RELEVANT CASE LAW
Mercantile Trust Company of Baltimore v. Commissioner,
Board of Tax Appeals, 1935. Mercantile involved a property
owner/exchanger, a buyer of the exchanger's property, and a seller of
like-kind replacement property. Interestingly, it also involved a title
company that acted as a fourth party facilitator in the transaction.
Because of the tax consequences, Mercantile did not want to sell its
property. Instead, they transferred it to the title company which in
turn transferred it to the buyer. The title company took the buyer's
money and used it to buy the replacement property and having bought it
transferred it to Mercantile. All of the legs of this transaction were
carried out pursuant to appropriate contracts entered into between the
respective parties of each leg.
Faced with this unique transaction, the Board of Tax Appeals rejected
the Service's argument that the transaction did not give rise to a valid
tax deferred exchange because the title company acted as the agent of
the buyer and held that the purported exchange did in fact meet the
requirements of 112, the precursor of 1031.
The court's reasoning was that even if the title company was the agent
of the buyer it would not have mattered because is still would have
resulted in an integrated transaction in which the Taxpayer received,
and was entitled only to receive, like‑kind replacement property and not
the buyer's purchase price. The only way the Service could have won its
argument, said the court, would have been to show that the title company
acted as Mercantile's agent in the transaction. If this were the case,
there would have been two separate and unrelated transactions: 1) a sale
of property by Mercantile to the Buyer; and 2) a purchase by Mercantile
of the replacement property, and as such would not have qualified as a
tax deferred exchange.
The key is that all steps constitute an integrated mutually dependent
transaction. It is as simple as that. There hasn't been any
significant change in the test enunciated in Mercantile in the 70 years
following the decision.
Coupe v. Commissioner,
52 T.C. 394 (1960), acquiesced in 1970‑2 Cum.Bull.X1X, a Taxpayer agreed to
sell his farm to a buyer for a "set" price. After consulting an attorney,
Coupe realized an exchange was possible which would defer taxation. The
agreement was amended so that the buyer would purchase suitable farm
property for Coupe with the purchase money and exchange that farm property
for Coupe's. The resulting transaction had the buyer depositing cash in an
escrow payable to the titleholders of Coupe's farm and Coupe exchanging his
farm property with his lawyer who had contracted to buy other farms. The
lawyer transferred Coupe's farm to the buyer for cash and paid off the
sellers of the farm which Coupe now owned. Despite amending the contract,
the court held in this transaction that Coupe did not sell his lands to the
buyer but exchanged them for like-kind property in accordance with Code
§1031(a).
Alderson v. Commissioner,
317 F.2d 790 (9th Cir. 1963), rev’d 38 T.C. 215 (1962) the Taxpayers agreed
to sell land with the buyer immediately depositing earnest money of
approximately ten percent with an Escrowee. Subsequently, Taxpayers located
like‑kind property which they desired to obtain in an exchange, rather then
selling their land, paying tax and buying the new parcel. Therefore, the
escrow agreement was amended providing that in lieu of the original cash
deal, the buyer would acquire the land Alderson desired, and would exchange
that property for Alderson's. Having done so with the money he otherwise
would have used to pay Alderson, the exchange was affected. The court held
that the transaction that finally occurred was an exchange and not a sale
and purchase.
Rogers v. Commissioner,
44 T.C. 126 (1965), 377 F.2d 534 (9th Cir 1967) Taxpayer entered into an
option agreement to sell property. Prior to the exercise of the option, the
Taxpayer entered into negotiations for the acquisition of similar property
from a third party and the transfer to him of the property subject to the
option. Taxpayer then deposited in escrow a deed with instructions that it
be released to the third party when title to his property was vested in
them. The third party's deposits were made, but prior to that time the
optionee had exercised his right to buy and had deposited money with the
escrow agent. The court held that no exchange took place, but rather that
Taxpayers had sold their land to the optionee pursuant to the terms of the
option. There could be no exchange here, the court said, because the
petitioners received only cash, not property.
