Monday, December 27, 2010

Bountiful Short Sales: Will I Owe Income Tax After A Short Sale?

Bountiful UTAH – This is one of the first questions potential short sale sellers ask us. “I heard of something called “forgiveness of debt income and that it is taxable. How does that work?” they ask.

The following article is my personal opinion only. I recommend that you consult with a competent legal or tax professional before moving forward with a short sale.

In most cases the answer is that a short sale will usually not cause you to owe income tax.

It used to be that you owed income tax on any forgiveness of debt.

When a lender decides to forgive all or a portion of a borrower’s debt, the forgiven amount is considered as income for the borrower and is liable to be taxed.

Here are the following ways you can qualify to short sale a property without any tax liability.

Short Sale of a Primary Residence. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 (and it’s extension in the 2008 Federal Bailout) now allows you to short sale a primary residence without any tax liability.

Today when a homeowner short sales a primary residence, they can file a simple form and the forgiven debt is no longer taxable.

The amount of forgiven mortgage debt allowed to be excluded from income tax is limited to $2 million per year.

Short Sale of a Non-Primary Residence: If the property you are selling is not a primary residence, then you may be eligible for tax relief if you are considered insolvent.

I don’t know the exact guidelines, but insolvent is usually considered when your total gross debts are more than your total gross assets. I’m sure a good tax professional can give you more information.

Click here to view the IRS’s website about the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation.

Click here to view the article on the IRS’s Website: Mortgage Workouts Now Tax-Free for Many Homeowners.


Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another dime. Send me an e-mail at utahhomesaver@gmail.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.  When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call Dave at 801-651-0707.


Thinking about a loan modification? Our Utah Home Saver Loan Modification Kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank.  This is a FREE for you, all you have to do is call or  email us today.

Thank you for taking a few minutes of your busy day to read this, Dave Forsberg.

Dave is a Realtor with Prudential Utah Real Estate - Bountiful.
Phone: 801.651.0707   Email: utahhomesaver@gmail.com

Dave Forsberg and The Utah Home Saver Team specialize in helping Davis County, Utah Homeowners short sale and never pay the bank another dime. Bountiful Loan Modification Help, Bountiful Short Sales. Bountiful Short Sale Realtor. Bountiful Realtors. Bountiful Realty. Bountiful Realtor. North Salt Lake Short Sales. Woods Cross Short Sale Realtor. Centerville Short Sales. Farmington Short Sale Realtor. Fruit Heights Short Sales. Kaysville Short Sales Realtor. Layton Short Sales. Layton Short Sales Realtors. Syracuse Short Sales. Clearfield Short Sales Realtor. Davis County Utah Realtor. Stop Foreclosure. Stop Utah Foreclosure. Avoid Foreclosure. Avoid Utah Foreclosure. Foreclosure Alternatives. Utah Foreclosure Alternatives. Bountiful Homes for Sale. Bountiful Houses for Sale.utahhomesaver@gmail.com




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