What happens if I miss the 45-day identification deadline?
If you don’t identify your replacement property in writing by day 45, your exchange fails and the entire gain from your sale becomes taxable that year. The 45-day identification deadline is strict — weekends and holidays count, and there are no extensions except for federally declared disasters.
The identification must be in writing, unambiguous (a real address or legal description), signed, and delivered to your qualified intermediary by the 45th day after your closing.
Because there’s no grace period, the practical advice is to line up more candidates than you need and identify early. A DST interest is sometimes used as a backup identification. Map your exact deadline with the 45/180-day calculator, and note the 45-day rule in the glossary.
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General education — not tax or legal advice. This explains how §1031 exchanges work in general terms and uses simplified assumptions. Rules and tax rates change and your situation is specific. Talk to a qualified CPA or tax attorney before you rely on any of it. See our full terms & legal notice.