Carlton v. United States,
385 F.2d 238 (5th Cir. 1967), Here, the Taxpayer agreed to sell or
exchange ranch land to a developer. Taxpayer elected the exchange, found the
land he desired, and made the deposit on the parcel personally. He then
notified the developer that he would require him to purchase the land and
exchange it for his ranch, and the actual agreements of sale were executed
by the developer. However, when it came time to close, rather than
duplicate title transfer costs, the transaction was structured so that the
land which the developer was buying to exchange was conveyed directly to the
Taxpayer and not to the developer and then to the Taxpayer. The Taxpayer
had received cash and the assignment of the developer’s right to buy that
land in exchange for his ranch property. Consequently, the court found that
since the developer had never acquired ownership of the property, it could
not have exchanged it for Taxpayer’s ranch land. Therefore, the court found
a taxable sale rather than a tax-deferred exchange.
Biggs v. Commissioner,
632 F.2d 1171 (5th Cir. 1980) aff’d 69 T.C. 905 (1978) where a four‑party
exchange was sanctioned despite deficiencies in the contracts and the fact
that the party to whom the Taxpayer's property was conveyed did not obtain
an ownership interest in the exchange property prior to its conveyance.
Garcia v. Commissioner,
80 T.C. 491 (1983) acq. 1984‑2 Cum.Bull. I The Tax Court greatly emphasized
the Taxpayer's intent in deciding the tax consequences of a complex
transaction. The court stated that contractual interdependence of escrow
transfers is not a technical requirement for a finding that a multi-party
exchange qualified for tax‑deferred treatment. The Garcia standard requires
that the Taxpayer desired to effect a tax‑deferred exchange, that his
actions comported with that desire, and that no cash proceeds from the sale
of the original property were received by the Taxpayer, either actually or
constructively.
Starker v. US,
1975-1 USTC 8443 (D. Ore. 1975) Taxpayer agreed to exchange timberland with
two corporations and the corporations, in turn, agreed to transfer similar
properties to Taxpayers in the future as those properties were located and
proved acceptable to Taxpayers. The Taxpayers had to agree before each
conveyance, however, on the value of the parcel conveyed in exchange. If the
agreed value of the property received was not equal within five years to
what was conveyed, buyers would have the right, but not the duty, to pay the
balance to the Starkers in cash. In addition, the value of what the Starkers
conveyed would be increased by six percent per annum to reflect the value of
the growing timber. Despite the fact that the Starkers chose eight parcels,
all of which were not owned by the corporations at that time, the
transaction was held to be a Code 1031 exchange.
Starker II,
602 F.2d 1341 (9th Cir. 1979) the same judge held that an exchange of real
estate for a promise is not a like‑kind exchange and the Taxpayer's gain or
loss was to be recognized. The court held that the fair market value of the
promise was equal to the fair market value of the land conveyed. In a major
development regarding this issue, Starker II, was reversed by the 9th
Circuit Court of Appeals. The court directed itself in this case to the
question of whether 1031 required a simultaneity of transfers for a
qualifying exchange. Its decision was that the contract right to receive
additional property in the future, though personal property in nature,
should not be treated any differently from the ownership rights themselves.
Thus, the promise to deliver like‑kind
property in the future was held to be qualifying property in a like‑kind
exchange.
Maxwell v. Commissioner,
T.C. Memo 1986-8447 an intended three party exchange was treated as a sale
since the proceeds from the transfer of the relinquished property were
placed in an escrow which the Taxpayer could have terminated at any time.
The court noted that there can be a receipt of cash as a contingency in a
like-kind exchange and simultaneity of transfer is not necessary. However,
the court observed that the Taxpayer had the discretion to terminate the
escrow prior to acquisition of replacement property and this proved fatal to
the exchange.
Rutherford v. Commissioner,
T.C. Memo 1978-505 wherein the court stated that, the fact that property
constituting one side of an exchange was not in existence at the time of
transfer, did not preclude the applicability of 1031(a). This was the first
Court-sanctioned “reverse” exchange.
