Mortgage Credit Certificate Program (MCC) METALINK
Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)
The City and County of San Francisco has been awarded an allocation of $5,417,455 to issue MCCs.
We will accept MCC applications beginning March 9, 2009
We will not accept MCC applications from non-participating lenders or loan agents
The Mortgage Credit Certificate program can help you qualify for a mortgage loan by increasing your buying power at your current income.
The Mortgage Credit Certificate “MCC” Program, authorized by Congress in the Tax Reform Act of 1984, provides assistance to first-time homebuyers for the purchase of owner-occupied single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums.
A MCC will reduce the amount of your federal income taxes otherwise due but not to exceed the amount of federal taxes owed for the year after other credits and deductions have been taken. However, the unused tax credits can be carried forward three years, until used.
The federal income tax advantage provided by the MCC for a homebuyer who keeps the same mortgage loan and lives in the same house in San Francisco will be equal to 15% of the mortgage interest paid annually on a dollar for dollar basis. This means the total of 15% of your mortgage interest is deducted directly from your annual tax debt. The remaining 85% of your mortgage interest is taken as a deduction from your gross income in the usual manner. This result in making you qualified for a greater mortgage amount with the same income.
Example of the tax Savings with MCC
Mortgage Amount:
Interest Rate:
Annual Interest Paid:
Income Tax Rate:
$300,000
5.75%
$17,250
20%
Without MCC $17,250 x 20% =
Total tax Savings
$3,450
$3,450
With MCC-15% Tax Credit
Tax Credit $17,250 x 15%=
Tax Deduction $17,250 x 85% x 20%
Total Tax Savings
The Differences of Tax Saving with MCC
$2,587.50
$2,932.50
$5,520.00
$2,070.00
PROPERTY ELIGIBILITY
San Francisco has identified specific Census Tracts as “Targeted Areas”. The MCC allows greater flexibility for property and homebuyer in target areas to encourage growth of home ownership and development in specific sections of the City’s neighborhoods.
What are Targeted Areas?
Targeted Areas are designated by U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and the U.S. Treasury Department to encourage economic growth. Generally, these are areas where the government wants to stimulate development: urban cores, infill and other up-and-coming locations. They are defined by census tract as well as other criteria set by those departments.
What are the benefits of a Targeted Areas?
If you purchase a home in a Targeted Area are allowed to use higher income and purchase price limits and you do not need to be first time homebuyers.
How do I find a Targeted Area?
Your real estate agent or lender should be able to assist you in determining whether a particular home is within one of these census tracts. Or if you already have an address, you can find out whether it is in a targeted area, to enter the address and get a census tract number or tract code, visit the following website: http://www.ffiec.gov/geocode/default.htm. Then refer back to our list of targeted areas to see if those tract codes are on the list as follow.Click here for a map of targeted areas.
The following census tract numbers are designated as Targeted Areas:
North Beach
107, 113, 114, 115, 118
North of Market
117, 124, 125
South of Market
607
Western Addition
161
Bayview / Hunters Point
231
VisitacionValley
605
What is the maximum purchase price for property purchased with MCC?
In order to qualify for the MCC program your home cannot exceed the following maximum sales price:
Non-Target Area
Targeted Area
Existing Home
$696,118
$850,810
New Home (Not previously owned)
$601,950
$735,716
BUYER ELIGIBILITY
Who is considered to be a first time homebuyer?
Those persons who have not had an ownership interest in a “Principal Residence” within the last three years. If you have claimed mortgage interest deductions on your tax returns at any time in the previous three tax years, you do not qualify for MCC. Please note that you do not have to be considered a first time homebuyer in order to purchase in the targeted areas if you meet income requirements defined as follows.
How much income can I earn to qualify?
The total household income (including the income of anyone who is both residing in the property, responsible for the mortgage and/or any co-mortgagor listed on title) cannot exceed:
Non-Target Area
Target Area
1 or 2 person
$135,720
$135,720
3 or more person
$158,340
$158,340
How do you define Owner - Occupant?
