Tax issues
Considering Commercial Property Investments with an IRA
By Daniel Cordoba, CEA |
With today’s fierce competition in the commercial real
estate world, it’s important to find a way to distinguish oneself as a
professional. Having a specialized knowledge of inventory possibilities and ideas
for creatively funding investment projects can set you apart as a broker, financial
planner, or lender.
The inconsistent performance of the stock market in recent
years has made commercial real estate a prime target for investors. This shift
in investment focus has helped fuel the commercial real estate market. In
addition, the ability to use retirement funds, which might otherwise be sitting
idly or making marginal returns on stocks and bonds, gives real estate investors
the ability to diversify and makes congregating money considerably easier for
financiers and builders. All types of commercial properties can be held within individual
retirement accounts, if the transactions are structured according to Internal
Revenue Service guidelines.
Flexibility is one of the main reasons investors use
self-directed IRAs for real estate transactions. A property can be acquired quickly,
with the required fees and costs being directly paid for from the IRA. Several
other ways investors can benefit from using IRAs to purchase commercial real
estate are listed below.
Tax Benefits
Investors who use their IRAs to purchase commercial
properties that generate excellent cash flow and appreciation can gain a number
of favorable tax benefits. In the case of Roth IRAs, which are funded with
after-tax money, investments are not taxed while growing and are tax-free upon
distribution. In addition, Roth IRAs have no minimum distribution, so investors
can decide when and how much to take as distributions. Traditional IRAs are funded
with pre-tax money and are taxed at the time of distribution.
Unlike 1031 exchanges, when buying real estate with IRAs there
are no specific investment time or like-kind requirements to prevent being
taxed on the purchase. Finally, when the property is sold, the IRA prevents any
capital gain exposure since taxation of an IRA does not occur until
distribution.
Greater Control and Protection
Structures available today make using self-directed IRAs easier, safer, and
less expensive. A specially structured limited liability company compliant with
IRS regulations, known as an IRA LLC, allows investors to maintain checkbook
control of their accounts, meaning they can write checks for the investment
more freely. An IRA LLC speaks directly to investors’ ability to control the
disbursement of funds and reduce fees paid to custodians, since they do not
have to rely on custodian approval or pay a fee for each check written. By
nature, the IRA LLC also legally provides an added layer of asset protection.
For example, when the Juraks of Dallas funded the purchase and
development of a property in St. Croix, having complete control of their IRA funds
was absolutely imperative to allow them to make deposits and improvements. In
contrast this transaction would not have been allowed by many self-directed IRA
custodians who wouldn’t want to deal with international investments. The
transaction costs and custodial requirements also may have been high, and
dealing with the custodian intervention may have been too cumbersome for the
business owner and his family. Therefore, the use of an IRA LLC became a
crucial tool in giving them control and leading to their successful investment.
Important Considerations
The IRS has established strict rules regarding investment in
real estate with a Roth or other type of IRA, so it is not something that
investors should undertake alone. Investors and people in the commercial real
estate industry should partner with someone who can provide expertise in this
area. For people in the industry looking to invest or to help others to invest
in this way, these are some considerations to keep in mind:
Someone with extensive knowledge of self-directed
investments should be sought out to implement advanced methodologies and
provide solid advice. The adviser must supply support and education to put together
all the pieces of the self-directed IRA puzzle, enabling the investor to see
the big picture and make the most educated investment decisions.
It is not permissible
for an IRA custodian (versus a self-directed IRA adviser, or other financial adviser)
to offer advice. By law, custodians must maintain a neutral position and only can
convey the IRS regulations and their firm’s investment policies; they cannot
offer advice on transactions. Usually, the investment firm that holds the traditional
IRA investments is not in a position to offer advice on self-directed IRAs.
Checkbook control can be afforded by creation of an IRA LLC.
An IRA LLC is not a regular LLC; rather it is an investment vehicle compliant with IRS code, which provides the investor
with the ability to write checks against self-directed IRA funds so he or she
can act quickly, as well as provide the benefits mentioned above.
People in the commercial real estate industry looking to
partner and investors themselves should look for a company with the knowledge
to provide protection against creditors and litigation, through increased
overall asset protection with an IRA LLC.
Investing in real estate and other non-traditional assets
with an IRA is greatly simplified by having the right individuals on hand. A
reputable self-directed IRA adviser will have attorneys on staff who can
provide accurate information and flexible tools to satisfy individual investor
objectives. A very important consideration is the self-directed IRA firm’s compliance
with circular 230 IRS requirements, which demand that individuals and/or firms
that offer tax advice provide accountability to their clients and to the IRS
itself.
With the advantages that non-traditional IRA investments
enable -- including greater control over investment options, tax favorable
income, and higher returns with less risk potential -- they can be a highly
valuable retirement vehicle for investors of all levels.