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Delaware Statutory Trust

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Delaware Statutory Trust

What is a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST)?

A DST is a separate legal entity created as a trust under Delaware statutory law. The law permits a very flexible approach to the design and operations of a DST. However, to use a DST in a Section 1031 syndication program, it must comply with the requirements of IRS Revenue Ruling 2004-86 and must also (if the DST’s property is debt financed) meet lender requirements. To satisfy these requirements, each of our DSTs must:
  • be a Special Purpose Entity (SPE);
  • be bankruptcy remote; and
  • be a very passive holder of real estate, with minimal trustee powers over the operation of the DST’s real estate, and no powers over the DST or its real estate at all in the hands of the DST’s beneficiaries.
Unlike a TIC transaction, there is no need to set up individual single member limited liability companies (SMLLC) for each investor. Each investor owns a beneficial interest (BI) in the DST, which shields the investor from any liabilities with respect to the property. This ownership arrangement is much simpler than a TIC arrangement for investors to understand, and saves the investors substantial money with respect to the formation costs and annual fees.
There are also substantial governance differences between a TIC transaction and a DST transaction. Unlike a TIC transaction, which requires the investors vote unanimously for all major decisions, a BI holder in a DST is not permitted to vote. This eliminates the concern over the “rogue investor.” Because there is a single borrower — the DST — and not 25 or 30 separate SMLLC borrowers as in a typical TIC transaction, there should be no need for the sponsor to have to collect, or for the lender to have to review, investor tax returns, financial statements, and credit authorizations.
In addition, because the investors have no role whatsoever in the management of the DST or its real estate, the investors should not be required to execute any nonrecourse carve out indemnifications or guaranties.
Generally, a TIC structure is limited to 35 investors or less. This is a product of both Revenue Procedure 2002-22 relating to permitted TIC deal structure and from the fact that lenders wish to limit the amount of individual loans they are making in a TIC deal. There is no such limitation on the number of permitted beneficiaries in a DST deal, and because DST deals involve only a single borrower, lenders should be indifferent to the number of investors in a DST deal. A DST will permit a beneficiary to do a tax free exchange on its pro rata share of the DST property when it is sold. Since a DST transaction is less complicated and the lenders have better protection from potential bad acts of the investors, the availability and terms of financing are much more favorable for DST transactions than TIC transactions.

IRS Requirement Causing Lender Concerns

IRS Revenue Ruling 2004-86, which forms the basis for DST transactions, sets forth prohibitions on the powers of the trustee, which have become known as the “seven deadly sins.” They are:
  • Once the offering is closed, there can be no future capital contributions to the DST by either current or new beneficiaries.
  • The trustee cannot renegotiate the terms of the existing mortgage loans nor can it obtain any new mortgage financing from any party except where a property tenant is bankrupt or insolvent.
  • The trustee cannot enter into new leases or renegotiate existing leases except where a property tenant is bankrupt or insolvent.
  • The trustee cannot reinvest the proceeds from the sale of its real estate.
  • The trustee is limited to making the following types of capital expenditures with respect to the property: (a) expenditures for normal repair and maintenance of the property, (b) expenditures for minor nonstructural capital improvements of the property, and (c) expenditures for repairs or improvements required by law.
  • Any cash held between distribution dates can only be invested in short-term debt obligations, and
  • All cash, other than necessary reserves, must be distributed on a current basis.
Because of these restrictions, the only types of real estate transactions that will work in a DST are a “master lease” transaction, in which the master tenant takes on all leasing and other property operation responsibilities or, a triple-net long-term lease to quality tenant.

Frequently Asked Questions

DST stands for Delaware Statutory Trust. It is a legal entity formed under Delaware law that holds real property on behalf of multiple investors, each of whom owns a beneficial interest in the trust.

Yes. The IRS confirmed in Revenue Ruling 2004-86 that beneficial interests in a DST qualify as like-kind real property for purposes of a 1031 Exchange, allowing investors to defer capital gains taxes when exchanging into a DST.

Minimum investment amounts vary by offering but typically range from $25,000 to $100,000. Investors must also qualify as accredited investors under SEC Rule 501(A).

DST sponsors typically target hold periods of five to ten years, after which the property is sold or refinanced. Because there is no secondary market, investors should plan to hold for the full projected duration.

Yes. When a DST property is sold, investors have the option to complete another 1031 Exchange using their pro-rata share of the proceeds, allowing them to continue deferring taxes indefinitely.

Monthly cash distributions from a DST are typically treated as rental income. A significant portion is often tax-sheltered by depreciation deductions passed through to investors, which can meaningfully reduce the effective tax rate on the income received.

A DST is a private, illiquid investment where investors hold a beneficial interest in a specific property or small portfolio. A REIT is a publicly traded or registered investment that holds a diversified portfolio of properties and can be bought and sold like a stock. DSTs offer 1031 Exchange eligibility that REITs do not.

DST interests pass to heirs through your estate. Heirs may receive a stepped-up cost basis equal to the fair market value at the date of death, which can eliminate the deferred capital gains tax liability that accumulated during the investor’s lifetime.

To view available DST properties or discuss your 1031 Exchange options, contact Peregrine Private Capital or visit our DST Inventory page.