Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act 2007

Under the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, taxpayers may exclude from income certain debt forgiven or canceled on their principal residence. This exclusion is applicable to the discharge of "qualified principal residence indebtedness." If the canceled debt qualifies for exclusion from gross income, the debtor may be required to reduce tax attributes (certain credits, losses, and basis of assets) by the amount excluded.

If a property was taken by the lender (foreclosure) or given up by the borrower (abandonment), the lender usually sends the taxpayer Form 1099-A, Acquisition or Abandonment of Secured Property. Form 1099-A will have information needed to determine the gain or loss due to the foreclosure or abandonment.

If the debt is canceled, the taxpayer will receive Form 1099-C, Cancellation of Debt. If foreclosure/abandonment and debt cancellation occur in the same calendar year, the lender may issue only Form 1099-C, including the information that would be reported on Form 1099-A.

Applicable Tax Years

The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 allows for the exclusion of discharged qualified principal residence indebtedness canceled in 2007, 2008, and 2009.

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 extended the exclusion for tax years 2010 through 2012. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended the exclusion to 12/31/2013.