Exclusion
Gross income shall not include gain from the sale or exchange of property if, during the 5-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange, such property has been owned and used by the taxpayer as the taxpayer’s principal residence for periods aggregating 2 years or more.
Limitations
In general
The amount of gain excluded from gross income under subsection (a) with respect to any sale or exchange shall not exceed $250,000.
Special rules for joint returns
$500,000 Limitation for certain joint returns
Other joint returns
If such spouses do not meet the requirements of subparagraph (A), the limitation under paragraph (1) shall be the sum of the limitations under paragraph (1) to which each spouse would be entitled if such spouses had not been married. For purposes of the preceding sentence, each spouse shall be treated as owning the property during the period that either spouse owned the property.
Application to only 1 sale or exchange every 2 years
Subsection (a) shall not apply to any sale or exchange by the taxpayer if, during the 2-year period ending on the date of such sale or exchange, there was any other sale or exchange by the taxpayer to which subsection (a) applied.
Special rule for certain sales by surviving spouses
In the case of a sale or exchange of property by an unmarried individual whose spouse is deceased on the date of such sale, paragraph (1) shall be applied by substituting “$500,000” for “$250,000” if such sale occurs not later than 2 years after the date of death of such spouse and the requirements of paragraph (2)(A) were met immediately before such date of death.
Exclusion of gain allocated to nonqualified use
In general
Subsection (a) shall not apply to so much of the gain from the sale or exchange of property as is allocated to periods of nonqualified use.
Gain allocated to periods of nonqualified use
Period of nonqualified use
In general
The term “period of nonqualified use” means any period (other than the portion of any period preceding ) during which the property is not used as the principal residence of the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s spouse or former spouse.
Exceptions
Coordination with recognition of gain attributable to depreciation
Exclusion for taxpayers failing to meet certain requirements
In general
Sales and exchanges to which subsection applies
Special rules
Joint returns
If a husband and wife make a joint return for the taxable year of the sale or exchange of the property, subsections (a) and (c) shall apply if either spouse meets the ownership and use requirements of subsection (a) with respect to such property.
Property of deceased spouse
For purposes of this section, in the case of an unmarried individual whose spouse is deceased on the date of the sale or exchange of property, the period such unmarried individual owned and used such property shall include the period such deceased spouse owned and used such property before death.
Property owned by spouse or former spouse
Property transferred to individual from spouse or former spouse
In the case of an individual holding property transferred to such individual in a transaction described in section 1041(a), the period such individual owns such property shall include the period the transferor owned the property.
Property used by former spouse pursuant to divorce decree, etc.
Solely for purposes of this section, an individual shall be treated as using property as such individual’s principal residence during any period of ownership while such individual’s spouse or former spouse is granted use of the property under a divorce or separation instrument.
Divorce or separation instrument
Tenant-stockholder in cooperative housing corporation
Involuntary conversions
In general
For purposes of this section, the destruction, theft, seizure, requisition, or condemnation of property shall be treated as the sale of such property.
Application of section 1033
In applying section 1033 (relating to involuntary conversions), the amount realized from the sale or exchange of property shall be treated as being the amount determined without regard to this section, reduced by the amount of gain not included in gross income pursuant to this section.
Property acquired after involuntary conversion
If the basis of the property sold or exchanged is determined (in whole or in part) under section 1033(b) (relating to basis of property acquired through involuntary conversion), then the holding and use by the taxpayer of the converted property shall be treated as holding and use by the taxpayer of the property sold or exchanged.
Recognition of gain attributable to depreciation
Subsection (a) shall not apply to so much of the gain from the sale of any property as does not exceed the portion of the depreciation adjustments (as defined in section 1250(b)(3)) attributable to periods after , in respect of such property.
Determination of use during periods of out-of-residence care
Sales of remainder interests
In general
At the election of the taxpayer, this section shall not fail to apply to the sale or exchange of an interest in a principal residence by reason of such interest being a remainder interest in such residence, but this section shall not apply to any other interest in such residence which is sold or exchanged separately.
Exception for sales to related parties
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any sale to, or exchange with, any person who bears a relationship to the taxpayer which is described in section 267(b) or 707(b).
Uniformed services, Foreign Service, and intelligence community
In general
Maximum period of suspension
The 5-year period described in subsection (a) shall not be extended more than 10 years by reason of subparagraph (A).
