Gary Dwyer's Real Estate Blog

If you are one of the millions of Americans that benefited from the home buyer tax credits over the past few years, you may have to start to repay them when you file your taxes this year.

The Internal Revenue Service is sending a letter to taxpayers who claimed the credit that explains if, when and how they have to repay it. There are different IRS letters for different situations, including a purchase of a home in 2008, 2009 or 2010; a sale of a main home; or a change in the use of the main home.

For example, a taxpayer who claimed the full $7,500 first-time home buyer credit on their 2008 tax return will repay $500 as an additional tax on their returns each year from 2010 to 2025, or until the home is sold or is no longer used as the owner's principal residence.

The credit for homes purchased in 2009 and 2010 does not have a repayment requirement unless the home ceases to be used as the taxpayer's principal residence within three years of the purchase.

If you have questions, the IRS website at www.irs.gov contains detailed information about repayment requirements for the federal home buyer tax credit or consult with your accountant or tax professional.