Did you know that if you are an American buying your first home between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009, the U.S. government will give you up to $7,500 in the form of a federal tax credit?
Update: New legislation in 2009 has expanded upon the initial $7,500 tax credit. Although there is valuable information here for people who purchased homes in 2008; anybody buying in 2009 may also want to read about the $8,000 tax credit and how to claim this credit.
The tax credit is part of recently-enacted legislation to help the nation recover from the recent mortgage crisis. Basically, the first-time home buyer tax credit is designed to keep Americans buying homes. Not so much for our sake, but for the sakes of builders, real estate agents, and mortgage lenders who earn their livelihood from home sales.
Still, this tax credit, along with soft real estate prices, make it an excellent time to buy a first home.
How does the tax credit work?
The tax credit is basically an interest-free government loan of 10% of your home purchase price, to a maximum of $7,500, to help defer the initial costs of buying your first home.
Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 can get the full tax credit, and taxpayers with higher incomes may be eligible for a partial credit.
Taxpayers can claim the credit on their federal tax returns for the year in which the home was purchased. The taxpayers will then repay the credit over the subsequent 15 years of tax returns, interest free.
For more information, the National Association of Home Builders provides some consumer information about the tax credit.
Ready to go house-hunting? Save time, money, and aggravation by lining up your financing first with a mortgage pre-approval. Read my post on how to get no-obligation mortgage quotes online.
Need to file your taxes? Did you know you can prepare your federal income tax return online and for FREE with TurboTax? Learn more about TurboTax Online Federal Free Edition »
I'm David Weliver. At 26, I had NO savings and NO financial plan. I was maxed out, stressed out, and fed up. Then, I changed. I repaid $80k of debt, tripled my income, and bought a home. I'll show you how to get similar results. 
You folks blaming Bush – it was the Democrat Congress that wrote and passed this law.
John
I must agree with you Brandon. I purchase in Aug 08, and I did take advantage of the 7500. I’m not complaining, I’m happy that I got what I got. I know though that money does not grow on trees and that Ill be paying that back plus more. You should all be lucking that your living the American dream. Owning a little or a big piece of America. Just think, If you were the one that bought 2 years ago and making a payment on a house that is worth half of what you paid for it. Or renting because you could not make your payment, or said screw it im just going to let my house go becuase it’s not worth crap!
Will, What do you mean you know that you will be paying back the $7500 plus more? The $7500 is basically an interest free loan and you don’t have to start paying it back for 2 years after you claim it on your taxes.
Brandon,
It’s a metaphor, meaning we will all pay for it some how. Including the 8000. That free loan help me out a lot. I’m just glad that I did not buy earley. I’m also glad that I did not buy Later, because of the mulitiple offer wars going on in my area that I live in. Plus the programs that they offered when we bought, they dont have anymore.
if i buy a home under a land contract ,do i still qualify for the 8000 tax credit
We closed on a house in Aug. 2007. Does anyone know about any tax credit for 1st time home owners who closed in 2007?
I purchased a home in 2007 of November. Do I qualify for a Tax credit First Time Homebuyer
Jamie, the first time home buyer’s credit wasn’t even created until April of 2008. Although they amended portions of it in the details of Obama’s wishlist that was approved in Feburary, they did not make it retroactive to 2007. People who qualify and bought a house in 2008 get $7500 and people who qualify and bought a house in 2009 get $8000. People who bought/buy in 2007, 2010 or any other year do not qualify. There may be other tax credits you qualify for though.
Is the 7500 tax credit for anyone who bought their house in 2008? I bought my house in March 2008 and want to know do I qualify.
BRANDON, SO YOU ARE SAYING IF I PURCHASED AN HOME IN SEPTEMBER 2010 THAT I DON’T QUALIFY FOR A TAX CREDIT?
When you say 2008, do you mean anytime in 2008?
We are closing on our home June 20, 2009, with or without the credit.
We are purchasing the home from our FIL with a lawyer drawn purchase agreement, the standard one that is used in Texas.
There is just no way around the relative issue? I’d even utilize the $7500 one if we could.
Thanks.
We are closing on our home June 20, 2009, with or without the credit.
We are purchasing the home from our father in law with a lawyer drawn purchase agreement, the standard one that is used in Texas.
There is just no way around the relative issue? I’d even utilize the $7500 one if we could.
Thanks.
Brooke, the updated version of the First Time Home Buyer’s Tax Credit law may include something that removes the relatives restriction. I can’t recall. Find the text online for the bill (signed into law on February 17th I believe) to see if there is mention of the relatives-related text. If there is no mention of it then you can’t get the $8000 or the $7500 because if it wasn’t changed then the original rule still applies which disqualifies you from both. If the relatives restriction was removed then you get $8000 because you bought within the time frame specified to receive the $8000.
complain to congress local senators..
Can you claim the $7500 and the $8000 together? I purchased my house in april 2009.
Patrick,
No you can’t claim both because how much you get is dependent on when you bought the house and the dates don’t overlap. Since you bought your house this year you get the $8,000. Don’t be greedy.
To Jamie and Brandy, June 10 comments: I too purchased a house and closed in aug 2007 and was told by my mortgage co that I qualified for first time home buyer. It wasn’t the same as the Obama first time home buyer credit BUT a first time buyer credit did exist at that time. I am trying to find more info on it.
Please let me know if you hear anything back on your question. We bought our home in May 2007 and were told the same thing about the 7500 interest free loan that had to be payed back over 15yrs. We did not opt in for then but this year we tried to ammend our taxes and they said there was no such thing.
I too was told about a tax credit in 2007. I actually remember being told this by an H&R representative. I closed in November 2007 and I do remember there was a tax credit at that time. Now the IRS sends me a letter saying I claimed the credit before congress passed it.