Qualified official extended duty
In general
The term “qualified official extended duty” means any extended duty while serving at a duty station which is at least 50 miles from such property or while residing under Government orders in Government quarters.
Uniformed services
section 101(a)(5) of title 10The term “uniformed services” has the meaning given such term by , United States Code, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this paragraph.
Foreign Service of the United States
The term “member of the Foreign Service of the United States” has the meaning given the term “member of the Service” by paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of section 103 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this paragraph.
Employee of intelligence community
Extended duty
The term “extended duty” means any period of active duty pursuant to a call or order to such duty for a period in excess of 90 days or for an indefinite period.
Special rules relating to election
Election limited to 1 property at a time
An election under subparagraph (A) with respect to any property may not be made if such an election is in effect with respect to any other property.
Revocation of election
An election under subparagraph (A) may be revoked at any time.
Property acquired in like-kind exchange
If a taxpayer acquires property in an exchange with respect to which gain is not recognized (in whole or in part) to the taxpayer under subsection (a) or (b) of section 1031, subsection (a) shall not apply to the sale or exchange of such property by such taxpayer (or by any person whose basis in such property is determined, in whole or in part, by reference to the basis in the hands of such taxpayer) during the 5-year period beginning with the date of such acquisition.
Pub. L. 111–312, title III, § 301(a)124 Stat. 3300 Repealed. , , ]
Peace Corps
In general
Applicable rules
For purposes of subparagraph (A), rules similar to the rules of subparagraphs (B) and (D) of paragraph (9) shall apply.
Denial of exclusion for expatriates
This section shall not apply to any sale or exchange by an individual if the treatment provided by section 877(a)(1) applies to such individual.
Election to have section not apply
This section shall not apply to any sale or exchange with respect to which the taxpayer elects not to have this section apply.
Residences acquired in rollovers under section 1034
1
Pub. L. 88–272, title II, § 206(a)78 Stat. 38Pub. L. 94–455, title XIV, § 1404(a)90 Stat. 1733Pub. L. 95–600, title IV, § 404(a)92 Stat. 2869Pub. L. 97–34, title I, § 123(a)95 Stat. 197Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6011(a)102 Stat. 3691Pub. L. 105–34, title III, § 312(a)111 Stat. 836Pub. L. 105–206, title VI, § 6005(e)(1)112 Stat. 805Pub. L. 107–16, title V, § 542(c)115 Stat. 84Pub. L. 108–121, title I, § 101(a)117 Stat. 1336Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 840(a)118 Stat. 1597Pub. L. 109–135, title IV119 Stat. 2610Pub. L. 109–432, div. A, title IV, § 417(a)120 Stat. 2965Pub. L. 110–142, § 7(a)121 Stat. 1806Pub. L. 110–172, § 11(a)(11)(A)121 Stat. 2485Pub. L. 110–245, title I122 Stat. 1633Pub. L. 110–289, div. C, title III, § 3092(a)122 Stat. 2911Pub. L. 111–312, title III, § 301(a)124 Stat. 3300Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II128 Stat. 4033Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 11051(b)(3)(A)131 Stat. 2089(Added , , ; amended , title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), , , 1834; –(c)(2), , , 2870; , , ; , , ; , , ; , (2), , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 402(a)(3), 403(ee), , , 2631; –(d), , , 2966; , , ; , , ; , §§ 110(a), 113(a), (b), , , 1635; , , ; , , ; , §§ 212(c), 213(c)(1), 221(a)(20), , , 4040; , , .)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Pub. L. 108–121The date of the enactment of this paragraph, referred to in subsec. (d)(9)(C)(ii), (iii), is the date of enactment of , which was approved .
section 3903 of Title 22Section 103 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, referred to in subsec. (d)(9)(C)(iii), is classified to , Foreign Relations and Intercourse.
section 1034 of this titlePub. L. 105–34Pub. L. 105–34, title III, § 312(b)111 Stat. 839Section 1034 (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this section), referred to in subsec. (g), probably means as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of which amended this section generally and was approved . Section 1034 was repealed by , , .
Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(80)(C)128 Stat. 4049Section 1223(6), referred to in subsec. (g), was repealed by , , .
