Longtime Homebuyer Tax Credit

Longtime Homebuyer Tax Credit

Lea Uradu, J.D. is a Maryland State Registered Tax Preparer, State Certified Notary Public, Certified VITA Tax Preparer, IRS Annual Filing Season Program Participant, and Tax Writer.

What Was the Longtime Homebuyer Tax Credit?

The longtime homebuyer tax credit, also known as the "first-time homebuyers tax credit," was a federal income tax credit. It was available to homebuyers who had owned and lived in the same principal residence for five of the last eight years before purchasing their next home.

To qualify for the credit, homebuyers needed to sign a binding sales contract before April 30, 2010, and close on the purchase before June 30, 2010.

Key Takeaways

– The longtime homebuyer tax credit was available to homebuyers who had owned and lived in the same principal residence for five of the last eight years before purchasing their next home.

– Homebuyers needed to sign a contract before April 30, 2010, and close on the home before June 30, 2010.

– The purpose of the credit was to bring buyers to the housing market, along with other tax credits, during the Great Recession.

– The government introduced these tax credits to stabilize falling home prices.

– A homebuyer could receive a credit of 10% of the home’s purchase price, maxed at between $6,500 and $8,000.

– The longtime homebuyer tax credit was also called the first-time homebuyers tax credit.

Understanding the Longtime Homebuyer Tax Credit

The government enacted the longtime homebuyer tax credit, along with other similar homebuyer credits, to bring new buyers to the housing market. The purpose was to increase demand and stabilize falling housing prices. The credits were successful in increasing home sales and median prices, although some critics believe they artificially inflated home prices.

The first-time homebuyer tax credit was a refundable tax credit for Americans purchasing their first home. Initially available for home purchases made by qualified first-time buyers between April 9, 2008, and July 1, 2009, it was later extended by the Obama administration. The original tax credit was 10% of the home’s purchase price, up to $7,500, with repayment required over 15 years. The expanded version increased the maximum to $8,000 and eliminated the repayment requirement, as long as the buyer stayed in the home for at least three years.

Starting from November 7, 2009, long-time residents who owned their own homes also became eligible for the credit. The maximum credit for this group was $6,500, and repayment was generally not required. Long-time homeowners who bought a replacement home after November 6, 2009, or in early 2010 may have qualified for a credit of up to $6,500 under the rules.

Special Considerations

Under a special rule, long-time homeowners who bought a replacement home after November 6, 2009, or in early 2010 may have also qualified. To qualify as a long-time resident, taxpayers needed to have owned and used the same home as their principal residence for at least five consecutive years during a specified eight-year period.

If two people were buying a home together but were not married, the tax credit would only count for one individual. For example, both individuals would not be able to receive a credit of $6,500 each for a total of $13,000. The credit for the home purchase would still be $6,500. However, the credit was meant to be split among all buyers. Additionally, being a cosigner on another property did not preclude an individual from benefiting from the tax credit when they were able to make their own home purchase.

Although the longtime homebuyer tax credit has expired, there are other federal programs available for homebuyers to benefit from credits. The Biden administration has also introduced a new tax credit bill for first-time homebuyers, allowing them to receive up to 10% of the home’s purchase price with a cap of $15,000.