Special Exclusion for Cancelled Home Mortgage Debt

If a lender cancels or forgives money you owe, you usually have to pay tax on that amount. But when it comes to your home, an important exception to this rule may apply in 2013.  It is our understanding that this exclusion expired on December 31, 2013 and has not been renewed by congress.  Therefore, as of now, this will not work after tax year 2013.   But if you happened to finalize debt cancellation on your primary home loan prior to January 2014 this may save you from a significant tax bill.  Here are several key facts from the IRS about the special exclusion for cancelled home mortgage debt:

• If the cancelled debt was a mortgage loan on your main home, you may be able to exclude the cancelled amount from your income. To qualify you must have used the loan to buy, build or substantially improve your main home. The loan must also be secured by your main home.

• If your lender cancelled part of your mortgage through a loan modification, or ‘workout,’ you may be able to exclude that amount from your income. You may also be able to exclude debt discharged as part of the Home Affordable Modification Program. Visit IRS.gov for more details about HAMP. The exclusion may also apply to the amount of debt cancelled in a foreclosure.

• The exclusion may apply to amounts cancelled on a refinanced mortgage. This applies only if you used proceeds from the refinancing to buy, build or greatly improve your main home. Proceeds used for other purposes don’t qualify. For example, a loan that you used to pay your credit card debt doesn’t qualify.

• Other types of cancelled debt do not qualify for this special exclusion. This includes debt cancelled on second homes, rental and business property, credit card debt or car loans.

• If your lender reduced or cancelled at least $600 of your mortgage debt, you should receive Form 1099-C, Cancellation of Debt, in January of the following year. This form shows the amount of cancelled debt and other information. Notify your lender if any information on the form is wrong.

• Report the excluded debt on Form 982, Reduction of Tax Attributes Due to Discharge of Indebtedness. File the completed form with your federal tax return.

• Whether you use IRS e-File or mail a paper return, you can use the Interactive Tax Assistant on IRS.gov to find out if you must pay tax on cancelled mortgage debt.

For more on this topic, see Publication 4681, Canceled Debts, Foreclosures, Repossessions and Abandonments. You can get IRS forms and publications online at IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Please feel free to contact Tax On Wheels, LLC at 803 732-4288 if we can assist your with debt cancellation issues.
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