Seek Tax Advisor Recommendations Before Selling an Investment Property
The real estate market is red hot, and plenty of folks nearing retirement and holding investment property see now as an excellent time to offload their real estate assets and reap the profits. If you’re one of them, then - tempting as it may be - make sure that you talk to your tax advisor before making that move.
Purchasing rental properties has become an extremely popular investment strategy. In fact, experts say that those nearing and past retirement age have accumulated about $6.4 million in net worth tied to those holdings. As attractive as that income is, it can also create responsibilities around rent collection and property management that lose their appeal pretty quickly. It’s no wonder that, between those responsibilities and skyrocketing valuations, many people are looking to get out.
While a sale now makes perfect sense, it’s important to go about it the right way to minimize the tax implications. There are a variety of tax-planning strategies that will provide you with significant benefits. These include:
A 1031 exchange – This option would mean exchanging the property that is currently owned and deferring the capital gains by identifying the replacement within 45 days and completing the exchange within 180 days.
Investment in an Opportunity Zone – This option allows investment property owners to sell their property and then roll their gain on it into the Opportunity Zone Fund. Doing so provides tax-deferred growth over the next four years.
Transfer the property to a charitable remainder trust before it is sold. This process exempts the gain from capital gains tax and allows it to be reinvested, with the original owner receiving the income during their lifetime, and the balance transferring to the charity after they die.
Holding off on selling until a low-income year. As tempting as it may be to take advantage of the current market, it may make more sense to hold off until after retirement, when your income is lower and the tax hit may not be as extreme.
What’s most important is that rather than jumping into a sale based on your impulse to maximize your profit, you give consideration to the tax implications and take a measured approach that will provide the greatest long-term benefits – or at the very least minimize the tax consequences that would inevitably follow significant gains. Even your Medicare costs can be affected by a big gain, so careful planning is a must.
If you own an investment property and are considering selling, take the time to check with our experienced tax advisors. We’ll provide you with guidance on how best to leverage your position.
Want tax & accounting tips and insights?
Sign up for our newsletter.
Comprehensive Business Accounting Services
For business in Chicago and the surrounding areas, we provide an integrated set of services that work together to help you grow your business.
-
Bookkeeping and Financial Reporting
-
Reliable, organized books are the backbone of good decision-making. We maintain accurate records, prepare meaningful financial statements, and help you read the story your numbers are telling.
-
Business Tax Preparation & Tax Planning
-
As a CPA for small businesses, we prepare tax returns for sole proprietorships, partnerships, S corporations, and C corporations with accuracy. We also help you develop a tax strategy to keep more of what you earn.
-
Payroll
-
We help you pay your team accurately and on time while staying current with federal, Illinois, and local payroll tax obligations, filings, and deadlines, so payroll is one less thing to worry about.
-
Business Consulting
-
Good accounting shows where your business stands; a good consultant helps you decide where to take it next. From entity selection to expansion planning, we're a steady financial sounding board for the decisions that shape your company's future.
Why Chicago Businesses Choose Serenity
Because we operate as an integrated tax and wealth practice, our business accounting services align with the broader financial decisions that matter to you and your company. When your business tax strategy connects to your personal financial landscape, you will be able to make decisions with fewer blind spots.
Clients near Chicago and across the country turn to Serenity Tax & Accounting for support that is comprehensive, coordinated, and proactive. We believe accounting should bring you clarity. We pride ourselves on calm communication, plain-language explanations, and responsive service throughout the year, not just during tax season.
When you work with our firm, you're building a relationship with a team that understands your business, anticipates what's coming, and helps you move forward with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Software is a tool, not a substitute for judgment. A CPA reviews your books, catches errors, prepares accurate statements, and finds tax savings the software won't flag. We work alongside the system you already use.
-
Ideally, well before tax season. The biggest savings come from year-round planning, not filing-time scrambling. We work with you throughout the year, so there are no surprises in the spring.
-
As an integrated division of Serenity Wealth Management, your accounting, tax strategy, and broader financial goals work together, keeping your business and personal decisions aligned with fewer blind spots.
-
We support Chicago-area sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, S corporations, and C corporations, tailoring our bookkeeping, payroll, and tax services to the size and complexity of your business.