First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Tips

{ February 11th, 2010 }

Homebuyer Tax Credit: What You Might Not Know

Al Gore's infamous social security "lockbox", seen here in the form of tax credits raining down from Uncle Sam's cap.

For those of you that know that the Homebuyer Tax Credit still exists (you need to be under contract by the end of April!), but are unsure of some of the details:

To qualify for the move-up tax credit, a home owner must have occupied the same principal residence for five of the last eight years consecutively.

Buyers can elect to claim the credit on either their 2009 or their 2010 tax return, whichever is best for them.

Buyers who claim the credit in 2009 can’t file electronically because the Internal Revenue Service hasn’t put the required forms on line. The wait for a refund is three or four months.

The home can be a mobile home or travel trailer that is fixed to land owned or leased by the home owner. A mobile home or travel trailer that is actually mobile doesn’t qualify.

The home can’t be purchased from a close relative, including a parent, spouse, child, grandparent or grandchild.

A buyer who earns no taxable income or doesn’t owe any federal income tax can qualify for the tax credit and file a tax return just to claim it.

Edit Credit:Bankrate.com, Marcie Geffner (01/21/2010)

Posted by Jon Effron

Labels: Financing : First time homebuyers : Resources

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Homebuyer Tax Credit: What You Might Not Know

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