N
The Global Insight

Can you exclude the sale of your main home?

Author

Christopher Davis

Updated on March 13, 2026

More Than One Home – If you have more than one home, you can exclude gain only from the sale of your main home. You must pay tax on the gain from selling any other home. If you have two homes and live in both of them, your main home is ordinarily the one you live in most of the time.

How is the sale of a main home reported?

The sale of a main home must be reported on the taxpayer’s federal income tax return if any of the following apply: There is a taxable gain on the sale of the home Form 1099-S was received reporting the sale of the home even if there is not a taxable gain to report The taxpayer elects to report a gain that is eligible for the exclusion

Which is your main home if you own more than one home?

If you own and live in just one home, then that property is your main home. If you own or live in more than one home, then you must apply a “facts and circumstances” test to determine which property is your main home. While the most important factor is where you spend the most time, other factors are relevant as well.

Can a sale of a main home be deducted from income?

The sale of a main home must be reported on the taxpayer’s federal income tax return if any of the following apply: Reporting a Loss – A loss from the sale of the taxpayer’s main home can not be deducted from income on the tax return.

Can a park home be used as a main residence?

you are entitled to station your park home on land forming part of a ‘protected site’ you are entitled to occupy it as your only, or main, residence. A site is protected if its planning permission or site licence allows both: residential use of the site by some, or all, of the residents caravans to be stationed on the site all-year round.

When does a homeowners policy pay if the owner is not occupying?

A homeowners policy provider pays claims if the owner is not occupying the home, assuming he has the appropriate coverage. Failing to disclose the accurate occupancy status might mean you have the wrong type of coverage and you’re violating terms of your current homeowners policy.

What do you need to know about the home sale exclusion?

This is called “home sale exclusion”, or less commonly “sale of a personal residence exclusion”. To exclude a tax on a property sale’s profit — which is a capital gain — you must pass these tests: Ownership test — You must own the home for at least two of the last five years, ending on the date of sale.

Can a spouse exclude gain from the sale of a home?

Either you or your spouse meets the ownership test. Both spouses meet the use test. Neither you nor your spouse excluded gain from the sale of another home in the two-year period ending on the date of the sale. Don’t report the sale of your main home on your return unless one of these applies:

Do you have to pass a test to exclude capital gain on sale of home?

To exclude a tax on a property sale’s profit — which is a capital gain — you must pass these tests: Ownership test — You must own the home for at least two of the last five years, ending on the date of sale.