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2003 Capital Gain Tax Reduction

Last Updated: August 14, 2023

What It Means For Real Estate Investors

On May 28, 2003, the President approved a $350 billion tax cut that includes reductions in dividend and capital gain taxes. Long-term capital gain tax rates for investors in the top tax brackets are reduced to 15 percent from 20 percent. The rates are reduced to 5 percent for investors in the 10 percent and 15 percent brackets. The changes are retroactive to May 6, 2003.

Even with the lower capital gain rates, real estate investors should first determine their total tax liability before selling real estate. Often the impact of depreciation recapture at 25 percent, plus the combined federal and state tax owed result in a §1031 tax deferred exchange is a much better alternative. In fact, when analyzing the purchasing power of an ex-change as compared to a sale, the value of tax deferral becomes even more dramatic.

EXAMPLE: Assume an investment property owner sells a rental property for $700,000. The owner originally purchased the property for $200,000. There is $100,000 of debt and the property has been fully depreciated (assuming 80% of the property is depreciable). The investor has $500,000 of capital gain plus $160,000 of depreciation recapture. They are in the top federal tax bracket and their state tax rate is 5%.

Depreciation Recapture: $160,000 (depreciation recapture) x 25% = $40,000

Plus: Federal Capital Gain Tax: $500,000 (capital gain balance) x 15% = $75,000

Plus: State Taxes:
$660,000 x 5% = $33,000

Equals: Total Taxes Owed in a Sale: = $148,000

Benefit Of IRC Section 1031

The major benefit of an exchange is not the actual savings but the purchasing power provided by these tax savings! The example below analyzes the value of a new property that could be acquired in an exchange versus a sale. The comparison assumes an investor makes a 25 percent down payment and finances 75 percent of the property (75 percent loan-to-value ratio.) As this comparison illustrates, the investor who performs a §1031 exchange acquires $592,000 more real estate than the investor who sold and paid taxes!

Sale

Equity: $600,000
– Taxes Owed: $148,000
After-Tax Equity: $452,000
x 4
New Property: $1,808,000

Exchange

Equity: $600,000
– Taxes Owed: $0
After-Tax Equity:$600,000
x 4
New Property: $2,400,000

Additional Section 1031 Exchange Benefits

  • Maximize return on investment
  • Preservation of equity
  • Increased cash flow from larger properties

Authored By:

1031 Exchange Advisor

Nicholas has been a dynamic figure in the 1031 exchange industry since 2007. With over two decades of experience in marketing and web development, Nicholas has demonstrated his entrepreneurial spirit by owning an INC 500 company and maintaining a multi-year presence in the INC 5000 list. He is renowned for his dedication and passion for his work. Outside of his professional endeavors, Nicholas is a devoted father to two teenage boys. Together, they share a love for mountain biking and exploring the outdoors on their ATVs every weekend. Nicholas’s commitment to excellence is evident in both his career and personal life.