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PERSONAL PROPERTY EXCHANGES
PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES
Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 allows investors to exchange either “like-kind” real or personal
property for other “like-kind” real or personal property. Although the rules for “like-kind” real estate
are fairly broad, the rules to exchange personal property for “like-kind” or “like-class” specify that an
Exchanger can only receive tax deferral if the sale of personal property is exchanged for the purchase of
personal property that falls within the same Product Class or General Asset Class. Product and General
Asset Classes, as described in the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Manual, were developed for use in
the classification of establishments and products by the type of activity for which they are engaged.
Depreciable tangible personal property is exchanged for property of “like-kind” if it is exchanged for
property of “like-class”.
GENERAL ASSET CLASSES
(1) Office furniture, fixtures, and equipment
(2) Information systems (computers)
(3) Data handling equipment, except computers
(4) Airplanes and helicopters
(5) Automobiles and taxis
(6) Buses
(7) Light general-purpose trucks
(8) Heavy general-purpose trucks
(9) Railroad cars and locomotives
(10) Tractor units for use over-the-road
(11) Trailers and trailer-mounted containers
(12) Vessels, barges, tugs, and similar water
transportation equipment
(13) Industrial steam and electric generation and
distribution systems.
UNEXCHANGEABLE ITEMS
Another aspect of personal property exchanges that differs from real property exchanges is that certain items
of the sale transaction, such as “goodwill” “covenants not to compete” and “inventory” do not qualify for tax
deferral under IRC Section 1031. Thus, these items may not be attributed to the value of the sale for the
exchange and the capital gain or loss must be recognized by the Exchanger.
MIXED EXCHANGES
There are also many transactions that involve the sale of both real property and personal property, such as the
sale of hotels, restaurants, and gas stations, wherein the Exchanger owns both the land and the personal
property. In this case, the Exchanger can allocate the proceeds specifically for real property and personal
property and purchase “like-kind” property with the respective funds. In a complex combined real and
personal property exchange, it is important to maximize potential tax deferral benefits in advance. Asset
Preservation, Inc. encourages Exchangers to always work closely with an accountant or attorney to ensure
that the transaction is structured properly.
TM 1031 Exchange and Asset Preservation, Inc. do not give tax or legal
advice. The information contained herein should not be relied upon as a
substitute for tax or legal advice obtained from a competent tax and/or
legal advisor.
(c) Copyright 2005 Stewart Title Guaranty Company
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