Capital Gains Tax In Divorce Settlements
Addressing the capital gains tax in divorce settlements
is something that is often overlooked when couples split up.
If you will be keeping the marital home, you need to consider how
the eventual sale of the home will affect your taxes when drafting
your divorce agreement. The following question on this issue
shows what needs to be factored in when splitting the equity in the
marital home.
Maryann's Question: The house that we are selling is in my name, and
the profit will be split 60/40 because I invested more into the house. How will
this effect my taxes and what questions or protections should I consider. I
don't want to pay tax on money that will be going to him?
Timothy's Answer: You are wise to be questioning the capital gains tax
before your divorce is final. In order to determine whether you will have a tax
liability when the marital home is sold, you should familiarize yourself with
the IRS tax rules on the sale of a home. Currently, the IRS allows married
couples to exclude up to $500,000 of the gain and individuals to exclude
$250,000 from their taxable income. In order to qualify for this exclusion, your
home must be your primary residence and you must have owned and occupied your
primary residence for at least two of the last five years prior to the sale.
To figure the gain on the sale of your home you will need to know your basis.
For most people, it is the original amount you paid for your home. However, if
you have made any improvements or taken any deductions then you will need to
calculate your adjusted basis. For example, if the original cost of your home
was $200,000 and you added a $10,000 pool, your adjusted basis becomes $210,000.
If you then took an $8,000 loss for a flood, your adjusted basis becomes
$202,000. To calculate your profit or loss, you should subtract the adjusted
basis from the selling price of the home. If the number is positive, you have a
gain. If the number is negative you have incurred a loss. Your taxable gain is
determined by subtracting the maximum allowable exclusion from any profits.
If you find that you have a taxable gain, you should consider inserting a
clause in your divorce agreement that states: The parties agree that the real
estate, located at 125 Flower Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02180, shall be
listed for sale at market price. Net proceeds of this sale after deduction of
all expenses, taxes, liens and mortgages will be divided as follows – 60% to
the Wife and 40% to the Husband.
Related Articles:
The Marital Home
Who Gets The House In Divorce
Also see:
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Financial Expert a question
Timothy McNamara is a certified divorce financial analyst,
specializing in the financial issues that couples and individuals
face when their marriage ends. Having gone through a divorce himself,
he is passionate about helping people understand and manage the
complicated financial issues divorcing couples often face.
This column is not intended to take
the place of professional advice, but rather to provide financial information about
the various issues that arise in a divorce.
For specific recommendations concerning your
situation, you should retain an experienced certified divorce financial analyst who can
answer your questions based on the details of your case. WomansDivorce.com,
Timothy McNamara, and Tracey Manzi disclaim
any liability from any claim arising from any information contained
in this column. This column is not a substitute for professional advice.
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