Are there capital gains on sale of your house?

Apr 27, 2010 1 Replies

I have done some googling and have read that you do not owe tax on the first $250,000 of capital gains on your house if you have lived in it for 2 years. Is that information still correct? I am looking to sell my house that I have lived in for 16 years, but failed to keep proper records of improvements. I am hoping that it will not come back to bit me. My gain will be much much much smaller than $250,000 if in fact I even have a gain. The Rochester housing market has been dreadful for years.



Now that is not true for a cottage I just used in the summer because it was not my primary residence. Right? I did make money on that, but didn't improve it, so it doesn't much matter I guess.



Thanks much for your help.


More or less. The complete information is in IRS Publication 523.

Assuming you meet the rules for excluding gain, you won't even have to report the sale. See the 1040 instructions.

Correct. That sale you must report on Schedule D. There is no exclusion of gain.

Phil Marti VITA/TCE Volunteer

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