Every line
1031 Exchange Fees, Explained
There are five charges a 1031 exchange company can put on your bill. Most quotes mention one of them.
The Easy1031 Exchange DeskReviewed September 8, 2026
The short answer
The base setup fee for a standard forward exchange runs $800 to $1,500. Add roughly $300 to $500 per additional property, $30 to $150 per wire, and $200 to $500 if anything needs expediting. A termination fee may apply if the exchange ends early. Easy1031 charges $0 for all of it on a standard forward exchange.
The shape of a 1031 exchange cost breakdown
Almost nobody in this business publishes a rate card, which is why the 1031 exchange cost you are quoted so often differs from the one you pay. You ring round, you are given a setup fee, and that number turns out to be the first of several. That is not usually dishonesty. It is that the quote answered the question you asked, which was about the setup fee, rather than the question you meant, which was about the total.
So ask for the total. Everything below is a line that can legitimately appear on a 1031 exchange invoice, and knowing the names is most of the battle.
| Fee | Typical cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Setup fee | $800 to $1,500 | Always, on a standard forward exchange |
| Additional property | $300 to $500 each | Any exchange beyond one-in, one-out |
| Wire transfer | $30 to $150 each | Usually two or more wires per exchange |
| Rush or expedite | $200 to $500 | Documents needed in under a few days |
| Termination | $0 to $500 | Funds released before the exchange period ends |
The setup fee
This covers drafting the exchange agreement, the assignment documents and the notices, opening the account that will hold your proceeds, and administering the file for up to 180 days. It is the one fee every intermediary charges and the one everybody quotes.
It is also the most negotiable, particularly above a million dollars. Intermediaries compete hard for exchanges of size, because the real economics are in the interest on the funds rather than in the fee.
Per-property fees
A one-in, one-out exchange is the base case. Sell two properties and buy one, or sell one and buy three, and most firms add $300 to $500 for each property beyond the first on either side. Investors using the three-property identification rule and actually closing on all three are frequently surprised by this.
Wire and disbursement fees
Money moves at least twice in an exchange: into the intermediary at your sale, and out to the closing agent at your purchase. Several firms bill each wire separately. It is a small line individually and an irritating one collectively, particularly on a multi-property exchange where six or seven wires is normal.
Rush and expedite fees
Exchanges are deadline-driven and deadlines get tight. If you need documents inside a couple of business days, expect a surcharge. This is the fee most worth asking about in advance, because you cannot predict whether you will need it, and it arrives at exactly the moment you have no leverage.
Termination and failed-exchange fees
If you identify nothing within 45 days, or you identify and then walk away, the exchange ends and your funds come back. Most intermediaries keep the setup fee, which is reasonable given the work is done. Some add a termination fee on top. Ask, because roughly one exchange in ten does not complete.
The line that is not on the invoice
None of the above is the biggest number. Your intermediary holds your proceeds for up to 180 days and earns interest on them, and at most firms that interest is theirs entirely. On a seven-figure exchange it dwarfs every fee on this page.
How to get a real 1031 exchange cost quote
Four sentences in an email will get you a total 1031 exchange cost you can actually rely on:
- What is the all-in cost for my exchange, including every fee, assuming a standard forward exchange with the property count I have described?
- What additional charges could arise that are not in that figure?
- Who receives the interest earned on my funds while you hold them?
- What happens to the fee if the exchange does not complete?
A firm that answers all four in writing has told you everything you need to compare it against any other. A firm that will not answer the third has also told you something.
Common questions about 1031 exchange fees
What is a typical 1031 exchange fee?
A conventional qualified intermediary charges $800 to $1,500 to set up a standard forward exchange with one relinquished and one replacement property. That figure is the base fee only. Additional properties, wire transfers and any expedited handling are billed separately, which is why the amount on the settlement statement often exceeds the number quoted on the phone.
Are 1031 exchange fees negotiable?
Often, particularly on larger exchanges or where you expect repeat volume. Intermediaries compete for exchanges of size, and the setup fee is the line with the most give in it. The add-ons are usually easier to get waived than the base fee, because they cost the firm very little to absorb. Ask for the total, in writing, rather than negotiating line by line.
Who pays the qualified intermediary fee, the buyer or the seller?
The exchanger pays, meaning the party doing the 1031 exchange. It is customarily paid from the exchange proceeds at closing rather than out of pocket, and it appears on the settlement statement as an exchange expense. The other side of your transaction has no involvement in it and generally does not see it.
Can I pay 1031 exchange fees from the exchange funds?
Ordinary exchange expenses, including the intermediary's fee, are customarily paid from the proceeds at closing without creating boot. Costs that are unrelated to the exchange itself are treated differently and can create a taxable amount. Ask your CPA to review the settlement statement rather than assuming a line qualifies.
What happens to the fee if my 1031 exchange fails?
In most cases the intermediary keeps it, because the work of drafting documents and receiving funds has already been done. Some firms charge an additional termination or early-release fee to return funds before the exchange period ends. Ask what happens if you identify nothing within 45 days, because that is the most common way an exchange ends early.
The cheapest line on your settlement statement
Easy1031 charges nothing to set up a standard forward exchange, and pays you a share of the interest your funds earn while it holds them. Every other cost on this site still applies. This one does not.
- $0 on a standard forward exchange
- A share of the interest paid to you
- Segregated account, up to $175M FDIC
- $10M fidelity bond, $5M E&O