Real estate agents may be property brokers, but mortgage brokers are not

Plain-English summary

Chief Counsel interpreted “real property brokerage” for the real estate professional rules in IRC § 469(c)(7)(C). A real estate agent who brings together buyers and sellers of real property may conduct a qualifying real property brokerage business even if state law does not license that person as a broker. A mortgage broker who connects borrowers and lenders brokers financial instruments, not real property, and therefore does not conduct a qualifying real property brokerage business. Federal law, statutory history, and the ordinary meaning of the statutory words controlled rather than state licensing classifications.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Do real estate agents and mortgage brokers conduct a real property brokerage trade or business under IRC § 469(c)(7)(C)?
• Outcome: Advice given, qualifying treatment may apply to the real estate agent but not the mortgage broker
• Key authorities: IRC § 469(c)(7)(C)

Full text (IRS public release)

Office of Chief Counsel
Internal Revenue Service
Memorandum
Number: 201504010
Release Date: 1/23/2015
CC:PSI:B01:JMGoldberg;BHWeaver Third Party Communication: None
PRESP-143387-12 Date of Communication: Not Applicable

UILC: 469.14-00

date: December 17, 2014

to: Kelly H. Myers
(Small Business/Self-Employed)

from: Associate Chief Counsel
(Passthroughs & Special Industries)

subject: Meaning of "brokerage" within §469(c)(7)(C)

This Chief Counsel Advice responds to your request for assistance. This advice may
not be used or cited as precedent.

ISSUES

1. Whether a real estate agent is engaged in a real property brokerage trade or
   business within the meaning of § 469(c)(7)(C)?

2. Whether a mortgage broker is engaged in a real property brokerage trade or
   business within the meaning of § 469(c)(7)(C)?

CONCLUSIONS

1. A real estate agent who brings together buyers and sellers of real property may
   be engaged in a real property brokerage trade or business under § 469(c)(7)(C).

2. A mortgage broker who is a broker of financial instruments is not in a real
   property brokerage trade or business within the meaning of § 469(c)(7)(C).

FACTS

X is a state licensed real estate agent and works full-time as an independent contractor
for a real estate brokerage firm. Under state law, X is not licensed as a real estate

PRESP-143387-12 2

broker. X brings together buyers and sellers of real property and negotiates contracts of
sale and other agreements between buyers and sellers of real property.

Y is a state licensed mortgage broker. As a mortgage broker, Y markets mortgage
loans and brings together lenders and borrowers. Under state law, Y’s mortgage
brokerage business is considered to be a real property brokerage business.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 469(c)(7)(C) defines the term “real property trade or business” as “any real
property development, redevelopment, construction, reconstruction, acquisition,
conversion, rental operation, management, leasing, or brokerage trade or business.”
These terms are not defined in § 469 or the regulations. Absent further guidance,
legislative history and principles of statutory construction apply to determine the
meaning of “real property brokerage” for purposes of § 469.

It has long been held that Federal law governs the construction of terms for Federal tax
purposes. See Julius M. Israel Lodge of B’nai B’rith No. 2113 v. Comm’r, 98 F.3d 190
(5th Cir. 1996) (citing United States v. Irvine, 511 U.S. 242 (1994)); Hoover v. C.I.R.,
102 F.3d 842, 845 (6th Cir. 1996) (stating “federal law governs the federal income tax
treatment of [§ 71] property.”). Thus, state law definitions of the terms “real estate
agent” and “mortgage broker” are not determinative of whether a taxpayer is engaged in
a real property brokerage trade or business within the meaning of § 469(c)(7)(C).

Although Congress initially included “finance operations” in the list of qualifying real
property trade or business activities in an earlier, unenacted version of what would
become § 469(c)(7)(C), (H.R. 3732, 101st Cong. (2d Sess. 1989), S. 2384, 101st Cong.
(1989-90)), “finance operations” was removed from the final bill. H.R. 2264, 103d Cong.
(1993) (enacted). It is therefore reasonable to infer that Congress did not intend for
financing activities to constitute a real property trade or business and that financing
activities should not be included in the definition of “real property brokerage.”

Moreover, principles of statutory construction indicate that a mortgage broker is not
engaged in real property brokerage. “Statutory words are uniformly presumed, unless
the contrary appears, to be used in their ordinary and usual sense, and with the
meaning commonly attributed to them.” Caminetti v. United States, 242 U.S. 470, 485-
86 (1917); Smith v. United States, 508 U.S. 223, 228-29 (1993). Courts often resort to
standard reference dictionaries to determine the ordinary or common meaning of a
word. See, e.g. Smith, 508 U.S. at 228; Crane v. Comm’r, 331 U.S. 1, 6 (1947).

Webster’s Dictionary defines “real estate” as “property consisting of buildings and land;
the business of selling land and buildings,” and defines “brokerage” as “the business of

PRESP-143387-12 3

a broker” or the “broker’s fee or commission.”1 Webster’s defines a “broker” as “a
person who helps other people… to buy and sell property.”2 Accordingly, the common
and ordinary construction of “real property brokerage” for purposes of § 469(c)(7)(C)
involves bringing together buyers and sellers of real property. This definition of “real
property brokerage” does not include the brokerage of financial instruments.

Therefore the “financing” of real property such as by bringing together lenders and
borrowers is not a real property brokerage trade or business within the meaning of
§469(c)(7)(C). Thus, consistent with the legislative history of § 469(c)(7)(C), and under
the common and ordinary construction of “real property brokerage,” X is engaged in a
real property trade or business within the meaning of § 469(c)(7)(C), and Y is not.

CASE DEVELOPMENT, HAZARDS AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

This writing may contain privileged information. Any unauthorized disclosure of this
writing may undermine our ability to protect the privileged information. If disclosure is
determined to be necessary, please contact this office for our views.

Please call (202) 317-6850 if you have any further questions.

Curt Wilson
Associate Chief Counsel
(Passthroughs and Special Industries)

1 Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, “Real Estate” (Apr. 30, 2014), http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/real%20estate; Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, “Brokerage” (Apr. 30, 2014),
http://www.meriam-webster.com/dictionary/brokerage.

2 Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, “Broker” (Apr. 30, 2014), http://www.meriam-
webster.com/dictionary/broker.