediary and all parties to that agreement are notified in writing of the assignment
on or before the date of the transfer of the relinquished property, the intermediary is
treated as entering into that agreement. If the relinquished property is transferred
pursuant to that agreement, the intermediary is treated as having acquired and
transferred the relinquished property.

Consistent with the treatment of the QI as having acquired Complex, we rule that
Taxpayer’s assignment of its rights in the Transfer Agreement to QI will be a transfer of
relinquished property for purposes of determining whether there is an “exchange of
property held for productive use in a trade or business or for investment” under
§ 1031(a), notwithstanding that the fair market value of Complex is less than the
principal amount of the outstanding nonrecourse debt.

Except as expressly provided herein, no opinion is expressed or implied concerning the
tax consequences of any aspect of any transaction or item discussed or referenced in
this letter. Specifically, we express no opinion whether the proposed transaction
qualifies in all other respects for tax deferral under § 1031 beyond what is expressly
stated in the above ruling. A copy of this letter ruling should be attached to the
appropriate federal income tax returns for the taxable years in which the transactions
described herein are consummated.

1
Section 1.1031(k)-1(g) of the regulations sets up four safe harbors, the use of which will prevent actual
or constructive receipt of money or other property for purposes of § 1031. Paragraph (g)(4) provides that
one of these safe harbors is the qualified intermediary. Paragraph (g)(4)(iii) defines a qualified
intermediary as a person who (A) is not the taxpayer or a disqualified person, and (B) enters into a written
agreement with the taxpayer (the exchange agreement) and as required by the exchange agreement,
acquires the relinquished property from the taxpayer, transfers the relinquished property, acquires the
replacement property and transfers the replacement property to the taxpayer.
PLR-125315-12 3

This letter ruling is directed only to the taxpayer who requested it. Section 6110(k)(3) of
the Code provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.

In accordance with the Power of Attorney on file with this office, copies of this letter are
being sent to your authorized representatives.

                                   Sincerely,



                                   Christina M. Glendening
                                   Assistant to the Chief, Branch 4
                                   Office of Associate Chief Counsel
                                   (Income Tax & Accounting)

cc: