PUB 523 says "Exceptions. The following situations of business or rental usage don’t affect your gain or loss calculations.
•Space within the living area. If the space you used for business or rental purposes was within the living area of the home, then your usage doesn't affect your gain or loss calculations. Examples of spaces within the living area include a rented spare bedroom and at-tic space used as a home office. In contrast, business or rental spaces not within the living area affect your gain/loss calculations. Examples of space not within the living area include a first-floor storefront with an at-tached residence; a rented apartment in a duplex; or a working farm with a farmhouse on the property."
According to this I rented out a space within the living area. Therefore, I should qualify for the capital gain exclusions when I sell the house. Is this correct?
Your sale will have two parts to it, the personal and the rental. You can exclude the gain on the entire house, as if it were never rented, if you qualify. However, you can't just ignore the fact that you had a portion as a rental. You will have to recapture any depreciation and that portion will be taxed as ordinary income.
In sale of home, you will be asked if you ever used the home for business.
Does Your Home Sale Qualify for Maximum Exclusion
The tax code recognizes the importance of home ownership by providing certain tax breaks when you sell your home. To qualify for these breaks, your home must meet the Eligibility Test , which is explained later.
How your sale qualifies. Your sale qualifies for exclusion of $250,000 gain ($500,000 if married filing jointly) if all of the following requirements are met.
Thank you Coleen! I understand that I will have to pay taxes on the depreciation recapture.
I do pass the eligibility test. I am only renting a bedroom as explained above. So, this means that I fully qualify for the exclusion?