The Gate Arty Blog - Tax Issues Archive

Housing Stimulis Tax Credit

Wednesday, August 06, 2008 - By Gate Arty

A major component of the recent housing stimulis legislation was the temporary first-time home buyer tax credit. According to Census data, first-time home buyers constitute about 40 percent of all buyers. It is thought that the tax credit will stimulate home buying & selling, reduce the amount of inventory in the housing market, and as a result bolster the economy. This incentive is temporary, however. The temporary tax credit is good for a home purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009. Buyers can take the tax credit in their 2008 or 2009 tax return. If you purchased the home in 2008, the tax credit is taken on your 2008 tax return. If you buy in 2009, you have the option of taking the credit on your 2008 or 2009 tax returns.

For details, click HERE.

Here's how it works:

• The new law authorizes a temporary $7,500 tax credit for qualified first-time home buyers for the purchase of any home.
• A first-time home buyer is defined as a buyer who has not owned a home during the past three years.
• Single taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes of up to $75,000 are eligible to take the full credit. For married couples filing a joint return, the income limit doubles to $150,000.
• Single taxpayers earning between $75,000 and $95,000 can claim a partial credit of less than $7,500 while the phase-out for married couples ends for those earning above $170,000.
• Since the tax credit is refundable, it means that the home buyer can claim the credit even if they owe little or no federal income taxes. In other words, the government would write you a check. For example, if a home buyer owes the federal government $2,500 in federal taxes and qualifies for the $7,500 home buyer tax credit, the taxpayer would receive a $5,000 refund check from the IRS ($7,500 minus the $2,500 owed).
• To reduce the cost to the federal Treasury, Congress has mandated that the tax credit essentially serves as an interest-free loan to be repaid over 15 years. For example, a home buyer claiming a $7,500 credit would repay the credit at $500 per year. If the home owner sold the home, then the remaining credit amount would be due from the profit on the home sale. If there was insufficient profit, then the remaining credit payback would be forgiven.

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What about taxes?

Saturday, April 19, 2008 - By Gate Arty

Those of you that like to do your research on-line know that you can look up real estate tax information at the Polk County Property Appraiser website. Were you also aware that you could estimate taxes? For example, if you were considering purchasing a home for a value in excess of its current "tax accessed value," you could input the property location & new price & thus arrive at an approximate tax range. This would be extremely helpful for those trying to stay on a tight budget. Knowing what taxes will be, will give you an idea of what to expect come tax time, or what you will need to escrow (along with insurance) in your mortgage. Also consider that you may also file for exemptions that will reduce your tax liability. For a list of these exemptions go to this site: Exemption Eligibility

Here are some additional links that will assist you in the area of real estate taxes:

Save our Homes

Glossary

Tangible Tax

Assessment

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Debt Forgiveness

Friday, April 11, 2008 - By Gate Arty

In my last post, I described the short sale process. Some have expressed concerns about the effect the resulting debt-forgiveness of a short sale has on your tax situation. In prior years, any form of debt-forgiveness on a mortgage was considered earned income. Now, however, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 allows a 3-year window for homeowners to refinance their mortgage with no tax penalty on any debt relief that is received. This act will increase the incentive for borrowers & lenders to work together to refinance loans , and realtors to negotiate short sales to avoid foreclosure.  This act only applies to principal (homestead) property.

Click here for more information on the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act.

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