Federal Tax information Regarding the up to $8000 rebate.
All this information can be found and is copied from the       
IRS site.
First-Time Homebuyer Credit

First-time homebuyers may be able to take advantage of a tax credit for homes purchased in
2008 or 2009. The credit applies to purchases that close after April 8, 2008, and before Dec. 1, 2009.
*
Applies only to homes used as a taxpayer's principal residence.
*
Reduces a taxpayer's tax bill or increases his or her refund, dollar for dollar.
*
Is fully refundable, meaning the credit will be paid out to eligible taxpayers, even if they owe no tax or
the credit is more than the tax owed.

The credit is claimed using Form 5405.

For 2008 Home Purchases

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 established a tax credit for first-time homebuyers that can be
worth up to $7,500. For homes purchased in 2008, the credit is similar to a no-interest loan and must be repaid in
15 equal, annual installments beginning with the 2010 income tax year.

For 2009 Home Purchases

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 expanded the first-time homebuyer credit by increasing the
credit amount to $8,000 for purchases made in 2009 before Dec. 1.

For home purchased in 2009, the credit does not have to be paid back unless the home ceases to be the
taxpayer's main residence within a three-year period following the purchase.

First-time homebuyers who purchase a home in 2009 can claim the credit on either a 2008 tax return, due April
15, 2009, or a 2009 tax return, due April 15, 2010. The credit may not be claimed before the closing date. But, if
the closing occurs after April 15, 2009, a taxpayer can still claim it on a 2008 tax return by requesting an extension
of time to file or by filing an amended return. News release 2009-27 has more information on these options.
Questions and Answers

More information is available in the question and answer section.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Information Center


Page Last Reviewed or Updated: June 17, 2009
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First-Time Homebuyer Credit Questions and Answers: Basic Information


Q. What is the credit?

A. The first-time homebuyer credit is a new tax credit included in the recently enacted Housing and Economic
Recovery Act of 2008. For homes purchased in 2008, the credit operates like an interest-free loan because it
must be repaid over a 15-year period.

The credit was expanded in 2009 for homes purchased in 2009, increasing the amount of the credit and
eliminating the requirement to repay the credit, unless the home ceases to be your principal residence within the
36-month period beginning on the purchase date.

Q. How much is the credit?

A. The credit is 10 percent of the purchase price of the home, with a maximum available credit of $7,500 ($8,000 if
you purchased your home in 2009) for either a single taxpayer or a married couple filing a joint return, but only
half of that amount for married persons filing separate returns. The full credit is available for homes costing
$75,000 or more ($80,000 if purchased after Dec. 31, 2008, and before Dec. 1, 2009).

Q. Which home purchases qualify for the first-time homebuyer credit?

A. Any home purchased as the taxpayer’s principal residence and located in the United States qualifies. You must
buy the home after April 8, 2008, and before Dec. 1, 2009, to qualify for the credit. For a home that you construct,
the purchase date is considered to be the first date you occupy the home.

Taxpayers (including spouse, if married) who owned a principal residence at any time during the three years prior
to the date of purchase are not eligible for the credit. This means that you can qualify for the credit if you (and
your spouse, if married) have not owned a home in the three years prior to a purchase. If you make an eligible
purchase in 2008, you claim the first-time homebuyer credit on your 2008 tax return. For an eligible purchase in
2009, you can choose to claim the credit on either your 2008 or 2009 income tax return.

Q. Can I apply for the credit if I bought a vacation home or rental property?

A. No. Vacation homes and rental property do not qualify for this credit.

Q. Who is considered to be a first-time homebuyer?

A. Taxpayers who have not owned another principal residence at any time during the three years prior to the date
of purchase.

Q. When do I have to buy a new home to get the credit?

A. The home must be purchased after April 8, 2008, and before Dec. 1, 2009, in order to obtain the credit. For a
home you construct, the purchase date is considered to be the date you first occupy the home.

Q. How do I apply for the credit?

A. The credit is claimed on new IRS Form 5405, First-Time Homebuer Credit, and filed with your 2008 or 2009
federal income tax return.

Q. Are there income limits?

A. Yes. The credit is reduced or eliminated for higher-income taxpayers. The credit is phased out based on your
modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). For a married couple filing a joint return, the phase-out range is $150,000
to $170,000. For other taxpayers, the phase-out range is $75,000 to $95,000. This means that the full credit is
available for married couples filing a joint return whose MAGI is $150,000 or less and for other taxpayers whose
MAGI is $75,000 or less.
Q. Can a taxpayer claim the first-time homebuyer credit after entering into a contract for the purchase of a
residence but before closing on the purchase?

A. No. Taxpayers cannot claim the credit before there is a completed sale and purchase of the residence. The
sale and purchase are generally completed at the time of closing on the purchase. (New 7/2/09)

Q. Can a taxpayer claim the first-time homebuyer credit if the purchase is pursuant to a seller financing
arrangement (for example, a contract for deed, installment land sale contract, or long-term land contract), and the
seller retains legal title to secure the taxpayer's payment obligations?

A. If the taxpayer obtains the "benefits and burdens" of ownership of a residence in a seller financing
arrangement, then the taxpayer can claim the credit even though the seller retains legal title. Factors that indicate
that a taxpayer has the benefits and burdens of ownership include: 1. the right of possession, 2. the right to obtain
legal title upon full payment of the purchase price, 3. the right to construct improvements, 4. the obligation to pay
property taxes, 5. the risk of loss, 6. the responsibility to insure the property and 7. the duty to maintain the
property. (New 7/2/09)

Q. I purchased a home that qualifies for the first-time homebuyer credit. I will be renting two of the bedrooms and
reporting the rental income on Schedule E. Will I still qualify for the credit if I use the home as my principal
residence?

