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First-Time Home Buyer
Tax Credit Fact Sheet

2008 Housing Stimulus Legislation

Who is Eligible?

• The $7,500 tax credit is available for first-time homebuyers only or if you have not owned a principal residence in the past 3 years.
• All U.S. citizens who file taxes are eligible to participate in the program.

Types of Homes thatQualify for theTax Credit

• All homes within the United States, whether single-family, town homes, or condominiums will qualify.

              However, there are several conditions:

                 •  The home must be used as a principal residence, and

                 •  The buyer has not owned a home in the prior three years.

•  The tax credit includes newly-constructed homes.

Income Limits

• Homebuyers who file as single or head-of-household taxpayers can claim the full $7,500 credit if    their adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than $75,000. (The price of the purchased property must be $75,000 or more to receive the full credit; otherwise the tax credit will be 10% of the sales price.)
• For married couples filing a joint return, the income limit dou­bles to $150,000.
• Single or head-of-household taxpayers who earn between $75,000 and $95,000 are eligible to receive a partial first-time homebuyer tax credit.
• Married couples filing jointly who earn between $150,000 and $170,000 are eligible to receive a partial first-time homebuyer tax credit.
• The credit is not available for single taxpayers whose AGI is greater than $95,000 and married couples filing jointly with an AGI that exceeds $170,000.   

Effective Dates for theTax Credit

First-time homebuyers could receive a $7,500 tax credit for the purchase of any home on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009. To qualify, you must close on the sale of the home during this period.

Tax Creditis Refundable

• A refundable credit means that if you pay less than $7,500 in federal income taxes, then the government will send you a check for the difference.

            ? For example, if you owe $5,000 in federal income taxes, you would pay nothing to the IRS and receive a $2,500 payment from the government.

            ? If you are due to receive a $1,000 tax refund from the government, your refund would increase to $8,500 ($1,000 plus $7,500 from the homebuyer tax credit).

• 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 returns.

Payback Provisions

•  The tax credit is an interest-free loan that must be repaid over 15 years.
•  The minimum repayment amount must be 15 equal annual installments. For example, if the credit amount is $7,500, then the homebuyer must repay a minimum of $500 each year for 15 years.
•  A homebuyer must begin repaying the credit two tax years after claiming the credit. For example, if the credit is claimed on the 2008 tax return, repayment of $500 (or less, if the credit amount is less than $7,500) per year begins with the 2010 return.
•  If the homeowner sells the home for a profit and there is a remaining credit, then the homeowner is required to repay the remaining credit during the tax year of the home sale. The amount of the repayment will depend upon the amount of profit from the home sale.

             ? If the profit on the sale is more than the remaining credit, then the homeowner must repay the entire remaining credit.

             ? If the profit on the sale is less than the remaining credit, then the homeowner must repay an amount equal to the profit on the home sale. The remaining credit payback will be forgiven.

             ? If the homeowner sells the home but did not make any profit on the home sale, then the remain­ing credit payback would be forgiven.

Further information regarding the tax credit may be found at http://federalhousingtaxcredit.com or www.irs.gov. This information is provided for general awareness only, and is not intended for the purpose of providing legal, accounting, tax advice or consulting of any kind. Please consult with your tax professional for complete details.

Additional Featured Real Estate Blog:

Down Payment Assistance Programs for Washington State Home Buyers

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Current Home Buyer Down Payment Assistance Programs:

• $7,500 Tax Credit for Homebuyers     (Expires June 30, 2009)

• Washington State's HOUSE KEY Home Ownership Program

• HomeChoice | Assistance for Persons with Disabilities

• House Key Veterans Program

• USDA Rural Development Home Ownership Program

• City of Tacoma Down Payment Assistance Program

• Pierce County Housing Programs Down Payment Assistance Loan

• City of Lakewood Down Payment Assistance Loans   

Call The Trey Affolter Team @ 253-222-6000

to learn more and to take advantage of the Down Payment Assitance Programs!

Tacoma Real Estate, Pierce County Real Estate, Thurston County Real Estate, King County Real Estate

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The Trey Affolter Team, Keller Williams Realty, always welcomes comments and is available to answer questions about Tacoma Real Estate and the surrounding cities within Pierce County Real Estate, South King County Real Estate, and North Thurston County Real Estate. 

253-222-6000

http://www.TreySellsHouses.com