Time is running out for you to avail tax incentive provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for first time home buyers to purchase a home. In accordance with the provisions of the act, tax credit for an amount of USD 8000 is provided to first time home buyers provided they purchase a home between January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009. It is important to understand the definition of a first time home buyer. All individuals who have not purchased a home up to a period of three years prior to purchase under this scheme are eligible to avail this tax credit. It is not necessary that you need to buy a new home; your purchase could be even a re-sale to claim this tax credit.
The amount of tax credit available under the scheme is 10% of the value of the home purchase subject to a maximum amount of USD 8000. There has been a income limit specified for eligible first time home buyers wherein the maxim um income for a single tax payer should not exceed USD 75,000 while it stands exactly twice at USD 150,000 for married tax payers. In case however, you have not owned a house during the past three years but your spouse has purchased a house within the same period, you are ineligible to be benefited under this scheme. There is something known as the phase out range which has been defined for this tax credit program. This has been set at USD 20,000. This implies that the tax credit entitlement shall be nil for an individual income exceeding USD 75,000 i.e. USD 95,000. In case of married taxpayers the income at which the tax credit shall become nil equates to 20,000 exceeding 150,000 i.e. 170,000. For individuals who have income between USD 75,000 up to USD 95,000 there is a way of computing the reduced tax credit on a proportional basis.
The process for claiming the tax credit is fairly simple and user friendly. An individual is allowed to claim the tax credit while filing federal income tax return. The first time home buyer should fill in a form known as the IRS Form 5405. Apart from this form, there is no other form required. It is extremely hassle free to enjoy this privilege. It is best advised that you read about this scheme on the official website of IRS to know about the scheme in depth. The resource is exhaustive and does complete justice to the process of tax credit availability for first time home buyers.
The objective of the federal government in allowing this tax credit is to make housing affordable for each individual and give impetus to the housing sector. A healthy housing industry positively impacts other sectors such as steel, cement and utilities as well and has a cascading effect on the country's economic growth. So go ahead and grab your new home before you step into 2010.