Garbis S. Bezdjian v. Commissioner,
T.C. Memo 1987-140: the Tax Court
stated the well established rule that a sale of property followed by a
separate and unrelated purchase of property is not an exchange pursuant to
1031. On the other hand, said the court, if the Taxpayer's transfer and
receipt of property were interdependent parts of an overall plan the result
of which was an exchange of like-kind properties, 1031 applies. The court
stated later in its opinion that the transfers involved in the case would
not meet the exchange requirement of 1031 "even if the transfers were
integrated, interdependent and aimed at a particular result."
Nixon v. Commissioner,
T.C. Memo 1987-318 Taxpayers negotiated with a state conservation commission
to sell 309 acres for $339,000 which was paid in the form of a check which
Taxpayers then deposited into a food freezer for safekeeping. The Taxpayers
later endorsed the check to a third party in exchange for 109 acres and cash
of $218,900, which Taxpayers deposited into their bank account. In denying
non-recognition treatment, the court stressed that the Taxpayers had
unfettered and unrestricted control over the original check and that a cash
sale and reinvestment took place. Note:
Putting the cash on ice will not avoid
constructive receipt.
Crooks v. Commissioner, 92 T.C. 816 (1989): Tax Court held
that granting a lease (while reserving a royalty interest) in consideration
for four parcels of real estate did not constitute an exchange for purposes
of Section 1031.
Chase v.
Commissioner, 92 T.C. 874 (1989): Tax Court held that a partnership's disposition of
an entire interest in an apartment building did not involve a like‑kind
exchange. The Taxpayers, partners in a partnership holding the building,
sought to structure the disposition to facilitate non-recognition to them.
They caused the partnership to distribute a 46 percent undivided interest in
the property, and then set up a trust into which 46 percent of the net
proceeds from the disposition were to be paid and held until suitable
like‑kind property could be found. The Tax Court observed that the
Taxpayers did not act as owners except in their roles as partners. The
substance over form doctrine applies, said the court, where the form chosen
by the parties is a fiction that fails to reflect the economic realities of
the transaction, Commissioner v. Court Holding Co. 324 U.S. 331 (1945).
The Court concluded that, in substance, the partnership had sold the
property and distributed the proceeds to the Taxpayer, a transaction not
meeting the requirements of Section 1031 viewed at either the partnership or
the partner level. Several facts were critical to the court's decision that
the Taxpayer did not in substance receive the interest in the building to be
exchanged. The Taxpayer had not recorded the deed to the property until
shortly before the sale, he did not pay 46% of the building's operating
costs during the interim period, and he did not receive 46% of the rents
during that period.
Contrast the Court’s ruling in Chase, (which relies strongly on Court
Holdings, (U.S. Supreme Court)), with TAM 9907029 (September 30, 1998); see
also TAM 9818003 (December 24, 1997).
Maloney v.
Commissioner, 93 T.C. 89 (1989): Tax Court ruled that a Taxpayer‑corporation's
distribution of property acquired in a like‑kind exchange did not defeat
non-recognition under Section 1031. The property was distributed in a
Section 333 liquidation to controlling shareholders, who owned 100 percent
of the stock, and they continued to hold the property solely for purposes of
investment. The Tax Court viewed the transaction as a variant of the
transactions it had already blessed in Magneson v. Commissioner, 81 T.C. 767
(1983), aff'd, 753 F.2d 1490 (9th Cir. 1985) (exchange of like‑kind
properties followed by tax‑free change in form of ownership), and Bolker v.
Commissioner, 81 T.C. 782 (1983), aff'd, 760 F.2d 1039 (9th Cir. 1985)
(interplay of Sections 1031 and now‑repealed 333).
Klein v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1993-491: In a pre-Regulation (1988) exchange,
Taxpayer assigned its interest in cash held in escrow to the seller of
replacement property. Citing Carlton v. United States, and Nixon v.
Commissioner, the Tax Court held that there was no exchange obligation on
the part of the purchaser of Taxpayer's property and Taxpayer had
constructive receipt of the funds held in escrow.
Fredericks v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1994-27: This case involved
several pre-safe harbor issues including the placement of a mortgage just
prior to the exchange. The IRS lost the case on all issues.
