Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension for Navy Families

As April 30, 2010 draws ever closer, many families across Snohomish County are scrambling to find a home, obtain mutual acceptance, and have the property record on or before June 30, 2010. This is not the case if you are in the Navy or another branch of the military.

Under the Worker, Home Ownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which was extended November 6, 2009, eligible Navy families can wait till April 30, 2011 to become under contract on a property. That is great news for Navy personnel who is serving outside the outside the United States for at least 90 days during the period beginning after Dec. 31, 2008, and ending before May 1, 2010.

Additional Information from IRS.gov

Members of the military and certain other federal employees serving outside the U.S. have an extra year to buy a principal residence in the U.S. and qualify for the credit. Thus, an eligible taxpayer must buy, or enter into a binding contract to buy, a principal residence on or before April 30, 2011. If a binding contract is entered into by that date, the taxpayer has until June 30, 2011, to close on the purchase. Members of the uniformed services, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community are eligible for this special rule. It applies to any individual (and, if married, the individual’s spouse) who serves on qualified official extended duty service outside of the United States for at least 90 days during the period beginning after Dec. 31, 2008, and ending before May 1, 2010.

In many cases, the credit repayment (recapture) requirement is waived for members of the uniformed services, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community. This relief applies where a home is sold or stops being the taxpayer’s principal residence after Dec. 31, 2008, in connection with government orders received by the individual (or the individual’s spouse) for qualified official extended duty service. The credit is still allowable even if this happens during the year of purchase. Qualified official extended duty is any period of extended duty while serving at a place of duty at least 50 miles away from the taxpayer’s principal residence (whether inside or outside the U.S.) or while residing under government orders in government quarters. Extended duty is defined as any period of duty pursuant to a call or order to such duty for a period in excess of 90 days or for an indefinite period.

Related posts:

1. Senate Votes “Yes” to Extend Home Buyer Tax Credit
2. First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit
3. Will the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit be Extended?