Generally, whenever property is acquired subject to a mortgage, the outstanding principal debt secured by that mortgage is treated as acquisition indebtedness even if the organization did not assume or agree to pay the debt. For an exception, see Property Acquired by Gift, Bequest, or Devise, next.

Example. An exempt organization paid $50,000 for real property valued at $150,000 and subject to a $100,000 mortgage. The $100,000 of outstanding principal debt is acquisition indebtedness, as though the organization had borrowed $100,000 to buy the property.

Other liens. In determining acquisition indebtedness, a lien similar to a mortgage is treated as a mortgage. A lien is similar to a mortgage if title to property is encumbered by the lien for a creditor's benefit. However, when state law provides that a lien for taxes or assessments attaches to property before the taxes or assessments become due and payable, the lien is not treated as a mortgage until after the taxes or assessments have become due and payable and the organization has had an opportunity to pay the lien in accordance with state law. Liens similar to mortgages include (but are not limited to):

1. Deeds of trust,
2. Conditional sales contracts,
3. Chattel mortgages,
4. Security interests under the Uniform Commercial Code,
5. Pledges,
6. Agreements to hold title in escrow, and
7. Liens for taxes or assessments (other than those discussed earlier).

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