Blatt v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1994-48: Rev. Rul. 72-456 held that broker's commissions can
reduce boot in an exchange and its underlying general counsel's memorandum
suggested that other types of exchange expenses can reduce boot. In Phillip
Blatt the Court stated that "the amount of boot received is decreased by the
Taxpayer's exchange expenses." Although this is somewhat limited authority
(because it is only a Tax Court Memorandum decision), it does provide some
further support for the position that Rev. Rul. 72-456 can be extended to
other types of expenses. Following is a listing from the Government's Brief
that detail the expenses allowed in the case: escrow fees, document
preparation, owner's title insurance premium, lender's title insurance
premium, exchange fees, recording charges, transfer taxes, messenger fees.
Dibsy v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1995-477:
In this
case, there was a desire to purchase property and a need to dispose of
like-kind property to finance the acquisition. The Taxpayer was unable to
locate a buyer for the original property and the new property was purchased
before the original property could be sold. There was a borrowing against
the original property to finance the purchase of the new property and the
Taxpayer did not actually receive the cash proceeds of sale of the old
property. The purchase of the new property and the subsequent sale of the
old property were not structured as a Section 1031 exchange. The escrow
documents do not refer to a Section 1031 exchange. There is no indication
that the transactions were intended to be a Section 1031 exchange. There was
no evidence that Taxpayers relied on Section 1031 until they filed their
Federal income tax return. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
held that there was no “exchange under the meaning of Section 1031”.
Wittig v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1995-461: On September 27, 1995 the Tax Court issued a
memorandum opinion holding that new debt incurred by a Taxpayer to acquire
replacement property in a like-kind exchange will not offset the Taxpayer’s
mortgage liability relief on relinquished property. Wittig is the first
case to directly apply the liability netting rules of Reg. §1.1031(d)-2 to a
new purchase money mortgage. Chicago Deferred Exchange Corporation agreed
to finance the appeal and, through its attorney, Howard J. Levine of Roberts
& Holland, Washington, D.C. filed a motion for reconsideration on October
26, 1995 arguing on behalf of Wittig that the Tax Court committed a
substantial error.
Two cases have implicitly held that an offset should be allowed even
where the replacement property is not acquired subject to existing debt:
Commissioner v. North Shore Bus Company, 143 F.2d 114 (2d Cir. 1944); and
Barker v. Commissioner, 74 TC 555 (1980). Also see TAM 8003004 (Sept. 19,
1979), in which the IRS rules that an offset must be permitted because a
purchase money mortgage constitutes either a liability assumed by or cash
paid by the Taxpayer. On November 9, 1995, the Tax Court’s order in Wittig
was withdrawn.
St. Laurent
v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo.
1996-150: This case involved a deferred exchange in 1988, before the
Deferred Exchange Regulations were issued. The Taxpayer identified 20
properties as replacement property. The Service argued that the
identification should not qualify because it was clear from a reading of the
statute that Congress intended only a limited number of properties could be
identified as potential replacement properties.
The Court found that the
Taxpayer made a valid identification of properties and it found no need to
set a specific number. The Taxpayer made a good faith effort to comply with
the statute. However, the Court held that the exchange did not qualify for
non-recognition of gain because the Taxpayer did not actually receive the
replacement property until after the end of the statutory exchange period,
in this case, the date he filed his income tax return for the year the
relinquished property was transferred.
Hillyer
v. Commissioner, T.C.
Memo. 1996-214: This case involved an exchange by an S corporation of land
using an escrow account. The Taxpayer received the net proceeds from the
sale and deposited them into an escrow account with a bank. The Court found
that the exchange did not qualify because the escrow agreement did not
expressly limit the S corporation’s right to receive or use the cash held in
the escrow account as required by the Reg. §1.1031(k)-1(g)(6). The Court
found the escrow agreement to be “nothing more than a facade”.
