A Tax Change in 1031 Exchanges Would Ultimately Affect Everyone

IRS Section 1031 Like-Kind Exchanges have existed since 1921 for the purpose of avoiding unfair taxation of ongoing investments in property, and to encourage active reinvestment in property.  While the most common image of doing a 1031 exchange is a transaction of selling one real estate property and exchanging into another real estate investment property, like-kind exchanges result in many types of property transactions. The exchanges are a stimulus to many sectors of the economy, i.e., not only for real estate professionals, but also contractors, title insurers, lenders, equipment dealers/manufacturers, transportation, energy and agriculture.  

The benefits of the current 1031 exchange allows for deferral of capital gains taxes on property sold when it is exchanged into "like-kind" property without cash being taken out (which would invalidate the exchange) and thereby allowing for new investment. Americans pay less for products and services because of this type of reinvestment on products such as single family and multiple family home rentals, public transportation fleets exchanged into new buses, trains, taxis, etc., airlines exchange their planes and rental cars--all of which dealt with through this 1031 exchange system which keeps costs lower for the consumer. Farm machinery, mining equipment, art collectible, boats, oil and gas equipment, and business asset trade-ins are all impacted by 1031 exchanges.

According to Fidelity National Finance Company, 

"The last major tax reform was in 1986. At that time, Congress repealed the ability to take passive tax losses in real estate.  An unintended consequence of this change was the ensuing real estate recession and the demise of the savings & loans industry. This eventually tipped the country into the recession of the early 90’s.  Section 1031 is bigger than passive losses. In some U.S. markets, real estate brokers claim that 1031 Exchanges touch at least 45% of the real estate investment transactions."

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"Ernst & Young, LLP released a macro-economic study on the impact of repealing or limiting 1031 exchanges in 2015 that quantified that the US economy would actually contract if Section 1031 was repealed or limited, finding that GDP would be reduced by approximately $8.1 billion per year."

Elimination, restriction or changes that would effectively block 1031 exchanges in any contemplated "tax reform" could negatively affect much of the current American economy.  The 1031 exchange is not only important on the large business economy scale, but is one of the few tools small business owners and small apartment owners have to maintain their capital investments over time.

 See more at these sites, which also include ways to contact your Congressional representative:
10 Reasons for a 1031 Exchange
Fidelity National Finance Company 
1031 Corp
Commercial Observer