Definition of "Unadjusted Basis"

The unadjusted basis of assets is the actual price paid for purchasing an asset without any reductions from depreciation deductions. In order words, the unadjusted basis is an asset’s original cost. The only added costs included in the unadjusted basis besides the original cost of an asset are expenses and liabilities assumed by the buyer to purchase the asset.

While an unadjusted basis does not include any changes that incur on the purchase price over time, the adjusted basis does. The unadjusted basis is similar in ways to the concept of cost basis, and it also includes depreciation. It is strictly used for tax purposes to determine the capital gains and losses on a sale.

What is the Unadjusted Basis Immediately after Acquisition?

The unadjusted basis immediately after acquisition (UBIA) is one of the two items that affect qualified business income (QBI) through the Tax Cuts and Job Acts, namely the Section 199A deductions. The UBIA is the basis of qualified property based on the date when the asset was placed in service. Qualified property is considered any tangible property owned, used by the business in producing QBI.

From that, we get the following question. What is the unadjusted basis of qualified property? Determining a qualified property for the UBIA calculation, we have to consider any property owned by a company and enter a depreciation period that starts when the property is placed in service for that company and ends later on (up to 10 years). 

What is the Unadjusted Basis in General Real Estate?

To simplify the concept above, which only applies to businesses, we will look at what happens to a real estate owner on an unadjusted basis. As we already mentioned, the unadjusted basis is used to determine the original cost of the purchase.

Looking at John, a homeowner, who bought a house for his family, we will see the cost he incurred for the purchase. John bought his property by paying $50,000 in cash as a downpayment, and the rest came from a $150,000 mortgage. Through the purchase agreement, John agreed to pay the closing costs of the transaction of $6,000. John’s unadjusted basis for the property is his $50,000 added to the $150,000 mortgage and the $6,000 closing costs.

$50,000 + $150,000 + $6,000 = $206,000

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

When someone throws around the term “mobile home”, it almost requires further explanation to fully understand what that person is talking about. Why is that? Well, one mobile ...

The definition of a closed-end lease is what happens when an individual rents or leases an asset at a monthly rate with no obligations for the lessee to purchase the asset that he rents at ...

The definition of the Environmental Protection Agency can be explained by what the agency does. This independent executive agency works for the United States federal government and is ...

Persons considered legally capable of entering into a binding contract. ...

Listing Agreement A.K.A. Listing is basically a contract allowing a real estate agent or broker to list a home for sale and act as the home seller agent representing his/her interests ...

Situation in which a purchaser acquires mortgaged property and continues to pay the mortgagee for the debt outstanding. Although the new buyer continues to pay the mortgagee for the debt ...

Use of other people's money (OPM) in an attempt to maximize the return but at high risk. The use of leverage in real estate investing is a way to maximize yield on a small down payment. ...

Managing the day-to-day activities in a real estate brokerage office including recruiting and training new real estate agents, holding real estate closings, updating and managing real ...

Degree of completion or accomplishment such as a home that is 70% completed. Condition of real property. Position of an item. Legal standing such as of a case. ...

Popular Real Estate Questions