Understanding Taxes on Realbricks: A Clear Guide for Investors

This overview explains how taxes generally work when investing through Realbricks, including the tax forms you may receive, how distributions may be reported, and how other applicable proceeds may be reported. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as tax advice. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances, and investors should consult a qualified tax professional regarding their own situation.

At a Glance

Questions frequently asked by investors are answered in short form in this section and expanded upon below. 

Question Short Answer
Do I receive a K-1? No. Investors receive IRS Form 1099 reporting instead.
What tax forms might I receive? Depending on your activity, you may receive one or more of the following forms from Realbricks: Form 1099-DIV, Form 1099-B, or Form 1099-MISC.
When are tax forms issued? Investors should expect their applicable tax forms to be issued on January 31 of the year after the end of the calendar year in which the taxable activity occurred in accordance with IRS filing requirements.
Do I need to file taxes in another state? Investors generally owe state income taxes only in their state of residence, not the state where the property is located. However, some investors may receive separate forms for state dividend income. This will be reflected on the applicable tax form(s) that each investor receives.
Are distributions taxable? Yes, investors who receive distributions will receive IRS Form 1099-DIV from Realbricks. Distributions, if any, are not guaranteed and depend on the financial performance of the underlying property and other factors.

How Taxes Work Throughout Your Investment 

1. Invest

When you invest, you are purchasing ownership interests, or shares, in the entity that owns a property. You do not directly own the home, your name is not placed on the property title, and you do not have direct ownership of the physical real estate. Instead, you own an interest in the legal entity that owns that specific property, along with other investors who purchase interests in the same series.

2. Potential Quarterly Distributions

If the property associated with an offering is leased and generates net operating income from the lease, investors may receive distributions based on the terms of each applicable offering. Distributions, if declared, are allocated on a quarterly basis in proportion to the number of ownership interests, or shares, an investor owns. 

Illustrative Distribution Schedule
Quarter 1 (January – March)
Quarter 2 (April – June)
Quarter 3 (July – September)
Quarter 4 (October – December)

Distributions are not guaranteed and depend on factors such as whether the property is leased, rental income collected, operating expenses, reserves, and other property-level expenses. 

How it Works:

  • The property associated with an offering is constructed, marketed for lease, and leased with a tenant in place.
  • The property collects rental income while the lease is active.
  • Operating expenses, including property management fees, insurance, taxes, maintenance, and reserves, are paid from property revenue in accordance with the applicable agreements. 
  • Distributions, if declared, are allocated to investors on a pro rata basis from the net operating income.

Applicable Tax Form: 1099-DIV

IRS Form 1099-DIV is issued to all investors who receive more than $10 in dividend income during the year.

To the extent a distribution is treated as a dividend for federal income tax purposes, some or all of the dividend may be eligible for treatment as a qualified dividend, subject to applicable requirements, including investor-level holding-period requirements. Investors should refer to their Form 1099-DIV and consult their tax advisor.

Why this matters

Qualified dividends are taxed at long-term capital gains rates, not ordinary income rates.

For most investors, this results in potentially lower tax rates compared to traditional rental income.

3. Selling Shares on Secondary Market (if and when available)

The Realbricks Secondary Marketplace is coming soon! Through the Secondary Marketplace, investors may be able to buy and sell shares directly with other users on the platform, subject to applicable restrictions.

Applicable Tax Form: 1099-B

IRS Form 1099-B is issued to all investors who complete reportable transactions (i.e., when they sell their shares, or ownership interests, in the Secondary Marketplace on Realbricks).

The amount reported is the gain or loss, which is based on the difference between your cost basis, the original purchase price for the investment, and the amount received from the sale of those investments, also known as your return on capital.

IRS Form 1099-B will be issued to identify the capital gains or losses from a secondary transaction. This form will also identify if investments were held longer than one year or less than one year.

Note that there is no assurance that an investor would be able to sell shares if a secondary marketplace becomes available. Investors should consider whether they can hold an investment for an extended period and whether they may need access to those funds before investing.

4. Potential Liquidation Event (When a Property is Sold)

If a property associated with an offering on the Realbricks platform is sold, investors may receive proceeds in proportion to their ownership interests in accordance with the offering documents and applicable corporate requirements. 

Applicable Tax Form: 1099-B

IRS Form 1099-B is issued to all investors who own shares in an offering on Realbricks when the underlying property is sold.

IRS Form 1099-B will be issued on capital gains or losses. This form also identifies if investments have been held longer or shorter than one year.

Liquidation events are not guaranteed. Investments in these fractional real estate offerings are intended to be long-term investments. They are considered illiquid, meaning there is currently no public market where investors can sell their interests on demand.

5. Corporate Depreciation

Realbricks handles depreciation internally:

  • Neptune REM, LLC may claim depreciation deductions at the corporate level in accordance with applicable tax rules.
  • Corporate depreciation may reduce the corporation's taxable income.
  • Because the investment is structured through a C corporation, depreciation is not reported directly to investors or reflected as a pass-through deduction on investor tax forms.

Applicable Tax Form: Not Applicable

Depreciation is generally claimed at the corporate level and is not reported directly to investors, meaning investors do not receive a K-1 form.

Note: Depreciation is not passed through to investors and does not appear on 1099 forms.

6. Other Tax Information for Investors

In general, the Realbricks investment structure is intended to simplify state tax reporting for investors compared with some direct real estate ownership structures. Realbricks handles all property-related state taxes internally.

Investors owe state income taxes only in their state of residence, not the state where the property is located. This will be reflected on the applicable tax form(s) that each investor receives. 

How the Realbricks Tax Structure Works

Realbricks offerings are structured through Terra Mint Group Corp., which is taxed as a U.S. C corporation. The property-owning entity, Neptune REM, LLC, is treated as a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes, so its taxable activity is generally reported at the corporate level.

For investors, this structure generally means:

  • Investors do not receive Schedule K-1 partnership tax forms.
  • Investors are not required to file partnership tax returns related to their investment.
  • Investors may instead receive IRS Form 1099 reporting, depending on the activity associated with their investment during the tax year.

Key Takeaways

✓Investors generally receive IRS Form 1099 reporting rather than Schedule K-1.

✓Tax reporting depends on investment activity.

✓Individual tax consequences vary.

✓Consult a qualified tax advisor.

✓Review the offering documents.

For additional information about a specific offering, explore the applicable offering documents available on the Realbricks platform.

Disclaimer: Realbricks does not provide tax advice. Investors should consult a CPA or tax professional regarding their specific tax situation. Investing in real estate involves risks, including the potential loss of capital. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Investors should perform their own research and consult with financial professionals before making investment decisions.