Lifetime Financial Planning Solutions, LLC

Penny L. Wasem, CPA, CFP®

109 East Main Street, Suite 328
(Fairfield Federal Building)
P.O. Box 863, Lancaster, Ohio 43130  740.653.6339     

pwasem@lifetimefinancialplan.com

 

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Breaking news: Long Time Homeowners Credit - New Legislation

Updated Nov. 6, 2009, to reflect new legislation — more to be added soon

New legislation, the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which was signed into law on Nov. 6, 2009, extends and expands the first-time homebuyer credit allowed by previous Acts. The new law:

  • Extends deadlines for purchasing and closing on a home.
  • Authorizes the credit for long-time homeowners buying a replacement principal residence.
  • Raises the income limitations for homeowners claiming the credit.  

Under the new law, an eligible taxpayer must buy, or enter into a binding contract to buy, a principal residence on or before April 30, 2010 and close on the home by June 30, 2010. For qualifying purchases in 2010, taxpayers have the option of claiming the credit on either their 2009 or 2010 return.  

For the first time, long-time homeowners who buy a replacement principal residence may also claim a homebuyer credit of up to $6,500 (up to $3,250 for a married individual filing separately). They must have lived  in the same principal residence for any five-consecutive year period during the eight-year period that ended on the date the replacement home is purchased.

People with higher incomes can now qualify for the credit. The new law raises the income limits for homes purchased after Nov. 6, 2009. The credit phases out for individual taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) between $125,000 and $145,000 or between $225,000 and $245,000 for joint filers. The existing MAGI phase-outs of $75,000 to $95,000 or $150,000 to $170,000 for joint filers still apply to purchases on or before Nov. 6, 2009.

 
First Time Homebuyer Credit:  For 2009 Home Purchases

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 expanded the first-time homebuyer credit by increasing the credit amount to $8,000 for purchases made in 2009 before Dec. 1. However, the new Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 has extended the deadline. Now, taxpayers who have a binding contract to purchase a home before May 1, 2010, are eligible for the credit. Buyers must close on the home before July 1, 2010. [Added Nov. 12, 2009]

For home purchased in 2009, the credit does not have to be paid back unless the home ceases to be the taxpayer's main residence within a three-year period following the purchase.

First-time homebuyers who purchase a home in 2009 can claim the credit on either a 2008 tax return, due April 15, 2009, or a 2009 tax return, due April 15, 2010. The credit may not be claimed before the closing date. But, if the closing occurs after April 15, 2009, a taxpayer can still claim it on a 2008 tax return by requesting an extension of time to file or by filing an amended return. News release 2009-27 has more information on these options.

IRA - Requirmed Minimum Distributions:Temporary waiver of required minimum distribution rules for 2009.   For 2009, you are not required to take a minimum distribution from your traditional IRA. This waiver applies to IRA participants as well as to beneficiaries. The waiver also applies to you if you turn 70½ in 2009 and delay your 2009 required minimum distribution until April 1, 2010. The waiver does not apply to minimum required distributions for 2008, even if you turned 70½ in 2008 and choose to take the 2008 required minimum distribution by April 1, 2009.

If you are a beneficiary receiving distributions over a 5-year period, you can now waive the distribution for 2009, effectively taking distributions over a 6-year rather than a 5-year period.   If you received a distribution in 2009 that would otherwise be a required minimum distribution, you can roll over that amount into another IRA or eligible retirement plan within 60 days of the distribution. The plan administrator is permitted, but not required to offer a direct rollover of that amount. Also, the distribution is not subject to the 20% income tax withholding requirement.

2009 Residential Energy Credits

Nonbusiness energy property credit. This credit, which expired after 2007, has been reinstated. You may be able to claim a nonbusiness energy property credit of 30% of the cost of certain energy-efficient property or improvements you placed in service in 2009. This property can include high-efficiency heat pumps, air conditioners, and water heaters. It also may include energy-efficient windows, doors, insulation materials, and certain roofs. The credit has been expanded to include certain asphalt roofs and stoves that burn biomass fuel.

    Limitation. The total amount of credit you can claim in 2009 and 2010 is limited to $1,500.
 

Residential energy efficient property credit.  Beginning in 2009, there is no limitation on the credit amount for qualified solar electric property costs, qualified solar water heating property costs, qualified small wind energy property costs, and qualified geothermal heat pump property costs. The limitation on the credit amount for qualified fuel cell property costs remains the same.

 

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM and federally registered CFP (with flame logo), which it awards to individuals who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements.

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