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New Member
posted Jan 13, 2021 1:08:23 AM

Is there a first time home buyers credit if you purchased a house in 2020

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4 Replies
Level 15
Jan 13, 2021 1:11:20 AM

not at the federal level. 

Expert Alumni
Jan 13, 2021 8:02:03 AM

Although President-elect Biden did propose a new First Time Home Buyers Credit in his campaign last year, it would still have to be passed by Congress, and would not apply to tax year 2020 in any case, because tax laws affecting 2020 normally need to have been completed by December 31, 2020.

 

As @Mike9241 implies, however, there may be such credits at the state level. What state are you in?

New Member
Jan 13, 2021 8:37:29 AM

I bought my house in NC, But since I'm in military my home of record is NJ which is where I pay state taxes to.

Expert Alumni
Jan 13, 2021 9:03:52 AM

Both states have loan programs to help pay for your down payment, if you qualify, but not an actual credit.

 

However, I did notice that North Carolina has the NC Home Advantage Tax Credit program. This is not a credit on a NC return, but is a federal tax credit related to the amount of interest you pay. As the state notes: "The NC Home Advantage Tax Credit enables eligible first-time buyers (those who haven't owned a home as their principal residence in the past three years) and military veterans to save up to $2,000 a year on their federal taxes with a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)." See this NC webpage.

 

Note that this is a federal tax credit, not state. If you qualify for the state program to get an MCC, then you would complete form 8396 on your federal return to calculate the credit. Please see About Form 8396.

 

Since your home is in NC, this seems like the appropriate state to pursue this in.