EveryCalc

Finance category

Mortgage, loan, investing, tax, and money calculators.

Browse finance

1031 Exchange Calculator

Pressure-test a like-kind exchange before you list the relinquished property. Estimate realized gain, depreciation recapture, recognized boot, and the minimum replacement price and debt you need to fully defer capital gains tax.

Relinquished property

$
$
$
$
$
$

Replacement property

$
$
$

Tax rates

%
%
%

Tax deferred by exchange

$65,644

vs $91,872 if sold outright

Realized gain

$306,500

Basis: $281,000

Recognized (taxable) gain

$87,500

Boot: $87,500

Deferred gain

$219,000

Exchange safety check

Replacement falls short of the full reinvestment rules. Expect taxable boot equal to the shortfall — trading down in price, cash, or debt all trigger recognized gain.

Minimum replacement price

$587,500

to defer all gain

Minimum replacement debt

$210,000

matches relinquished loan

Cash that must be reinvested

$377,500

net proceeds after debt

Cash boot

$87,500

proceeds not reinvested

Debt reduction boot

$0

mortgage trade-down

Depreciation recapture

$72,000

taxed at 25% if recognized

Tax bill if sold outright

Depreciation recapture (25%)$18,000
Federal capital gains (20%)$46,900
Net investment income tax (3.8%)$11,647
State tax (5.0%)$15,325
Total tax if sold$91,872

Estimates are directional. Actual exchange rules require a qualified intermediary, 45-day identification window, 180-day closing, and like-kind investment property on both sides. Confirm adjusted basis and depreciation with your tax professional before closing.

Editorial noteMaintained by EveryCalc - Reviewed June 2026

EveryCalc calculators are designed for fast, practical estimates with transparent inputs and no required account. We use plain formulas, visible assumptions, and related tools so visitors can check the result from more than one angle.

Results are informational only. For financial, tax, legal, medical, construction, or other high-impact decisions, verify the output against primary sources or a qualified professional.

Learn more about our review process on the EveryCalc methodology page.

How this calculator works

What this page estimates

This 1031 Exchange Calculator is built to give a quick, browser-based estimate for 1031 exchange. Pressure-test a like-kind exchange before you list the relinquished property. Estimate realized gain, depreciation recapture, recognized boot, and the minimum replacement price and debt you need to fully defer capital gains tax. The inputs stay on the page during normal use, and the result should be treated as an estimate for planning, comparison, or education rather than professional advice.

Calculation approach

The calculator applies the standard relationship implied by the inputs, then formats the answer so it can be checked and reused. For finance tools, the most important step is using consistent units, rates, time periods, and assumptions before comparing the result with another calculator or outside quote.

Example workflow

For example, start with a realistic value you already know, change one input at a time, and watch how the answer moves. That makes it easier to tell whether the result is being driven by the main amount, the rate, the time period, or a unit conversion.

Practical checks

  • Use current, real-world numbers when the result affects money, health, tax, or legal decisions.
  • Run a low, base, and high case when the inputs are estimates.
  • Check the related calculators below when the next decision depends on a different assumption.

How to interpret the 1031 exchange result

Best use

Use the result as a planning number for comparing payments, rates, returns, tax reserves, or cash-flow choices before you request a quote or make a commitment.

Cross-check

Compare the answer with the contract, lender estimate, tax form, brokerage statement, payroll record, or invoice that will control the real-world outcome.

Watch for

Do not rely on a single optimistic rate, return, or fee assumption. Money pages work best when you run low, base, and high cases and keep professional advice separate from the estimate.

This page belongs to the Finance calculator library, so the answer should be read in the context of the decision you are modeling rather than as a universal rule.

Before relying on this 1031 exchange estimate

Most calculator mistakes come from the inputs, not the arithmetic. Use this short audit before you reuse the answer in a spreadsheet, quote, application, or important conversation.

Confirm source numbers

Match balances, rates, fees, taxes, income, and payment dates against the lender quote, payroll record, tax form, statement, invoice, or contract.

Separate cash flow from total cost

A lower monthly payment can still cost more over time if fees, interest, taxes, or a longer term are hidden in the structure.

Run conservative cases

Test at least one higher-cost or lower-return case before using the output for a purchase, refinance, investment, loan, or tax decision.

Rerun this page when the rate, price, term, fee, tax rule, income, expense, or expected holding period changes.

How to Use

  1. Enter the sale price, selling costs, and mortgage payoff for the relinquished property.
  2. Add the original purchase price, capital improvements, and accumulated depreciation to compute adjusted basis.
  3. Enter the replacement property purchase price, new loan, and qualified intermediary expenses.
  4. Set your federal capital gains rate, state rate, and net investment income tax so the deferred tax is specific to your situation.
  5. Review the minimum replacement price, debt, and cash reinvestment thresholds — falling short triggers taxable boot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 1031 exchange?

A 1031 exchange lets an investor defer federal capital gains tax and depreciation recapture by swapping one investment property for another of like kind. The seller never takes constructive receipt of the proceeds — a qualified intermediary holds the funds between closings.

How do I fully defer tax?

Three tests: (1) the replacement property purchase price must equal or exceed the relinquished sale price, (2) all net cash proceeds must be reinvested, and (3) the debt on the new property must equal or exceed the old debt (or be offset by additional cash). Falling short on any test creates taxable boot.

What is boot?

Boot is the portion of the exchange that becomes taxable. Cash boot is proceeds the investor pockets. Debt boot is the reduction in mortgage liability between properties. Recognized gain equals the lesser of realized gain and total boot.

Does the 25% depreciation recapture rate apply inside the exchange?

A fully deferred 1031 defers both capital gains and depreciation recapture. But any recognized gain is taxed first as depreciation recapture at up to 25% until the recapture amount is exhausted, then at the capital gains rate on the remaining recognized gain.

What are the 45-day and 180-day rules?

The taxpayer has 45 calendar days after closing the relinquished property to identify up to three replacement candidates in writing, and 180 calendar days to close on one of them. Missing either deadline collapses the exchange and the full gain becomes taxable.

Related Calculators

More Finance Calculators

Browse all finance

Keep exploring

Next steps in Finance

View finance hub →