A. Yes, if you meet all first-time homebuyer eligibility requirements. See Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit,
for more details.

Q. If two unmarried people buy a house together, how do they determine how much each may take of the credit?

A. IRS Notice 2009-12 provides guidance for allocating the first-time homebuyer credit between taxpayers who are
not married.

Q. I am a single co-owner of a home. How do I get this credit?

A. Depending on the year of purchase, you will claim the credit on either your 2008 or 2009 federal income tax
return.

Q. I don’t owe taxes and/or my income is exempt from tax and I do not have a filing requirement. Do I qualify for the
credit?

A. The credit is fully refundable and, if you qualify as a first-time homebuyer, having tax-exempt income will not
preclude eligibility. Although there are maximum income limits for qualifying first-time homebuyers, there are no
minimum income criteria. Thus, someone with no taxable income who qualifies as a first-time homebuyer may file
for the sole purpose of claiming the credit for a refund.

Q. Does the first-time homebuyer credit apply to homes located in the U.S. Territories?

A. No.

Q. Would I be considered a first time homebuyer if I owned a principle residence outside of the United States within
the previous three years?

A. Yes. A taxpayer who owned a principal residence outside of the United States within the last three years is not
disqualified from taking the credit for a purchase within the United States.

Q. If qualified, are homebuyers required to claim the first-time homebuyer credit?

A. No.

Q. Who cannot take the credit?

A. If any of the following describe you, you cannot take the credit, even if you buy a new home:

* Your income exceeds the phase-out range. This means joint filers with MAGI of $170,000 and above and other
taxpayers with MAGI of $95,000 and above.

* You buy your home from a close relative. This includes your spouse, parent, grandparent, child or grandchild.

* You do not use the home as your principal residence.

*
You sell your home before the end of the year.

* You are a nonresident alien.

* You are, or were, eligible to claim the District of Columbia first-time homebuyer credit for any taxable year. (This
does not apply for a home purchased in 2009.)

* Your home financing comes from tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds. (This does not apply for a home
purchased in 2009.)

* You owned a principal residence at any time during the three years prior to the date of purchase of your new
home. For example, if you bought a home on July 1, 2008, you cannot take the credit for that home if you owned,
or had an ownership interest in, another principal residence at any time from July 2, 2005, through July 1, 2008.

Q. Does previously inheriting a home and living in the inherited home automatically disqualify an individual as a
first-time homebuyer with respect to a different home that is purchased within the prescribed 2008 and 2009 time
frames?  

A. Yes, an ownership interest in a prior principal residence would preclude the taxpayer from being considered a
first-time homebuyer. As long as the taxpayer owned and used the prior home as his principal residence, then he
is not a first-time homebuyer. There is no exception for taxpayers who did not buy their prior residences. (05/06/09)

Q. Is a step-relative considered a related party?

A. Step-relatives are neither ancestors nor lineal descendents and are therefore not related persons for purposes
of the first-time homebuyer credit. (05/06/09)

Q. If I claim the first-time homebuyer credit in 2009 and stop using the property as my main home before the 36
month period expires after I purchase, how is the credit repaid and how long would I have to repay it?

A. If, within 36 months of the date of purchase, the property is no longer used as the taxpayer's principal
residence, the taxpayer is required to repay the credit.  Repayment of the full amount of the credit is due at that
time the income tax return for the year the home ceased to be the taxpayer's principal residence is due. The full
amount of the credit is reflected as additional tax on that year's tax return. Form 5405 and its instructions will be
revised for tax year 2009 to include information about repayment of the credit. (05/06/09)

Q. If a person does not actually make the payments on a home that’s their primary residence, but the deed and
mortgage documents are in their name, can they be considered a first-time home buyer?  

A. Yes. If a taxpayer purchases a home to be used as a primary residence from an unrelated person and has not
owned a home within the previous 36 months, the taxpayer is eligible for the first-time homebuyer credit regardless
of who makes the mortgage payment. (05/06/09)

Q. Do taxpayers affected by Hurricane Katrina or other disasters qualify as first-time homebuyers if their principal
residence (i.e. main home) became uninhabitable more than three years ago and they have not formally disposed
of the uninhabitable home or purchased or built a new home in the interim?  

A. A first-time homebuyer is an individual (and the individual's spouse, if married) who has not had an ownership
interest in a principal residence (within the meaning of Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code) during the three
years before the date a new principal residence is purchased. Applying Section 121, a taxpayer can be a first-time
homebuyer if the taxpayer has not owned and used a property as a principal residence at any time during the
three years before the date of purchase of the new residence. Taxpayers affected by Hurricane Katrina who have
owned but not used their property as a principal residence within the last three years may be eligible for the first-
time homebuyer credit when they purchase a new principal residence. (05/07/09)



Page Last Reviewed or Updated: July 02, 2009
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Contact me now;
Scott Robinson
Robinson Realty
818 702-8079 main
818 554-1000 cell
Scott@RobinsonRealty.net
D.R.E.# 00862076
Contact me now;
Scott Robinson
Robinson Realty
818 702-8079 main
818 554-1000 cell
Scott@RobinsonRealty.net
D.R.E.# 00862076
Any questions contact me now;
Scott Robinson
Robinson Realty
818 702-8079 main
818 554-1000 cell
Scott@RobinsonRealty.net
D.R.E.# 00862076
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