I sold a home last year. I lived in it continuously, as my primary residence, for 15 years. Net gain was $8300. Turbo tax is telling me I can't exclude the gain. Why not?

You must have answered one of the test questions incorrectly.  Go back and run the interview section again.  Did you use the capital gains exclusion within the last 2 years on a different home?

If you sold your primary personal residence and you lived in and owned the home for at least two years in the five year period on the date of sale, you do not have to report the sale if your gains are less then the exclusion amounts of $250,000 if filing Single or $500,000 if filing Married Filing Jointly (and both lived in the home for two years).

If you had a gain greater then the exclusion amounts then you would have to report the sale. Also, if you received a Form 1099-S for the sale either with a gain or a loss, the sale has to be reported. You will need the online TurboTax Premier or Self-Employed edition to report the sale if you are using the online editions. Make sure that you indicate that you want the sale of the home reported on your tax return.

 

If you do not have to report the sale then go back to the Sale of Home section and where asked Did you sell or have your home foreclosed in 2019?  Click on No.

 

• Click on Federal Taxes (Personal using Home and Business)
• Click on Wages and Income (Personal Income using Home and Business)
• Click on I'll choose what I work on (if shown)
• Scroll down to Less Common Income
• On Sale of Home (gain or loss), click the start or update button

Or enter sale of home in the Search box located in the upper right of the program screen. Click on Jump to sale of home