New 1031 Exchange Regulation in Colorado

Colorado House Bill 09-1254, sponsored by State Representative Joel Judd and State Senator Ted Harvey, has been unanimously passed by the 67th General Assembly of the State of Colorado. This legislation is designed to create consumer protections relating to Section 1031 Like-Kind Exchanges facilitated by Qualified Intermediaries (QI) and Exchange Accommodation Titleholders, otherwise known as Exchange Facilitators.

For the past two years a group of QIs committed to responsible business practice has served as a resource team for legislators promoting this bill. The team, comprised of members of the Federation of Exchange Accommodators (FEA), included committee leader Brent Abrahm of Accruit, Mary Lou Schwab of Bankers Escrow; Paul Holloway of Land Title Exchange Corporation; David Wright of 1031 Corporation Exchange Professionals - a subsidiary of 1stBank; Scott Saunders of Asset Preservation; Suzanne Goldstein Baker of Investment Property Exchange Services, Inc. (IPX1031); and Max Hansen of American Equity Exchange, Inc. Abrahm, Baker, and Hansen also serve on the FEA’s Board of Directors.

Abrahm, CEO of Denver-based Accruit, LLC, explains that “the like-kind exchange (LKE) was added to the Internal Revenue Code in 1921 to promote business reinvestment in our economy. It is important, especially during difficult economic times like the present, that this ultimate stimulus tool be governed in the best interests of the consumers and businesses that utilize it. We applaud Representative Judd and Senator Harvey for supporting legislation that protects the integrity of the services provided by QIs doing business in Colorado. It’s been an honor to be a resource for this landmark legislation, which will ensure appropriate business standards for all QIs in the state.”

The FEA, which represents Qualified Intermediaries nationwide, requires that its members follow a strict code of ethics consistent with the legislation presented by Representative Judd. Billions of dollars in like-kind exchanges for real estate and other business assets are transacted each year, and House Bill 09-1254 will ensure that all Colorado Exchange Facilitators follow secure banking procedures that provide sufficient liquidity of funds to meet their obligations to their clients.

“The FEA Code of Ethics very specifically provides every member organization a set of standards and business processes to safely handle assets and business funds,” says Hugh Pollard, President of the FEA. “With proper due diligence, no client should have reason to fear doing an LKE. Each client should ask detailed and specific questions about how their money will be invested and they should make sure that their QI provides proper financial assurances.”

For more information on the new Colorado regulation and the protections it provides or for more about section 1031 operating principles, please give us a call at 888-367-1031.