Questions and Answers on Home Foreclosure and Debt Cancellation

I was recently asked this question by a San Diego Realtor on behalf of San Diego Homeowner - for people with non recourse loans note what the IRS says about .75% of the way down.

Questions and Answers on Home Foreclosure and Debt Cancellation: "Can you provide examples? A borrower bought a home in August 2005 and lived in it until it was taken through foreclosure in September 2007. The original purchase price was $170,000, the home is worth $200,000 at foreclosure, and the mortgage debt canceled at foreclosure is $220,000. At the time of the foreclosure, the borrower is insolvent, with liabilities (mortgage, credit cards, car loans and other debts) totaling $250,000 and assets totaling $230,000. The borrower figures income from the foreclosure as follows: Use the following steps to compute the income to be reported from a foreclosure: Step 1 - Figuring Cancellation of Debt Income (Note: For non-recourse loans, skip this section. You have no income from cancellation of debt.) 1. Enter the total amount of the debt immediately prior to the foreclosure.___$220,000__ 2. Enter the fair market value of the property from Form 1099-C, box 7. ___$200,000__ 3. Subtract line 2 from line 1.If less than zero, enter zero.___$20,000__ The amount on line 3 will generally equal the amount shown in box 2 of Form 1099-C. This amount is taxable unless you meet one of the exceptions in question 2. Enter it on line 21, Other Income, of your Form 1040."