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Level 2
posted Jul 12, 2020 4:07:11 PM

Question about selling home

I have a question about my primary residence.  I have owned a house in VA for over 30 years and lived half- time between VA and FL since 2016.   By half-time, I mean about 180 days each.    When I read the IRS pub 523, it states you have to have 2 years out of the last 5 living in the house for the exemption.  However, it also states the time does not have to be a single block of time.  My question is, does living in the VA home 6 months out of the year allow me to avoid paying the capital gains tax on the sale.  

 

I do maintain an FL driver's license and vote in FL and do not change each time I relocate.

 

Thanks

Gary

0 1 688
1 Best answer
Employee Tax Expert
Jul 13, 2020 6:57:16 AM

But, you can only have one home as your principal residence. If you have established residency in Florida, and filed your taxes as a Florida resident for the past several years, it is likely that your Virginia home will be seen as a second home and not eligible for the principal residence exemption.

 

The tax law states that a seller who has owned and used a home as a principal residence for at least 2 of the last 5 years before the sale can exclude from income up to $250,000 ($500,000 for married filers) of gain. TurboTax will help you determine your exclusion.

 

To enter, follow these steps:

  • Under the Federal menu, choose Wages & Income
  • Expand the menu for Less Common Income
  • Click Start/Revisit next to Sale of Home (gain or loss)
  • Enter the information on the screens that follow

1 Replies
Employee Tax Expert
Jul 13, 2020 6:57:16 AM

But, you can only have one home as your principal residence. If you have established residency in Florida, and filed your taxes as a Florida resident for the past several years, it is likely that your Virginia home will be seen as a second home and not eligible for the principal residence exemption.

 

The tax law states that a seller who has owned and used a home as a principal residence for at least 2 of the last 5 years before the sale can exclude from income up to $250,000 ($500,000 for married filers) of gain. TurboTax will help you determine your exclusion.

 

To enter, follow these steps:

  • Under the Federal menu, choose Wages & Income
  • Expand the menu for Less Common Income
  • Click Start/Revisit next to Sale of Home (gain or loss)
  • Enter the information on the screens that follow