17152.
Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to exclusion of gain from sale of principal residence, is modified as follows:(a) The two-year period in Section 121(a) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be reduced by the period of the taxpayer’s service, not to exceed 18 months, in the Peace Corps during the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange.
(b) If the taxpayer is prohibited from filing a joint return pursuant to Section 18521, Section 121(b)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code shall nevertheless be treated as being satisfied if the taxpayer files a joint return for federal income tax purposes for the same taxable
year. However, in no instance shall the total amount excludable from gross income under Section 121(a) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to any sale or exchange exceed the maximum amount allowed by Section 121(b) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(c) (1) If a taxpayer has, at any time, made an election for federal purposes under Section 121(f) of the Internal Revenue Code not to have Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code apply to a sale or exchange, Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code shall not apply to that sale or exchange for state purposes, a separate election for state purposes shall not be allowed under paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 17024.5, the federal election shall be binding for purposes of this part, and that election shall be treated as an election to include in gross income for purposes
of this part all the gain from the sale or exchange of that property, including that amount which, but for that election, would have been excluded from income under Section 121(a) of the Internal Revenue Code for state purposes.
(2) If a taxpayer fails to make an election for federal purposes under Section 121(f) of the Internal Revenue Code to not have Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code apply to a sale or exchange, no election under Section 121(f) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be allowed for state purposes, Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code shall apply to that sale or exchange for state purposes, and a separate election for state purposes shall not be allowed under paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 17024.5.
(d) (1) If a
taxpayer has, at any time, made an election for federal purposes under Section 312(d)(2) of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-34), relating to sales before date of enactment, or Section 312(d)(4) of that act, relating to binding contracts, to not have the amendments made by Section 312 of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-34) apply to a sale or exchange, the amendments made by the act adding this subdivision shall not apply to that sale or exchange, Sections 1, 4, and 6 of Chapter 610 of the Statutes of 1997 shall not apply to that sale or exchange, a separate election for state purposes shall not be allowed under paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 17024.5, and the federal election shall be binding for purposes of this part.
(2) If a taxpayer fails to make an election for federal purposes under
Section 312(d)(2) of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-34), relating to sales before date of enactment, or Section 312(d)(4) of that act, relating to binding contracts, to not have the amendments made by Section 312 of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-34) apply to a sale or exchange, an election under Section 312(d)(2) of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-34), relating to sales before date of enactment, or Section 312(d)(4) of that act, relating to binding contracts, shall not be allowed for state purposes, the amendments made by the act adding this subdivision shall apply to that sale or exchange, Sections 1, 4, and 6 of Chapter 610 of the Statutes of 1997 shall apply to that sale or exchange, and a separate election for state purposes shall not be allowed under paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 17024.5.
(e) (1) If a taxpayer has, at any time, made or revoked an election for federal purposes under Section 121(d)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code to suspend the running of the five-year period described in Sections 121(a), 121(c)(1)(B), and 121(d)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code, that election or revocation of election to suspend the five-year period under Section 121(d)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be applicable for state purposes, a separate election or revocation of election for purposes of Section 121(d)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code may not be allowed under paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 17024.5, and the federal election or revocation of election shall be binding for purposes of this part.
(2) If a taxpayer fails to make an election for federal purposes under Section 121(d)(9) of the
Internal Revenue Code to suspend the running of the five-year period described in Sections 121(a), 121(c)(1)(B), and 121(d)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code, that five-year period may not be suspended under Section 121(d)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code for state purposes, and a separate election for state purposes shall not be allowed under paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 17024.5.
(f) Section 121(d)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to property acquired from a decedent, shall not apply.
(g) If the buyer of the principal residence is a first-time homeowner who is subject to income taxation imposed by this state, For
purposes of this subdivision and notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, if a buyer of a qualified principal residence located in California is a qualified first-time homeowner, then, for purposes of determining the amount of excludable gain by the seller on the sale of a qualified principal residence, Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to exclusion of gain from sale of principal residence, is modified as follows:
(1) Section 121(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to in general, is modified by substituting “$300,000” in lieu of “$250,000.”
(2) Section 121(b)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to $500,000 limitation for certain joint returns, is modified by substituting “$600,000” in lieu of “$500,000.”
(3) Section 121(b)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to special rule for certain sales by surviving spouses, is modified by substituting “$600,000” in lieu of “$500,000.”
(4) For purposes of this subdivision, “qualified first-time homeowner” means any individual (and, if married, that individual’s spouse) who had no ownership interest in a principal residence during the preceding three-year period ending on the date of the purchase of the qualified principal residence. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a “qualified first-time homeowner” does not include any individual, his or her spouse, or both, if the individual and his or her spouse are treated as a “related party” to the seller under Section 267, 318, or 707 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to losses,
expenses, and interest with respect to transactions between related taxpayers, constructive ownership of stock, and transactions between partner and partnership.
(5) For purposes of this subdivision, “qualified principal residence” means a single-family residence, whether detached or attached, that is purchased to be the principal residence of a qualified first-time homeowner for a minimum of two years and is eligible for the homeowner’s exemption under Section 218.
(6) (A) This subdivision shall only apply if, on or prior to the closing date of the sale or exchange of the qualified principal residence, the seller obtains a certification from the buyer in writing, signed under penalty of perjury, that the buyer is a qualified first-time homeowner within the meaning of this subdivision.
(B) The certification required under subparagraph (A) shall include the following information, in the form and manner as may be prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board:
(i) The buyer’s name, taxpayer identification number, and address.
(ii) The seller’s name, taxpayer identification number, and address.
(iii) The address and sales price of the qualified principal residence.
(iv) An affirmative representation by the buyer which verifies he or she meets the requirements of paragraph (4), including a representation that the buyer has not owned a qualified principal residence during the three-year period ending on the closing date of the purchase of the qualified principal residence.
(h) The amendments made by Section 417 of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-432) to Section 121(d)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to uniformed services, foreign service, and intelligence community, shall apply to sales or exchanges that occur on or after January 1, 2010.
(i) The amendments made by subdivision (a) of Section 7 of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-142) to Section 121 of
the Internal Revenue Code, relating to exclusion of gain from sale of principal residence, shall apply to sales or exchanges that occur on or after January 1, 2010.