Question

Oscar owns a building that is destroyed in a hurricane. His adjusted basis in the building before the hurricane is $130,000. His insurance company pays him $140,000 and he immediately invests in a new building at a cost of $142,000. What is Oscar's basis on his new building?

Answer 1

Answer: $132,000

Explanation:

Oscar's new basis on the building will be the basis of the old building plus any additional investment he added.

This is the because there is no gain on the $140,000 he received because it was an Involuntary Conversion amount and he reinvested it into another building within a period of 2 years.

As there is no gain, the building will retain it's original basis but will add any amount outside the involuntary replacement cost of the building.

The Additional basis will be,

= Cost of building - Insurance

= 142,000 - 140,000

= $2,000

The Basis for the new building is,

= 130,000 + 2,000

= $132,000