Dobrich v. Commissioner,
T.C. Memo 1997-477: The Tax Court upheld
a fraud penalty on the submission to the IRS of backdated documents, which
reflected that an oral identification had been made under Section
1031(a)(3). This case involved a pre-regulation year, so the Court was even
willing to assume that a proper identification did not have to necessarily
be in writing. Taxpayers misrepresented to the IRS that they had in fact
identified replacement property in a timely manner. Taxpayers willfully took
steps to disguise the taxable sale as a Section 1031 exchange by fabricating
timely identification and obtaining false documents to substantiate their
claim. The Court found clear and convincing evidence of Taxpayer’s intent to
defraud and ruled that Taxpayers were liable for a Section 6663 fraud
penalty. The Taxpayer also plead guilty to the criminal charge of causing
the delivery of false documents to the IRS.
Christensen
v. Commissioner,
96-70741 (9th Cir. 1998): The Ninth Circuit, in an unpublished memorandum,
affirmed a Tax Court decision denying like-kind exchange treatment for an
individual’s transfer of rental property because he did not receive
replacement property on or before the earlier of 180 days after the transfer
of the relinquished property “or the due date, determined with regard to
extensions, for the Taxpayer’s return”. The court rejected Christensen’s
argument that the return date includes any extensions available, holding
instead that the due date included only extensions actually granted, of
which there were none in this case. The deadline the court concluded is
“the actual due date, not a hypothetical due date”.
Neal T. Baker Enterprises, Inc. v. Commissioner,
T.C. Memo 1998-302: Exchange of unimproved land held by a Taxpayer in the
real estate business was disqualified. Property was deemed to be held
“primarily for sale” even though the court found it was not held as dealer
property. A significant factor in the court’s holding that the property was
held “primarily for sale” is the fact that the property was classified as
“work in progress” on the Taxpayer’s books, not an investment, and the
Taxpayer’s accountants failed to testify on his behalf to explain the
disparity. Additionally, the Taxpayer listed his primary occupation as
“real estate subdivider and developer.”
Lincoln v. Commissioner,
T.C. Memo 1998-421: Taxpayer acquired property in Big Sur, California with
cash and a note. Taxpayer sold other investment property the following year.
Proceeds from the sale were used to make improvements on the Big Sur
property. Taxpayers did not report any gain on the sale of their property,
nor did they report the transactions as an exchange on Form 8824. Relying on
Bezdjian v. Commissioner 845 F.2d 217 (9th Cir. 1988) the Tax
Court held that their was no "reciprocal transfer of property", disallowed
the exchange and assessed a 20 percent penalty as provided by Section
6662(a). See also Dibsy v. Commissioner.
DeCleene v. Commissioner,
115 T.C. No. 34 (November 17, 2000):
Taxpayer transferred property it previously owned (Lawrence Drive) to WLC,
in exchange for which WLC was to construct improvements on Lawrence Drive
and transfer the property plus improvements back to Taxpayer. At the time of
the transfer back to Taxpayer, Taxpayer would transfer McDonald Street
property to WLC to complete the two party exchange. Taxpayer proceeded to
quit claim the Lawrence Drive property to WLC. WLC gave Taxpayer a
non-recourse note and mortgage on the property which was assigned to a bank
who provided construction financing. When WLC completed the construction
three months later, WLC transferred the improved Lawrence Drive property to
Taxpayer, Taxpayer transferred McDonald Street to WLC.
The Tax Court held that Taxpayer never
disposed of Lawrence Drive, and remained its owner during the construction
period. Because Taxpayer 1. previously owned the property, 2. was obligated
to pay for the construction of the improvements and 3. was obligated to
re-acquire the property on the completion of the improvements, he remained
the beneficial owner of the property. In effect the Service considered this
a failed attempt at structuring a “parking arrangement”. *Note that this
case was decided prior to the issuance of Revenue Procedure 2000-37.
D.G. Smalley
v. Commissioner, 116 T.C.
No. 29 (2001) : An exchange of timber cutting rights granted for two years
for a fee simple interest in property qualified under Section 1031 even
though no QI was used, and the question of whether the properties were
like-kind was not sufficiently addressed by the Court. Relinquished
property was transferred in 1994; replacement property was acquired in
1995. The Service initially challenged the transaction based on the
argument that the timber cutting rights were not like kind to a fee.
