CA Credit for New Home Purchase – Fund Running Out

By Ron Cohen, CPA, MST
Partner
Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Co., LLP

California allows a nonrefundable credit against net tax equal to the lesser of 5% (.05) of the purchase price of the qualified principal residence or ten thousand dollars ($10,000). But only a limited amount of funds are available for the credit, and then it is gone.

Upon receipt of Form FTB 3528-A (see link below), the FTB will allocate the credit on a first-come first-served basis. The total amount of credit that may be allocated by the FTB must not exceed one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000).

The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) will soon reach $100 million in new home credit applications. As of 6/17/09, $95M of credits had been claimed… so act fast if this credit applies to you!

Once the FTB receives 11,000 applications, they will update this page (see link) daily.

You can also review this link for complete details on the credit, its current availability and how to apply:

http://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/New_Home_Credit.shtml

They will no longer accept applications once they have received 12,000, and the fax service will be disconnected.

In order to expedite the processing of applications, submit only one application per new home purchase. Do not send in applications before escrow closes. Applications cannot be accepted if escrow has not yet closed. Complete the application carefully and accurately.

This tax credit is available for qualified buyers who on or after March 1, 2009, and before March 1, 2010, purchase a qualified principal residence that has never been occupied. The buyer must reside in the new home for a minimum of two years immediately following the purchase date.

The FTB began accepting applications for allocation of credit by fax only (916.845.9754), on March 1, 2009. They began processing the applications on a first-come, first-served basis, on May 1, 2009.

Here’s the application form: http://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/2009/09_3528a.pdf

I can always be reached for questions or comments at (510) 797-8661 x237.