LIEB BLOG

Legal Analysts

Friday, January 04, 2013

Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act Extended to 1/1/14


Great News!

Congress has extended The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 through January 1, 2014 by way of The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (more popularly known by the fear inducing name of The Fiscal Cliff Bill).

If you recall, The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act made it so taxpayers did not have to report income gained from debt forgiveness on their principal residence should the debt be reduced by mortgage restructuring or in connection with a foreclosure.

The fate of the Act was in limbo for a while as it was set to expire on December 31, 2012 with no word as to if it would be renewed.

Here’s the provision from The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extending the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act for another year:

“SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF EXCLUSION FROM GROSS INCOME OF DISCHARGE OF QUALIFIED PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE INDEBTEDNESS.
 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subparagraph (E) of section 108(a)(1) is amended by striking ‘‘January 1, 2013’’ and  inserting ‘‘January 1, 2014’’. (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by this section shall apply to indebtedness discharged after December 31, 2012. "

To review the full Bill, click here

To review the White House's Press Release announcing the signing of the Bill into law, click here