Taxpayer argued that even if they were not like-kind properties that the
gain should still be reportable in the following tax year (1995) as he was
able to demonstrate bona fide intent to complete the exchange. The Tax Court
rejected the Service’s argument that in order for the Taxpayer to have bona
fide intent, that the properties needed to be like-kind, but indicated the
Taxpayer only needed to have reasonable belief that he would receive
replacement property to show intent. As to the issue of like-kind, the Court
held that there was sufficient uncertainty so as to conclude that the
Taxpayer’s belief that the properties were like kind, while not necessarily
correct, were at least reasonable.
Florida Industries Investment Corp.
v. Commissioner,
252 F.3d 440 (11th Cir 2001): Sale proceeds on an exchange were
placed in escrow with a very friendly bank with whom a subsidiary of the
Taxpayer had a very close relationship. There was an early release of some
of the funds, and the Court held that the Taxpayer was in control of all
escrow funds and stated: “Unlike the situations in Garcia, Barker and
Hayden, Taxpayer here had effective control over the sales proceeds. The
record also shows that the QI/Escrow company’s action with respect to the
escrow fund and the escrow agreement complied with the wishes of the
Taxpayer, regardless of whether those actions violated certain provisions of
that agreement.” [emphasis added]. (See PLR 200027028 where the Service
held that the exchange agreements could not be modified to allow for early
distribution of cash where Taxpayer determined that he is unable to reach a
contract with a seller of replacement property. The Service ruled that the
agreement cannot give the Taxpayer the right to receive the cash back, prior
to the end of the exchange period even if he determines in good faith that
he will be unable to acquire the property).
Marcia Chama
v. Commissioner, TC Memo
2001-53 (September 24, 2001): The Tax Court held that a partner in a
partnership had to report her share of partnership gain from a 1031 exchange
even though, according to the Court: “it appears the Partnership re-invested
petitioner’s share of the gain.”Gain was recognized by the partners because there was
apparently a mortgage transferred, but no mortgage offset. This issue
arises from the lack of conformity between rules covering partnership
liabilities (under Section 752) and like-kind exchanges. If a partnership
is doing an exchange where there is debt relief on the sale of the
relinquished property, and the exchange straddles a tax year-end – so
replacement property is purchased in tax year 2, the partnership technically
has to recognize gain on that debt relief it incurs in tax year 1. The
language of 752(b) literally compels a gain recognition result,
notwithstanding that for purposes of Section 1031, consideration given by
the Taxpayer in the form of a liability assumed on the purchase of
replacement property offsets consideration received by the Taxpayer in the
form of a liability assumed by the purchaser of the relinquished property.
Ronning Enterprises, Inc. v. Commissioner
docketed June1998, reported November 2001: Taxpayer transferred nine
non-contiguous parcels of real estate to seven different buyers pursuant to
eight different exchange agreements (three of the parcels were exchanged
simultaneously). The replacement property consisted of tenancy in common
interests in the same parcel of real estate. The IRS took the position on
audit and at Appeals that all of the deferred exchanges were part of the
“same” deferred exchange for purposes of the Reg. 1.1031(K)-1(b)(2)(iii)
which resulted in the latter five exchanges not qualifying [which states:
“If, as part of the same deferred exchange, the Taxpayer transfers more than
one relinquished property and the relinquished properties are transferred on
different dates, the identification period and the exchange period are
determined by reference to the earliest date on which any of the properties
are transferred.) So, in this case, if the 45 day period for each exchange
was determined from the time of the first transfer, the last five
transactions would have failed the 45 day identification test.
Appeals also disallowed tax-deferred treatment on the
simultaneous exchanges. Finally, in addition to conceding the case, the IRS
conceded entitlement to attorneys fees and agreed to pay fees at a higher
rate than the statutory rate.
