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In a nutshell, if you have owned a home for five years and lived in it for at least two out of five years, or if you’ve owned the house for two years and lived in it the entire time, a single person has a $250,000 tax exemption. If you are married, as a couple, you have a $500,000 exemption. Any gains over those amounts are taxable. You should always discuss the sale of your home with a tax attorney, especially if you used the house for business or rented it out, as you may not be able to take the exemption on homes used for business or as a rental.
Before you can estimate how much tax you might owe, you need to calculate the cost basis for the property. Figure the tax by completing these steps:
Add the price you paid for the property to the cost of any significant improvements. Subtract any casualty and theft losses, closing costs you paid when you bought the house and allowable depreciation. You might be able to subtract some closing costs. If you inherited the property, the initial investment is the fair market value on the date of the death of the person who willed the house to you.
For gifted properties, if there is a gain, you use the donor’s adjusted basis in the cost basis equation. If there is a loss, the cost basis is the fair market value on the date you received the property as a gift or the donor’s adjusted basis, whichever is less.
Once you have the cost basis, subtract it from the sale price of the house. For example, if you paid $500,000 for your home and you are now selling it for $1,000,000, you have a capital gain of $500,000. If you are single, you will pay tax on $250,000. If you are married, the exclusion is $500,000, which wipes out the $500,000 profit.
You may be able to use the Section 1031 exchange if you are selling a home used for business or that was rented out as long as you buy another house for business or to rent out. The new purchase cannot be for personal use and the exchange must be for “like-kind.”
The regulations for a Section 1031 exchange are limited and may be confusing. Always retain a tax lawyer or accountant to help you with your taxes, especially if you are buying and selling an investment property. If you are selling a million dollar plus home and you use it as your personal residence, you should still contact a tax lawyer. Depending on your finances, the tax lawyer may be able to help you avoid some of the tax.
Diana Hellman's passion for Larchmont inspires her more than 20 year real estate practice. As a certified buyer's representative, "The development of a solid and trusting relationship with my buyers and sellers is what I strive for." This success, primarily built on client referrals and repeat business, comes from her knowledge of what makes Larchmont unique: it's school system, recreational facilities, services and the special qualities that pervade this village's atmosphere. A former educator with a background in psychology, Diana knows that people don't want a sales pitch, but rather reliable, timely information. She and her husband have been residents of Larchmont for over 40 years. Her 3 children have attended the Mamaroneck Public Schools. She can give you expert advice with the sale or purchase of your home. Awards/Distinctions Multi-million dollar club- Westchester Board of Realtors International Diamond Society (8 million plus in sales), 5-Star agent in 2024. Gold Award- WBR (5-8 million dollars in sales) Silver Award – WBR (3-5 million dollars in sales) Memberships National Association of Realtors New York State Association of Realtors Westchester Board of Realtors Westchester Multiple Listing Service Community Former executive board member of the Central School Former selection school delegate for election of school board candidates Former executive board member of the Friends of the Emelin Theatre Former executive board member of the League of Women Voters