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1031 Boot Tax Calculator

In a 1031 like-kind exchange, 'boot' triggers immediate gain recognition. Cash boot = cash received in the exchange. Debt relief boot = the amount your relinquished debt exceeds your replacement debt. Boot is recognized as gain up to the deferred gain limit. This calculator computes total boot, recognized gain, and resulting tax — letting investors structure the trade to keep boot at zero.

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Boot

$

Total boot

$50,000

Recognized gain

$50,000

Tax owed (~20%)

$10,000

Cash boot

$10,000

Debt relief boot

$40,000

How the math works

In a 1031 exchange, boot triggers immediate gain recognition. Cash boot = cash received. Debt relief boot = relinquished debt minus replacement debt (if relinquished was higher). Total boot is recognized as gain up to the deferred gain limit.

To fully defer: replacement value ≥ relinquished value AND replacement debt ≥ relinquished debt AND no cash received. Trade up in everything to keep all boot at zero.

How to Use

  1. Enter relinquished property value and debt paid off.
  2. Enter replacement property value and debt assumed.
  3. Enter cash received in the exchange (most common boot source).
  4. Enter total deferred gain (cap on recognition).
  5. Read total boot, recognized gain, and tax owed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to keep boot at zero?

Trade up in everything: replacement value ≥ relinquished, replacement debt ≥ relinquished debt, no cash received. The 'three-property rule' helps identify multiple replacements.

Tax rate on boot?

Long-term capital gain rate (15-20% federal) plus depreciation recapture at 25% on portion attributable to depreciation. Calculator uses 20% as approximation.

Reverse 1031 boot?

Same boot rules apply — but in reverse exchange you can only have boot if cash flows back to you, which is rare in QI structures.

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