Jose Montes v. Kim Asher, CPA,
182 F. Supp. 2d 637 (N.D.O. 2002): Summary
judgment issued for Plaintiff who filed a malpractice claim against his
CPA. Jose Montes sold a restaurant and mentioned to his CPA that he was
thinking of acquiring a new restaurant. The CPA firm failed to mention the
benefits of an IRC Section 1031 exchange. Montes sold the restaurant and
recognized his gain. He subsequently filed suit. In summary judgment, the
Northern District of Ohio Tax Court ruled in his favor.
In re: Nation-Wide Exchange Services, Inc.,
291 B.R. 131: 2003 Bankr Lexis 267; 91
A.F.T.R. 2d March 31, 2003: The U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the District of
Minnesota held that exchange funds under the control of Nation-Wide Exchange
Services, Inc., as Qualified Intermediary were subject to claims of Nation-Wide’s
creditors in bankruptcy. All disbursements made by Nation-Wide in the 90
days preceding its bankruptcy filing were voided and returned to the
bankruptcy trustee. Nation-Wide Exchange Services acted as qualified
intermediary on behalf of its customers. It was not obligated, as QI to
maximize the return on the sale proceeds it held but was required to give
precedence to security and liquidity in its choice of investments.
Nation-Wide commingled all of its customer deposits in a brokerage account
on which it sustained losses that it never made up. Ultimately, Nation-Wide
was unable to meet its obligations to acquire replacement property and filed
for bankruptcy. The Bankruptcy Court found that Nation-Wide's de-facto
practice of commingling customer deposits – and its failure to use
segregated accounts – effectively converted customer deposits to Nation-Wide's
property for purposes of bankruptcy law. The court noted: “[Client]
was a trusting exchanger. It is painful to observe this in hindsight,
but greater prudence would have dictated inquiry into the debtor's fund-and
account-management practices." This
case is an unfortunate reminder that Taxpayers and practitioners should
exercise the greatest discretion in choosing and hiring a qualified
intermediary.
Teruya Brothers, LTD, 124 TC No. 4 (February
9, 2005): Related Party Exchange
This full Tax Court case (as opposed to a
Memo decision), is the first case interpreting sec 1031(f). The case is
significant because contrary to the position set forth in a TAM, the IRS and
the Court seemed to agree that for purposes of 1031(f)(1), the QI is not
considered an agent of the Taxpayer and that Sec 1031(f)(1) applies only to
direct related party exchanges. The IRS had previously said it can pick and
choose between 1031(f)(1) and (f)(4).
Additionally, the Court rejected the IRS's
assertion that if an exchange would fail under 1031(f)(1) if it were recast
as a direct exchange without the QI, it will necessarily fail under
1031(f)(4). This is similar to the statement in the instructions to the Form
8824, which interpreted Rev Rul 2002-83 (which by the way was not even cited
by the Court). This should eliminate any assertion that a related party
exchange utilizing a QI will necessarily fail. Unfortunately, the Taxpayer's
counsel cited no explanation for utilizing a QI or for the structuring of
the transaction so it was easy for the Court to conclude that the exchange
failed under 1031(f)(4). Taxpayer's arguments were frivolous (e.g., it is
irrelevant what happens to the relinquished property as long as Taxpayer
continues its investment in like kind property).
Peabody Natural
Resources Company, f.k.a. Hanson Natural Resources Company, Cavenham Forest
Industries, Inc. v.
Commissioner
126 T.C. No. 14 (2006). (coal supply
contracts were like-kind property within the meaning of IRC Section 1031)
Barry E. Moore and
Deborah E. Moore v. Commissioner,
T.C. Memo 2007-134. (like-kind exchange of
vacation homes was not tax free because homes were not held for investment)
Ocmulgee Fields, Inc. v. Commissioner,
132 T.C. 6 (2009)
aff’d (CA 11 8/13/2010)
106
AFTR 2d ¶2010-5198.
(taxpayer’s exchange with Qualified Intermediary was structured to avoid IRC
Section 1031(f) governing like-kind exchanges between related persons)
Tony R. and Denelda Sims Goolsby v. Commissioner,
TC Memo 2010-64.
(taxpayers could not prove that at the time
of the exchange their primary purpose in holding the replacement property
was for investment or for productive use in a trade or business)
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