MCC is not eligible for property purchased as investment or rental. The program will require you to move into the residence that you are buying within 60 days from the date close of escrow.
What is the cost of the application fee?
A NON-REFUNDABLE application fee of $400 is paid to the City to process your loan package with the tax credit benefit.
Are there any special Mortgages to which MCC must apply?
The program can be used with any 30 or 40 year fixed rate or qualifying adjustable rate mortgage. The MCC cannot be used in conjunction with the bond-backed loans such as California Housing Finance Authority (CalHFA) or Cal Vet bond loans.
Can I Refinancing my MCC?
MCC holders can refinance their mortgage loans without losing their current Mortgage Credit Certificates (MCC), you must apply forReissued Mortgage Credit Certificate (RMCC)from a participating lender.
RECAPTURE TAX
Recapture Tax requires MCC holder to repay the federal government a portion of their gain upon the sale of the home if the homeowner receives MCC tax credit. This provision is administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If any Recapture Tax is due, the homeowner pays it to the IRS after selling the home as part of their federal income tax liability for the year in which the home is sold.
RECAPTURE TAX IS DUE, if MCC Holders meet all three of the following criteria:
If MCC holders income rise significantly over the life of the loan (generally more than 5% per year).The 5% increase in income is figured from the maximum income limit for the MCC program at the time of purchase, see MCC-8 form for calculation of recapture tax.
If MCC holders sell the house within nine years,
There is a gain from the sale.
In other words, to owe any recapture tax at all, the MCC holders must meet all three of these criteria.
When do I pay the Recapture Tax?
Any Recapture Tax due is to be submitted with your individual tax return for the year in which you sold the property. For instance, if you sold the property in 2007, the Recapture Tax, if any, along with IRS Form 8828, must be submitted with your IRS Form 1040 in 2008. We strongly recommend that you obtain the services of a tax preparer for the tax year the Recapture Tax form is required to be submitted.
LENDER AND CITY PROCESS
The City does not make your mortgage loans. You, the homebuyer, will go through the normal process of choosing a Realtor, finding a home, and arranging financing with one of our MCC Participating Lenders. The lender will determine if you are eligible, help you fill out the MCC application forms and send it to the City. At the same time the lender is processing your mortgage loan application, the City reviews the MCC package sent by the lender to verify that you and your property qualify for an MCC. Upon confirming your eligibility, the City will issue the Mortgage Credit Certificate number and commitment within 10 working days after we receive a complete MCC Application package.
How do I receive my tax credit?
Once you (the homeowner) received a MCC certificate with the purchase of your home, you will need to complete an IRS Form 8396 for every tax year, in order to receive your MCC tax credit. To obtain an IRS Form 8396 you may call IRS at (800) 829-3676 or download the forms from the IRS website at www.irs.gov. Form 8396 should be completed and submitted together with a copy of your MCC certificate and your IRS Form 1040 when you file your tax returns each year. You will be allowed to take the appropriate income tax credit every year, as long as you keep the same home and the original first mortgage and continue to live in the property as your principal residence.
You may wish to adjust your federal income tax withholding (W-4) in order to receive the MCC benefit on a monthly basis. Talk to the payroll department at your place of employment. By reducing your monthly withholding, you will have more disposable (after-tax) income with which to make mortgage payments.
How do I become a participating lender?
Loan agents or mortgage brokers who would like to become a participating lender for San Francisco DALP and MCC programs must attend a 2-hour DALP/MCC training and sign theLender Participation Agreement. Each individual loan agent or mortgage broker must attend. If you are mortgage brokers, your loan must fund through one of our participating lenders.
We are not tax advisors. If you have any questions about how your taxes will be affected, consult your tax accountant or call the IRS at 1-(800) 829-3676 or visit their websitewww.irs.gov.