Codification
Pub. L. 109–135, title IV, § 403(ee)(1)119 Stat. 2631Pub. L. 108–357Pub. L. 107–16, § 542(c), (nn), , , 2632, which directed that subsec. (d) of this section be amended by redesignating the paragraph (10) relating to property acquired from a decedent as paragraph (11), effective as if included in the provisions to which such amendment relates of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, , was executed as the probable intent of Congress by redesignating as paragraph (11) the paragraph (10) directed to be added to subsec. (d) of this section by , (f)(1), applicable to estates of decedents dying after . See Codification note, 2001, 2003, and 2005 Amendment notes, and Effective Date of 2005 Amendment note below.
Pub. L. 108–121, title I, § 101(a)117 Stat. 1336Pub. L. 105–34Pub. L. 105–34Pub. L. 107–16, § 542(c), (b)(1), , , which directed that subsec. (d) of this section be amended by redesignating paragraph (9) as (10) and adding a new paragraph (9), effective as if included in the amendments made by section 312 of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, , could not literally be executed insofar as it directed the redesignation because subsec. (d), as amended by , did not contain a paragraph (9). However, to reflect the probable intent of Congress, the amendment was executed by redesignating as paragraph (10) the paragraph (9) directed to be added to subsec. (d) of this section by , (f)(1), applicable to estates of decedents dying after . See Codification note above and 2001, 2003, and 2005 Amendment notes and Effective Date of 2003 Amendment note below.
Prior Provisions
section 140 of this titleA prior section 121 was renumbered .
Amendments
Pub. L. 115–97, § 11051(b)(3)(A)(i)2017—Subsec. (d)(3)(B). , struck out “(as defined in section 71(b)(2))” after “divorce or separation instrument”.
Pub. L. 115–97, § 11051(b)(3)(A)(ii)Subsec. (d)(3)(C). , added subpar. (C).
Pub. L. 113–295, § 221(a)(20)2014—Subsec. (b)(3). , struck out subpar. (A) designation and heading and subpar. (B) and realigned margins. Prior to amendment, text of subpar. (B) read as follows: “Subparagraph (A) shall be applied without regard to any sale or exchange before .”
Pub. L. 113–295, § 212(c)Subsec. (b)(4), (5). , redesignated par. (4), relating to exclusion of gain allocated to nonqualified use, as (5).
Pub. L. 113–295, § 213(c)(1)Subsec. (d)(12)(B). , inserted “of paragraph (9)” after “and (D)”.
Pub. L. 111–312Pub. L. 107–16, § 542(c)Property acquired from a decedent2010—Subsec. (d)(11). amended subsec. (d) to read as if amendment by , which originally added par. (9), had never been enacted. See Codification notes above and 2001 Amendment note and Effective Date of 2010 Amendment note below. Prior to amendment, par. (11) read as follows: “.—The exclusion under this section shall apply to property sold by—
“(A) the estate of a decedent,
“(B) any individual who acquired such property from the decedent (within the meaning of section 1022), and
“(C) a trust which, immediately before the death of the decedent, was a qualified revocable trust (as defined in section 645(b)(1)) established by the decedent,
determined by taking into account the ownership and use by the decedent.”
Pub. L. 110–2892008—Subsec. (b)(4). added par. (4) relating to exclusion of gain allocated to nonqualified use.
Pub. L. 110–245, § 113(b)Subsec. (d)(9)(C)(vi). , struck out heading and text of cl. (vi). Text read as follows: “An employee of the intelligence community shall not be treated as serving on qualified extended duty unless such duty is at a duty station located outside the United States.”
Pub. L. 110–245, § 113(a)Subsec. (d)(9)(E). , struck out heading and text of subpar. (E). Text read as follows: “Clause (iii) of subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to any sale or exchange after .”
Pub. L. 110–245, § 110(a)Subsec. (d)(12). , added par. (12).
Pub. L. 110–1422007—Subsec. (b)(4). added par. (4) relating to special rule for certain sales by surviving spouses.
Pub. L. 110–172Subsec. (d)(9)(E). added subpar. (E).
Pub. L. 109–432, § 417(d)2006—Subsec. (d)(9). , substituted “Uniformed services, Foreign Service, and intelligence community” for “Members of uniformed services and Foreign Service” in heading.
Pub. L. 109–432, § 417(a)Subsec. (d)(9)(A). , substituted “duty—
“(i) as a member of the uniformed services,
“(ii) as a member of the Foreign Service of the United States, or
“(iii) as an employee of the intelligence community.”
for “duty as a member of the uniformed services or of the Foreign Service of the United States.”
