Another Way to Avoid Federal Taxation on Short Sales

Are you thinking about short selling your home, but worry about possible tax consequences if it does not close by December 31 (the end of homeowner tax relief under the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act)? You may be in luck, even if the Act is not extended.

The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act (MFDRA), which prevents the federal government from taxing the difference between the sales price and amount owed on a mortgage in short sale and foreclosure situations, expires on December 31 of this year. Many agents are advising their clients to make decisions quickly if they are planning to short sale their homes, so that there is time enough for marketing and obtaining lender approval before the deadline – and since we are already at the halfway point in the year, time is ticking. But there is another way to protect yourself from the federal taxation even if the act expires and you want to short sale your home.

Little  known to many, the Internal Revenue Code, section 108, provides a “moment of insolvency” document that could save you from taxation should the act not be extended.

Section 108 has an “insolvency” exclusion, which allows you to avoid taxation if you can show you are insolvent. To figure out whether you qualify, you need to take your total liabilities immediately before the discharge of debt, minus the fair market value (this includes exempt assets like retirement accounts and pension plan interest) of your total assets before the discharge. The resulting number will give you the extent to which you are insolvent. This amount cannot be taxed federally.

It is important to note that many people who are short selling or foreclosed upon do not have assets to cover their responsibilities, thus the reason they are in this position. So if the MFDRA is repealed and you didn’t have time to short sale your home before, you may still be in luck. I highly advise you to consult with your CPA or tax professional to see if you are insolvent.

 

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