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August 25, 2008
H.R. 3221, the “American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008” – the Housing Act – was signed into law by the President on July 30, 2008. This sweeping measure is designed to shore up the ailing housing market as well as tighten lending practices and reform financial institutions associated with that market. It also contains a number of tax changes, including tax breaks for homebuyers and homeowners, relaxed requirements for tax-exempt bonds, eased AMT rules, tax changes for businesses, as well as highly specialized changes affecting low-income housing and special investment vehicles called Real Estate Investment Trust (REITs). I am writing to give you an overview of the more widely applicable tax changes in the Housing Act. A tax credit – with a twist – for first-time homebuyers The new law gives first-time homebuyers a $7,500 tax credit (or, in the unlikely event the home costs less than $75,000, a credit equal to 10% of the home’s purchase price). The top credit amount is $3,750 for married persons filing separate returns. The new credit like other tax credits, reduce a person’s tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis (and if the credit is more than the tax you owe, the difference is paid to you as a tax refund). However, unlike other Federal tax credits (for example, the child credit), the new credit must be paid back to the Government ratably over a period of 15 years. So, as a practical matter, the new credit for first-time homebuyers is the equivalent of an interest-free loan from the Government. A number of terms and conditions must be met for the credit to apply. The two key rules are that:
The credit for new homebuyers is available in full only if AGI (adjusted gross income, with some modifications for highly specialized income) doesn’t exceed $150,000 if you file a joint return ($75,000 for all other filers). The credit phases out over the $150,000 to $170,000 AGI range for joint filers ($75,000 to $95,000 for all other filers). In general, you claim the credit on the tax return you file for the year you buy the principal residence. However, if you buy the home after Dec. 31, 2008, and before July 1, 2009, you have the option of claiming the credit on your 2008 tax return instead of your 2009 tax return. You’ll have to start paying back the credit over 15 years as an extra tax amount on your Federal returns beginning with the tax return for the second year after the year in which you buy the new home. First-time homebuyers who buy principal residences in 2008, and claim a $7,500 credit, will pay it back (1) starting with the 2010 tax return they file in 2011, and (2) ending with the 2024 tax return they file in 2025, at the rate of $500 per year. In general, the payback of the credit is accelerated if you sell the principal residence (or stop using the home as your principal residence) before the end of the pay- back period. Property tax deduction for non-itemizers For 2008 only, those who take the standard deduction instead of itemizing deductions may claim an additional standard deduction for State and local property taxes paid (but taxes written off as business deductions don’t count). The deduction is $1,000 for joint return and $500 for all other filers (or actual property tax paid, if that’s less). Reduced Home Sale exclusion for Some Sellers After 2008, some home sellers who don’t use their properties as principal residences for their entire ownership period may wind up paying more of a tax bill than they would under current rules (or pay tax when none would be owed currently). The tax break affected is the home sale exclusion, which generally allows up to $250,000 of home sale profit to be tax-free if a home was owned and used by the seller as a principal residence (i.e. main home) for at least 2 of the 5 years before the sale. In general, the tax- free break can only be used once every 2 years. The tax-free profit amount is up to $500,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly for the year of sale if several conditions are met. A reduced maximum exclusion may apply to taxpayers who must sell their principal residence because of health or employment changes (or certain unforeseen circumstances) and as result (1) fail the 2-out-of-5-year ownership and use rule, or (2) previously used the home sale exclusion within two years. For sales after 2008, the home sale exclusion will be reduced proportionately for the period of time a home wasn’t used as a principal residence. The prime example is a vacation home that is turned into a principal residence by its owners, but the new rules also can hit individuals who use a property as a main home for a while, rent it out for a period of time, and then more back in. There are, however, a number of exceptions. For starters, pre-2009 periods of non-principal-residence use don’t count, and neither do periods of temporary absence totaling no more than 2 years due to health or employment changes (or certain unforeseen circumstances), or up to 10 years of absence for qualifying members of the military or certain government employees. Finally, non-principal-residence use doesn’t count if it occurs (1) in the five years preceding the sale, but (2) after you permanently stop using the home as a main home. If you have any questions as to how this law or other tax matters may pertain to you, please call us. If you want to read more, visit the AOHL Newsletter Archives at www.lisch.com Remember, We’re Here For You!! |
