We just got off the phone with a potential client who owes $26,000 from tax year 2003, due to a short sale of a property he and another partner had. Most people forget to report this income on their tax return. It is usually issued with the form 1099-C or 1099-A. If you lose your house to foreclosure, you also get this form - to reflect the debt that you no longer had to pay. People learn that they OWE the government when the IRS audits their return.

The thing that this client did NOT KNOW is:

THIS INCOME IS USUALLY NOT TAXABLE.

Our staff is going to amend his return, as "Cancellation of debt is NOT taxable when the taxpayer is INSOLVENT or whose liabilities exceed their assets when they receive the cancellation of debt." MOST PEOPLE WHO LOSE HOUSES OR HAVE TO DO SHORT SELLS ARE ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY USUALLY! In other words, this client had been paying this back tax NOT KNOWING that he really shouldn't owe this debt. WE WILL AMEND THE RETURN QUICKLY. These are our favorite cases, and we get the happiest clients from fixing these situations.

Pamela Raines, who is the Enrolled Agent who leads our tax preparation department, and who is an expert on these kind of returns, will be the likely preparer of this return for you.

*CONGRESS SMARTENED UP AND ELIMINATED THE TAXABILITY OF CANCELLATION OF DEBT ON RETURNS 2008 AND ONWARD...DUE TO THE FORECLOSURE CRISIS. Link here: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-3648

IMPORTANT CAVEAT: IF YOU RECEIVED A 1099-A OR 1099-C FOR A DEFAULTED RENTAL PROPERTY OR REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT -- THE RULES MAY BE DIFFERENT AND THERE COULD BE SOME CONSEQUENCES.

Talk with a tax expert for free (888) 282-4697

Registered members of the National Association of Enrolled Agents.