turbotax icon
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Announcements
Attend our Ask the Experts event about Tax Law Changes & Forms (2024) on Mar 19! >> RSVP NOW!
Close icon
Do you have a TurboTax Online account?

We'll help you get started or pick up where you left off.

Gifted home

My mother-in-law gifted a house to my wife and her sister. She (mother-in-law) is still alive and still lives in the house (rent free). Does my wife need to report the ownership of the property as a rental or in some other way?

x
Do you have an Intuit account?

Do you have an Intuit account?

You'll need to sign in or create an account to connect with an expert.

1 Reply
KrisD15
Employee Tax Expert

Gifted home

No, there is nothing your wife needs to do on her taxes as far as reporting the gifted house. If she made any payments, such as property tax, she could claim those payments.

I do suggest you make sure you understand how the house was "gifted". 

 

If the mother used a "Life Estate" to add her daughters, the basis will be different versus actually giving complete ownership to them. This will be important down the line if the house is ever sold. 

Check with a local real estate attorney if necessary, as real estate is governed by laws of the state. Usually with a Life Estate, the daughters would be considered remaindermans, and as such get a stepped-up basis. If they were given complete ownership, the basis would be based on the value on the date the gift was given. 

 

For example, the house is worth 200,000.

Ten years later it is sold for 300,000.

 

If the house was put into Life Estate and the daughters sold it right after they inherited it through the life estate, there would be no Capital Gains.

If the house is now owned by the daughters and they sell it ten years from now for 300,000, there would be 100,000 Capital Gains for them to split between them (50,000 each).

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post
**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
message box icon

Get more help

Ask questions and learn more about your taxes and finances.

Post your Question