Pub. L. 109–432, § 417(b)Subsec. (d)(9)(C)(iv), (v). , added cl. (iv) and redesignated former cl. (iv) as (v).
Pub. L. 109–432, § 417(c)Subsec. (d)(9)(C)(vi). , added cl. (vi).
Pub. L. 109–135, § 403(ee)(2)2005—Subsec. (d)(10). , amended heading and text of par. (10) relating to property acquired in like-kind exchange generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “If a taxpayer acquired property in an exchange to which section 1031 applied, subsection (a) shall not apply to the sale or exchange of such property if it occurs during the 5-year period beginning with the date of the acquisition of such property.”
Pub. L. 109–135, § 403(ee)(1)Pub. L. 107–16Subsec. (d)(11). , redesignated par. (10), formerly par. (9), as added by , as (11). See Codification notes above and 2001 and 2003 Amendment notes and Effective Date of 2001 Amendment note below.
Pub. L. 109–135, § 402(a)(3)Subsec. (g). , substituted “section 1223(6)” for “section 1223(7)”.
Pub. L. 108–3572004—Subsec. (d)(10). added par. (10) relating to property acquired in like-kind exchange.
Pub. L. 108–121Pub. L. 107–162003—Subsec. (d)(9), (10). added par. (9) and redesignated former par. (9), as added by , as (10). See Codification notes above and 2001 Amendment note and Effective Date of 2001 Amendment note below.
Pub. L. 107–16, § 542(c)2001—Subsec. (d)(9). , added par. (9). See Codification notes above and Effective Date of 2001 Amendment note below.
Pub. L. 105–206, § 6005(e)(1)1998—Subsec. (b)(2). , substituted “Special rules for joint returns” for “$500,000 limitation for certain joint returns” in heading and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Paragraph (1) shall be applied by substituting ‘$500,000’ for ‘$250,000’ if—
“(A) a husband and wife make a joint return for the taxable year of the sale or exchange of the property,
“(B) either spouse meets the ownership requirements of subsection (a) with respect to such property,
“(C) both spouses meet the use requirements of subsection (a) with respect to such property, and
“(D) neither spouse is ineligible for the benefits of subsection (a) with respect to such property by reason of paragraph (3).”
Pub. L. 105–206, § 6005(e)(2)Subsec. (c)(1). , reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In the case of a sale or exchange to which this subsection applies, the ownership and use requirements of subsection (a) shall not apply and subsection (b)(3) shall not apply; but the amount of gain excluded from gross income under subsection (a) with respect to such sale or exchange shall not exceed—
“(A) the amount which bears the same ratio to the amount which would be so excluded under this section if such requirements had been met, as
“(B) the shorter of—
“(i) the aggregate periods, during the 5-year period ending on the date of such sale or exchange, such property has been owned and used by the taxpayer as the taxpayer’s principal residence, or
“(ii) the period after the date of the most recent prior sale or exchange by the taxpayer to which subsection (a) applied and before the date of such sale or exchange,
bears to 2 years.”
Pub. L. 105–341997— amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, section related to one-time exclusion of gain from sale of principal residence by individual who had attained age 55.
Pub. L. 100–6471988—Subsec. (d)(9). added par. (9).
Pub. L. 97–341981—Subsec. (b)(1). substituted “$125,000 ($62,500” for “$100,000 ($50,000”.
Pub. L. 95–600, § 404(a)1978—, substituted “One-time exclusion of gain from sale of principal residence by individual who has attained age 55” for “Gain from sale or exchange of residence of individual who has attained age 65” in section catchline.
Pub. L. 95–600, § 404(a)Subsec. (a). , substituted “55” for “65”, “5-year” for “8-year”, and “3 years” for “5 years”.
Pub. L. 95–600, § 404(a)Subsec. (b). , in par. (1) substituted provisions respecting dollar limitations for amount of gain for provisions setting forth applicable limitations where the adjusted sales price exceeds $35,000 and added par. (3).
Pub. L. 95–600, § 404(c)(1)Subsec. (d)(2). , substituted “5-year period” for “8-year period”.
Pub. L. 95–600, § 404(c)(2)Subsec. (d)(5). , substituted “5-year period” for “8-year period” and “3 years” for “5 years”.
