Question

Tom, an art history professor owned and lived in a home in Dubuque, Iowa, for the past four years. He spends a year in Italy after which he decides to sell his home in Dubuque and live in Rome. If Tom is single, he can claim _______.

Answer 1

Answer:

If Tom is single, he can claim THE $250,000 CAPITAL GAINS EXEMPTION.

Explanation:

Capital gain taxes are taxes on any profit you make from the sale of something, such as a house. These taxes apply unless you upgraded to a home with a more expensive purchase price.

With the passage of the taxpayer relief act, individuals can exclude up to $250,000 of capital gains from taxation and married couples can exclude up to $500,000.

To qualify for the home sale capital gains tax exemption, one must pass the use test (looking at whether one used/lived in one's home). One must have owned and lived in the residence for at least two out of the last five years before the sale.

Therefore, since Tom is single and has lived in his home for the past four years and wants to sell, he qualifies for the exemption and can claim THE $250,000 CAPITAL GAINS EXEMPTION.