Significant tax reform legislation was signed into law with the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. This legislation replaced both the one-time $125,000 tax-free exclusion for homeowners aged 55 and older, and the "rollover" deferment of capital gains tax requiring the purchase of a replacement home of higher or equal cost within two years of the sale of your principal residence.

With this change, a married couple filing their taxes jointly pays capital gains taxes only on that portion of home sales profits that exceeds $500,000. Single taxpayers, heads of households, and married persons filing separately may exclude up to $250,000. The exclusion is available for all sales of homes that occurred on or after May 6, 1997. Homeowners can use this tax-free provision every two years.

You are allowed to keep these tax-free profits only if you have owned and used the home as your principal residence for two out of the five years prior to the sale of the property. Although the regulations do not require continuous occupancy, the IRS specifies that your principal residence must be the home you use for the majority of time during the year. Consult your tax advisor about your personal circumstance.

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Margorie Grime, Broker.
Royal LePage RCR Realty, Brokerage
Independently Owned and Operated
75 First Street, Suite 14
Orangeville, ON L9W 2E6
Phone: 519-941-5151
Toronto Line: 905-450-3355
Fax: 519-941-5432
margorie@thegrimeteam.com
www.royallepage.ca

Margorie has devoted her career to real estate sales since 1975. Margorie Grime is a leading REALTOR in the area, selling a home every 3.3 days. Her activities have consistently earned her top awards. With the changing real estate market and economy, Margorie has formed this diverse team-qualified to cover all the complex details of real estate transactions, allowing Margorie to do what she does best-working with people interested in buying and selling property. Margorie is committed to providing the very best service available.