If a lender cancels or forgives money you owe, you usually have to pay tax on that amount. But when it comes to your home, an important exception to this rule may apply in 2013. Here are several key facts from the IRS about the special exclusion for cancelled home mortgage debt:

• If the cancelled debt was a mortgage loan on your main home, you may be able to exclude the cancelled amount from your income. To qualify you must have used the loan to buy, build or substantially improve your main home. The loan must also be secured by your main home.
• If your lender cancelled part of your mortgage through a loan modification, or ‘workout,’ you may be able to exclude that amount from your income. You may also be able to exclude debt discharged as part of the Home Affordable Modification Program. Visit IRS.gov for more details about HAMP. The exclusion may also apply to the amount of debt cancelled in a foreclosure.
• The exclusion may apply to amounts cancelled on a refinanced mortgage. This applies only if you used proceeds from the refinancing to buy, build or greatly improve your main home. Proceeds used for other purposes don’t qualify. For example, a loan that you used to pay your credit card debt doesn’t qualify.
• Other types of cancelled debt do not qualify for this special exclusion. This includes debt cancelled on second homes, rental and business property, credit card debt or car loans.
• If your lender reduced or cancelled at least $600 of your mortgage debt, you should receive Form 1099-C, Cancellation of Debt, in January of the following year. This form shows the amount of cancelled debt and other information. Notify your lender if any information on the form is wrong.
• Report the excluded debt on Form 982, Reduction of Tax Attributes Due to Discharge of Indebtedness. File the completed form with your federal tax return.
• Use IRS e-file to file your tax return. E-file is the easiest way to file because the software will do the hard work for you. You can use IRS Free File to prepare and e-file your tax return with either free, brand-name software or online fillable forms – all for free. Otherwise, you may file electronically with commercial software, or through a paid preparer.
• Whether you use IRS e-File or mail a paper return, you can use the Interactive Tax Assistant on IRS.gov to find out if you must pay tax on cancelled mortgage debt.

For more on this topic, see Publication 4681, Canceled Debts, Foreclosures, Repossessions and Abandonments. You can get IRS forms and publications online at IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

IRS Health Care Tax Tip 2014-06, March 11, 2014

There are a few basic tips to keep in mind about the new health care law. Health insurance choices you make now may affect the income tax return you file in 2015.

1. Most people already have qualified health insurance coverage and will not need to do anything more than maintain qualified coverage throughout 2014.

2. If you do not have health insurance through your job or a government plan, you may be able to buy it through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

3. If you buy your insurance through the Marketplace, you may be eligible for an advance premium tax credit to lower your out-of-pocket monthly premiums.

4. Your 2014 tax return will ask if you had insurance coverage or qualified for an exemption.  If not, you may owe a shared responsibility payment when you file in 2015.

What should you do now?

If you or your family does not have health insurance, find out more now. Talk to your employer about the coverage they offer, or visit the Marketplace online.

Find out more about the health care law and the Marketplace at www.HealthCare.gov.

Find out more about the premium tax credit and the shared responsibility payment atwww.IRS.gov/aca.