Pub. L. 95–600, § 404(b)Subsec. (d)(8). , added par. (8).
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1404(a)1976—Subsec. (b)(1). , substituted “$35,000” for “$20,000” in three places.
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A)Subsecs. (c), (d)(5). , struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2017 Amendment
Pub. L. 115–97section 71(b)(2) of this titlesection 11051 of Pub. L. 115–97section 11051(c) of Pub. L. 115–97section 61 of this titleAmendment by applicable to any divorce or separation instrument (as defined in former as in effect before ) executed after , and to such instruments executed on or before , and modified after , if the modification expressly provides that the amendment made by applies to such modification, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
section 212(c) of Pub. L. 113–295Pub. L. 110–289, div. Csection 212(d) of Pub. L. 113–295section 42 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in the provisions of the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 213(d)128 Stat. 4034
section 221(a)(20) of Pub. L. 113–295section 221(b) of Pub. L. 113–295section 1 of this titleAmendment by effective , subject to a savings provision, see , set out as a note under .
Effective and Termination Dates of 2010 Amendment
Pub. L. 111–312, title III, § 301(e)124 Stat. 3301
Pub. L. 111–312, title III, § 304124 Stat. 3304Pub. L. 107–16Pub. L. 111–312Pub. L. 112–240, title I, § 101(a)(2)126 Stat. 2315, , , which provided that section 901 of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, , would apply to the amendments made by title III of , was repealed by , , .
Pub. L. 112–240section 304 of Pub. L. 111–312section 101(a)(3) of Pub. L. 112–240section 901 of Pub. L. 107–16section 1 of this title[Amendment by (repealing , formerly set out above) applicable to taxable, plan, or limitation years beginning after , and estates of decedents dying, gifts made, or generation skipping transfers after , see , set out as a note following former which was set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2001 Amendment note under .]
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Pub. L. 110–289, div. C, title III, § 3092(b)122 Stat. 2912
Pub. L. 110–245, title I, § 110(b)122 Stat. 1634
Pub. L. 110–245, title I, § 113(c)122 Stat. 1635
Effective Date of 2007 Amendment
Pub. L. 110–142, § 7(b)121 Stat. 1806
Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
Pub. L. 109–432, div. A, title IV, § 417(e)120 Stat. 2966Pub. L. 110–172, § 11(a)(11)(B)121 Stat. 2485
Effective Date of 2005 Amendment
section 402(a)(3) of Pub. L. 109–135Pub. L. 109–5815 U.S.C. 79section 402(m) of Pub. L. 109–135section 23 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in the provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, , to which it relates, but not applicable with respect to any transaction ordered in compliance with the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 ( et seq.) before its repeal, see , set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2005 Amendments note under .
section 403(ee) of Pub. L. 109–135Pub. L. 108–357section 403(nn) of Pub. L. 109–135section 26 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in the provision of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 840(b)118 Stat. 1597
Effective Date of 2003 Amendment
Pub. L. 108–121, title I, § 101(b)117 Stat. 1336
Effective date .—
Waiver of limitations .—
Effective Date of 2001 Amendment
Pub. L. 107–16, title V, § 542(f)115 Stat. 86
In general .—
Transfers to nonresidents .—
Section 4947 .—
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Pub. L. 105–206Pub. L. 105–34section 6024 of Pub. L. 105–206section 1 of this titleAmendment by effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
Pub. L. 105–34, title III, § 312(d)111 Stat. 841Pub. L. 105–206, title VI, § 6005(e)(3)112 Stat. 806
In general .—
Sales on or before date of enactment .—
Certain sales within 2 years after date of enactment .—
Binding contracts .—
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6011(b)102 Stat. 3691
Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
Pub. L. 97–34, title I, § 123(b)95 Stat. 197
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Pub. L. 95–600, title IV, § 404(d)(1)92 Stat. 2870
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Pub. L. 94–455, title XIV, § 1404(b)90 Stat. 1733
Effective Date
Pub. L. 88–272, title II, § 206(c)78 Stat. 40
Sense of Congress Concerning Tax Treatment of Principal Residence of Members of Armed Forces While Away From Home on Active Duty
Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title X, § 1074112 Stat. 2138
Transitional Rule in Case of Sale or Exchange of Residence Before
Pub. L. 95–600, title IV, § 404(d)(2)92 Stat. 2870Pub. L. 99–514, § 2100 Stat. 2095