Did your ever hear anything on this? My friend has the same problem and doesn’t know what to do. Any help would be appreciated!! Thank you
J.R.
THE IRS IS COMING AFTER YOU ON THE $7500.00 LOAN THEY SAID I WAS NOT ELGIBLE for the loan because my ex wife owned the prior home I lived in with her and that is deemed home ownership by the IRS there they are giving me a 20$ penalty +++ interset for 2800.00 fun huh
I bought my first home in Aug.2006 On contract from a friend, but then i got the money though a Bank, home loan in July 2009, and payed off the contract. Is it possible that i would qualify for and tax intensives?
I purchased a home in July of 2008, but did not have to file a tax return for that year. Since I will be filing this year for 2009 is there a way to claim the 7500 1st time home buyer this tax year?
I have the same question Julia. We bought in Oct. 2008 and the lady we used to do our taxes did not even tell us about the first time home buyer credit. I just found out about it and I need to know how to get it on this year’s return?? Everything I am finding is stating that to get a credit on this year’s return your house has to be purchased in January 2009- 2010.
My husband and I purchased a home from my parents in November. It was a legitimate purchase for fair market value.
We went through an attorney, commercial lender, Realtor (for parent’s new home), and none of those parties had any knowledge of the “relative clause”. The home sale was $230,000, and we now have a first mortgage through our credit union for $155,000. There is no hanky-panky here. We had a truly legitimate sale, and we want to be treated as legitimate buyers. I am feeling completely discriminated against by the IRS for my relation to the seller, under their assumption that family sales are simply abuse. Which agency or individual can I contact to petition this?
Kristina, did you ever get anywhere with this? My husband and I were thinking about doing the same thing.
sandy
Did you get any reply on this issue? We did the same thing, noone told us that we couldn’t buy from your parents?
I agree, I have same issue I bought home from relative who needed to sell I paid fair market value. It is unfair that my neighbor who paid less for their home gets the credit. If I had know about this I wouldnt have rushed to buy the home. Also they need to change the 1st time homebuyer in past three year nonsence, 1st time means 1st time. And include relatives with purchases at fair market value, and mortages who are trying to own a home and stimulate the economy dont penzalize us.
Did you ever get a resolution to this? I am in the exact same situation and just want to know whether this is worth puruing or whether i should just kiss the $8k goodbye. Thanks, robbie
I purchased a home at the end of March 2008, less than two weeks before the April 9th official start of the tax-credit program. Have any of the changes extended to include that time frame?
I’m in the same boat, purchased my first home in March 2008. I must have just been clueless or nieve.
Regardless of having to pay back the $7500 or not, the money in hand would be nice, so I could refi, get a lower rate and a lower monthly payment, and save big money over the life of the loan. I can’t fathom anyone would be complaining about an interest free loan like this. At the very least, get the $7500, put it in a CD acrue interest, and pay it back slowly… Free money… just be smart with it.
My husband and I also purchased our first home March 30th, 2008. We filed our 2008 taxes and received the first time homeowner tax credit. Now three years later, the IRS says that this was a mistake and they want us to pay it back ASAP. Are there any stipulations, anything we can do?
my daughter is in the same boat…kind of remembered that we HAD to close by April 8th! And now we got a letter too!
We bought a house from my parents in October 2009.
Since my wife is not directly related to my parents, can she claim the $8,000 tax credit if we file seperately?
Mateo
Did you ever get a reply from your post. I am in the same boat as a first time buyer. I purchased from my parents.
I purchased my home as a single person in Sept. 08. I didn’t know anything about this credit until this year (I don’t know where I’ve been!) But I am having my tax guy amend my 2008 taxes now to take advantage of it. My question is, 1-I am married now, are they going to look at the fact that this year I filed married, filing jointly this year to figure how much $ I will get back? OR will they only look at my 2008 info, where I was single & purchased the house as a single person (with no cosigner)? ALSO, Since I have already finished my 2009 taxes (and received a small refund) should I expect a $7500 check from the IRS soon, or are they going to add the credit to next years return? Thanks ahead of time for your info!
Can a son buying a home from a father take advantage of this years tax credit?
Sorry Christine but its looks like no deal.
Ok I am buying a home from my girlfriends parents. We have lived together for 5 years and therefore common law. Is there anything to be done about the first time home buyers clause?
Has anyone found out any information from buying from a relative. We are in the same boat and was told by everyone that we would get the 8000 and now all of a sudden there is this relative clause. Please help!
any more info about the stupid relative clause????
I purchased my home (which is still my primary residence) in April of 2006 closed June 30th of 2006. It is still my main residence. Do I qualify for this tax credit? I am a long term homeowner by definition or is this for when I buy ANOTHER home. I am confused.
May 22, 2011: To Darlando, I am in the same exact scenario as you in closing on June 30, 2006. Has there been any reply on this?? Is there any level of eligibility??
For those posting it would be useful to list the date of your comments as there is no tracking here.
I purchased my 1st time buyer home for a premium from my parents in April 2008, I thought I would qualify for the 1st time home buyers plan, After much research and talking to the IRS ( who told me to take it up with congress) I have given up and am very much used to this kind of alienation from our government. If I would have bought the house next door…$8000 for me
I purchased my home in june 2010 and closed in aug 2010, would i quailify?
We bought a house in Feb 2010 so we qualify for the credit. You have to live in the house for three years and then it is forgiven. My question is, “can I wait until 2012 and then do an ammended return with the credt?” Reason is, my husband might get transferred and we would then have to move and then have to pay back the credit – I would rather not take it and then just ammend it if we don’t have to move…any suggestions?