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

Hi! This is Nathan Olotoa from 59days2sold.com. Today I want to talk about Short Sales: Will I Owe Income Tax After A Short Sale?

Seattle, WA – 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.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

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 penny. Send me an e-mail at asknate@kw.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 me at 253-310-1177

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Nathan Olotoa.

Nathan is a Real Estate Broker at Keller Williams-Tacoma. Short Sales Realtor:

Phone: 253-310-1177. asknate@kw.com.

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