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Iron Ridge Advisors

For Appreciated Land

Defer the tax. Keep the equity working.

A 1031 exchange into a Delaware Statutory Trust defers federal capital gains, NIIT, state capital gains, and depreciation recapture. Held until death, your heirs' stepped-up basis can wipe out the deferred tax entirely.

The Four Taxes

Most landowners only see one of them coming.

  1. Federal Capital Gains

    15% under $580K of gain, then jumps to 20%. Most ranch sales clear $580K easily.

  2. Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)

    Additional 3.8% surtax. Applies to households over $250K, almost any landowner having a sale year.

  3. State Capital Gains

    0% in Texas, Wyoming, Florida, Tennessee, Nevada, Washington (until 2022), and Tennessee. Up to 13.3% in California.

  4. Depreciation Recapture

    Up to 25% federal on every dollar of past depreciation taken, equipment, irrigation, improvements. Hits long-time landowners hardest.

The Rule of 72: why this gets worse over time →

DST Brochure

Plain-English guide to deferring the tax.