Federal Taxation and Real Estate: Valuation, Classifications, and Tax Law Changes
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Presentation Transcript
Chapter 16 Federal Taxation and Real Estate Finance
Chapter 16Learning Objectives • Understand how the rules and regulations of federal income taxation affect both the value of real estate investments and financing decisions • Understand how changes in the tax rules have altered the return on real estate investment
VALUATION OF REAL ESTATE • The value of an income-producing asset is a function of the income accruing to the asset • Income for valuation purposes is generally measured as cash flow either before-tax or after-tax
VALUATION OF REAL ESTATE • Factors affecting valuation: • Financial leverage • Tax shelters such as depreciation • Tax treatment of the asset
CLASSIFICATIONS OF REAL PROPERTY • Property Held for Principal Residence • Property Held for Investment • Property Held for Resale to Others • Property Held for Use in Trade or Business
CLASSIFICATIONS OF REAL PROPERTY • Property Held as Principal Residence • Mortgage interest and property taxes are tax-deductible; maintenance costs are not • Cannot depreciate • Capital losses are not tax-deductible • Capital gains exclusion of $250,000 ($500,000 for married filing jointly) for one sale every two years • Owned and occupied two out of the last five years
CLASSIFICATIONS OF REAL PROPERTY • Property Held for Investment • Held strictly for income or investment and owner has no participation in operations • Generally unimproved land and net leases • Limitations on interest deductibility • Limitations of capital Loss write offs
CLASSIFICATIONS OF REAL PROPERTY • Property Held for Resale to Others • Viewed as inventory • Income is taxed as ordinary income (not capital gains) • Owners treated as dealers • Cannot depreciate • Losses are operating losses
CLASSIFICATIONS OF REAL PROPERTY • Property Held for Use in Trade or Business • Section 1231 asset • Generally the most favorable classification • Owned for the purpose of deriving income • Can depreciate • Operating expenses and mortgage interest are tax-deductible • Capital losses are tax-deductible
TAX LAW CHANGES AFFECTING REAL ESTATE • Changes in marginal tax rates • Changes in depreciation allowance • Length of recovery period • Accelerated versus straight-line • Tax treatment of capital gains (losses) • Ability to write off losses
TAX SHELTERS IN REAL ESTATE • A tax shelter is an investment whose value is enhanced by tax rules and regulations • Real estate has the potential of a tax shelter • Tax rules may create value that otherwise would not exist
DEPRECIATION IN REAL ESTATE • Depreciation is a noncash outlay but a tax-deductible expense • The value of depreciation is the depreciation amount times the investor’s marginal tax rate • Real estate is a physical asset that is considered to “wear out” and deteriorate to a value of zero over time
COMPONENTS OF REAL ESTATE DEPRECIATION • Depreciable Basis • The Original Cost Basis is the purchase price (of land and improvements) plus acquisition costs • Land and the portion of acquisition costs attributable to the land are not depreciable
COMPONENTS OF REAL ESTATE DEPRECIATION • Depreciable basis is the original cost basis minus the value of the land and land portion of acquisition costs • Value of the land may be determined by independent appraisal or by property appraiser’s office
COMPONENTS OF REAL ESTATE DEPRECIATION • Cost Recovery Period • Is the period over which depreciation can be taken • Congress periodically alters the recovery period for depreciation • Recovery period is currently 27.5 years for residential income property and 39 years for non-residential income property
METHODS OF DEPRECIATION • Straight-line and accelerated • Currently only the straight-line method is allowed • Previously the accelerated cost recovery system (ACRS) was allowed which provided accelerated depreciation over a shorter time period (15-19 years)
CALCULATING DEPRECIATION • The depreciation deduction can be calculated by multiplying the depreciable basis by the depreciation rate • Mid-month convention assumes that the asset is put into service (and sold) on the 15th day of the month regardless of the actual day of occurrence
TAXES AND INTEREST PAYMENTS • Original Issue Discount Rates • Debt that is issued at a discount from the face value • Incentive to convert ordinary income to capital gains income when tax rates are different • Recourse vs. nonrecourse debt
INTEREST RATE RULES • Adequacy-of-Interest Test • Rate charged must be comparable to an applicable federal rate based on Treasury obligations • Time Value of Money Test • Even though payments may not be made annually the interest must be calculated and reported annually
INTEREST RATE RULES • Imputed Interest Rule • For properties exempted from previous rules such as sale of farms for less than $1 million and residences under $250,000 • Requires a fair interest rate to be charged or imputed
CAPITAL LOSS LIMITATION • Allows capital losses to be written off only against capital gains • Capital losses in excess of capital gains can be written off against other income up to $3,000 annually • Unused balance can be carried forward
PASSIVE LOSS LIMITATION • Instituted by the the 1986 Tax Reform Act • Three categories of income: • Active income: Earnings, etc. • Portfolio income: Stocks, bonds, etc. • Passive income: Real estate • Losses are restricted to each category
PASSIVE LOSSES • Passive losses cannot be used to offset income from REITs and REMICs • Includes non-active real estate activity, specifically limited partnerships • Loophole to be treated as active: AGI less than $100,000 can deduct up to $25,000 in losses from other income • Is phased out at AGI of $150,000
TAX-DEFERRED EXCHANGE • Property must be held for use in trade or business or for investment, owner-occupied residences do not qualify • Properties exchanged must be of like kind • The exchange must occur; cannot sell for cash and immediately purchase • Properties adjusted basis will be equal
TAX-DEFERRED EXCHANGE • Third-Party Exchanges • Delayed Exchanges • Boot • Property that is not like kind such as cash or debt relief • Identification period is 45 days • Exchange period runs for 180 days
INSTALLMENT SALE • Seller takes back a promissory note from the buyer • Installment sale vs. outright sale • Sale price is paid in installments • Gross profit percentage is the proportion of capital gain that is taxed each year
INSTALLMENT SALE • Related persons rule • If an installment sale is made to a related person who sells the property within a two-year period, the original seller must recognize the balance of the gain at the time the related person makes the sale. • Imputed interest rule applies • Any down payment amount is allowed • Debt amortization vs. installment period