Submitted By: someone
Answered: August 19, 2014 8:30 am

I received a $2,900 homeowner relocation assistance payment under HAFA. Is this taxable to me?

The IRS has yet to rule on the tax treatment of relocation payments under the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) program, and some people in your situation have received a Form 1099-A or C. However, there is a good argument to be made that the payment is tax free. Government payments made to promote the general welfare are not taxed. However, if you use the payment for moving expenses, you can’t exclude the income and take a moving expense deduction. Talk to your tax advisor.

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Tax Glossary

Tax attributes

When debts are cancelled in bankruptcy cases, the cancelled amount is excluded from gross income. Tax attributes are certain losses, credits, and property basis that must be reduced to the extent of the exclusion.

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