OFFICE BUILDING
Problem
The owner of two office buildings with a combined value of $14.9 million wanted to sell but faced a major problem. After costs of sale and paying the $12 million mortgage debt owed, he would not have enough to pay at close of escrow all the total taxes due, totaling $4.5 million.
Consequently, he would be forced to pull out of pocket more than $2.0 million to pay off the balance owed to the IRS and state. Included in this problem was the Debt Over Basis tax issue that alone triggered $2.0 million of the total amount of taxes owed.
Horizon Tax Advantage
The two buildings are sold for $14.9 million, sale costs are paid, the $12 million mortgage debt is paid off without triggering the taxes due for Debt Over Basis. In addition, the seller receives at close of escrow more than $1.5 million to reinvest however he chooses.
