IRS Proposes Rule on Like-Kind Exchanges

Multifamily
Published

The Internal Revenue Service has released a draft regulation to define a like-kind property that is held for investment, trade or business purposes under Section 1031 of the tax code (governing like-kind exchanges). The IRS will accept comments through Aug. 11.

A like-kind exchange under U.S. tax law is a tax-deferred transaction that allows for the disposal of an asset and the acquisition of another similar asset without generating tax liability from the sale of the disposed asset.

Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Section 1031 was limited to real property. Existing statute and regulations do not define real property for purposes of Section 1031. Determination of real property is instead accomplished using definitions obtained elsewhere in the tax code.

In addition to defining real property, the regulation seeks to clarify how taxpayers should treat certain receipts of personal property that is incidental to the real property received.

NAHB will continue to analyze the proposed regulations and plans to submit comments after a careful review.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Advocacy | Multifamily
Nov 06, 2026
Treasury Announces New Opportunity Zone Designations

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have announced new Opportunity Zone designations for more than 6,500 communities nationwide, effective Jan. 1, 2027.

Membership Recruitment and Retention
Nov 05, 2026
The Value of Being One of NAHB's Top Recruiters

Member-to-member recruitment is essential for growing NAHB’s membership. Here are the perks members are being rewarded with for their efforts.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics
Nov 06, 2026
Hiring Rebounds in October, but Residential Construction Employment Declines

The U.S. labor market rebounded in October, with nonfarm payroll employment increasing by 165,000 jobs and the unemployment rate declining to 4.1%. However, the improvement in overall employment contrasts with continued weakness in residential construction, where employment fell by 16,400 jobs, the largest monthly decline since March 2021.

Economics
Nov 05, 2026
Multifamily Developer Confidence Weakens in Third Quarter

New multifamily housing confidence weakened year-over-year in the third quarter, according to the Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The MMS produces two separate indices. The Multifamily Production Index (MPI) had a reading of 41, down five points year-over-year, while the Multifamily Occupancy Index (MOI) had a reading of 69, also down five points year-over-year.

Economics
Nov 04, 2026
Mortgage Applications Decline as Higher Rates Boost ARM Share

Mortgage application activity declined in October as the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose sharply again. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application volume, fell 14.1% month-over-month in October on a seasonally adjusted basis. Compared to a year ago, total mortgage applications were 39.8% lower.