Home Sale Rules for Newlyweds and Significant Others - Think Outside the Tax Box

Home Sale Rules for Newlyweds and Significant Others

Question: A spouse didn’t meet the residence test when the home sold because they weren’t legally married for two years on the date of the house sale. You indicated, however, the spouse is eligible for the home exclusion because by the end of the year they were married for two years

Answer: If you want to understand how getting married impacts your ability to take tax-free profit, we must look at two issues and pass two tests.

To take the full 121 exclusion deduction amount ($250,000/$500,000), first you have to determine filing status. If you were married or an RDP as of December 31, 2022, even if you did not live with your spouse/RDP at the end of 2022, your filing status is either Married Filing Joint or Married Filing Separate. Either way, the IRS considers you married for tax purposes.

Now that you’ve determined that the client’s filing status is married, the potential gain exclusion is $500,000 under Section 121.

But there are two important tests to apply to see whether you can exclude the maximum of $500,000 or whether it is going to be less. To learn about these tests, read on.

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