Common Sense Housing Investment Act of 2015

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to replace the mortgage interest deduction with a nonrefundable credit for indebtedness secured by a residence, to provide affordable housing to extremely low-income families, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Common Sense Housing Investment Act of 2015 2. Congressional findings The Congress finds the following: (1) Two principal Federal housing goals are to increase the rate of home ownership and make rental housing affordable for low-income families and individuals. (2) Much more progress has been achieved on the first goal than on the second goal. (3) The Federal Government devotes more than three times the amount of budgetary resources to supporting home ownership than it devotes to making affordable rental housing available. (4) The burden of housing costs is more pronounced among renters than among owners. (5) There is a shortage of more than 7 million homes affordable to families in the bottom 20 percent of income, meaning that there are only 30 affordable units for every 100 families. (6) Only one in four families that qualify for rental housing assistance receives benefits. (7) Housing assistance waiting lists can be 10 years long and in many communities are closed. (8) The shortage of rental homes that are affordable for extremely low-income households to be the principal cause of homelessness in the United States. (9) Public housing facilities in the United States have more than $26 billion in deferred maintenance after decades of neglect which results in a loss of 10,000 units each year. (10) The low-income housing tax credit successfully provides 100,000 units of affordable housing every year. (11) Every tax reform commission has recommended capping the mortgage interest deduction and converting it to a fairer and simpler credit. (12) More than 75 percent of the value of the mortgage interest deduction inures to the benefit of the top 20 percent of earners. (13) Fewer than half of tax filers with a home mortgage claim the mortgage interest deduction. (14) Only 9 percent of rural tax filers claim the mortgage interest deduction. (15) Ninety-six percent of homes sold between 2005 and 2013 sold for less than $500,000. (16) A better approach that provides equitable benefits for families who buy homes, enables more low- and moderate-income homeowners to receive a benefit, and invests in affordable rental housing to assist those who used to be homeless or who have extremely or very low incomes is needed to strengthen families and communities. 3. Replacement of mortgage interest deduction with mortgage interest credit (a) Nonrefundable credit Subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 25E. Interest on indebtedness secured by qualified residence (a) Allowance of credit In the case of an individual, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year an amount equal to 15 percent of the qualified residence interest paid or accrued during the taxable year. (b) Qualified residence interest For purposes of this section— (1) In general The term qualified residence interest (A) acquisition indebtedness with respect to any qualified residence of the taxpayer, or (B) home equity indebtedness with respect to any qualified residence of the taxpayer. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the determination of whether any property is a qualified residence of the taxpayer shall be made as of the time the interest is accrued. (2) Overall limitation The aggregate amount of indebtedness taken into account for any period for purposes of this section shall not exceed $500,000 ($250,000 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return). (3) Acquisition indebtedness The term acquisition indebtedness (A) is incurred in acquiring, constructing, or substantially improving any qualified residence of the taxpayer, and (B) is secured by such residence. Such term also includes any indebtedness secured by such residence resulting from the refinancing of indebtedness meeting the requirements of the preceding sentence (or this sentence), but only to the extent the amount of the indebtedness resulting from such refinancing does not exceed the amount of the refinanced indebtedness. (4) Home equity indebtedness (A) In general The term home equity indebtedness (i) the fair market value of such qualified residence, reduced by (ii) the amount of acquisition indebtedness with respect to such residence. (B) Limitation The aggregate amount treated as home equity indebtedness for any period shall not exceed $100,000 ($50,000 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return). (c) Special rules For purposes of this section— (1) Qualified residence The term qualified residence (A) the principal residence (within the meaning of section 121) of the taxpayer, and (B) 1 other residence of the taxpayer which is selected by the taxpayer for purposes of this subsection for the taxable year and which is used by the taxpayer as a residence (within the meaning of section 280A(d)(1)). (2) Married individuals filing separate returns If a married couple does not file a joint return for the taxable year— (A) such couple shall be treated as 1 taxpayer for purposes of paragraph (1), and (B) each individual shall be entitled to take into account 1 residence unless both individuals consent in writing to 1 individual taking into account the principal residence and 1 other residence. (3) Residence not rented For purposes of paragraph (1)(B), notwithstanding section 280A(d)(1), if the taxpayer does not rent a dwelling unit at any time during a taxable year, such unit may be treated as a residence for such taxable year. (4) Unenforceable security interests Indebtedness shall not fail to be treated as secured by any property solely because, under any applicable State or local homestead or other debtor protection law in effect on August 16, 1986, the security interest is ineffective or the enforceability of the security interest is restricted. (5) Special rules for estates and trusts For purposes of determining whether any interest paid or accrued by an estate or trust is qualified residence interest, any residence held by such estate or trust shall be treated as a qualified residence of such estate or trust if such estate or trust establishes that such residence is a qualified residence of a beneficiary who has a present interest in such estate or trust or an interest in the residuary of such estate or trust. (d) Coordination with deduction In the case of any taxable year beginning in calendar years 2015 through 2019, the taxpayer may elect to apply this section in lieu of the deduction under section 163 for qualified residence interest. . (b) Phaseout of deduction Section 163(h) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (6) Phaseout (A) In general In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2014, the amount otherwise allowable as a deduction by reason of paragraph (2)(D) shall be the applicable percentage of such amount. (B) Applicable percentage For purposes of subparagraph (A), the applicable percentage shall be determined in accordance with the following table: For taxable years beginning in calendar year: The applicable 2015 100% 2016 80% 2017 60% 2018 40% 2019 20% 2020 and thereafter 0%. . (c) Phasedown of mortgage limit Subparagraph (B) of section 163(h)(3) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following: (iii) Phasedown (I) In general In the case of any taxable year beginning in calendar years 2015 through 2019, clause (ii) shall be applied by substituting the amounts specified in the table in subclause (II) of this clause for $1,000,000 $500,000 (II) Phasedown amounts For purposes of subclause (I), the amounts specified in this subclause for a taxable year shall be the amounts specified in the following table: For taxable years beginning in calendar year: Amount Amount 2015 $1,000,000 $500,000 2016 $900,000 $450,000 2017 $800,000 $400,000 2018 $700,000 $350,000 2019 $600,000 $300,000. . (d) Clerical amendment The table of sections for subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by inserting after section 25D the following new item: Sec. 25E. Interest on indebtedness secured by qualified residence. . (e) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to interest paid or accrued after December 31, 2014. 4. Deduction allowed for interest and taxes relating to land for dwelling purposes owned or leased by cooperative housing corporations (a) In general Subparagraph (B) of section 216(b)(1) or land, building, (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to amounts paid or accrued after December 31, 2014. 5. Use of mortgage interest savings to increase low-income housing tax credit (a) In general Subclause (I) of section 42(h)(3)(C)(ii) $1.75 ($1.50 for 2001) $2.70 (b) Inflation adjustment Subparagraph (H) of section 42(h)(3) of such Code is amended to read as follows: (H) Cost-of-living adjustment (i) In general In the case of a calendar year after 2002, the $2,000,000 amount in subparagraph (C) shall be increased by an amount equal to— (I) such dollar amount, multiplied by (II) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for such calendar year by substituting calendar year 2001 calendar year 1992 (ii) Per capita amount In the case of a calendar year after 2015, the $2.70 amount in subparagraph (C) shall be increased by an amount equal to— (I) such dollar amount, multiplied by (II) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for such calendar year by substituting calendar year 2014 calendar year 1992 (iii) Rounding (I) In the case of the $2,000,000 amount, any increase under clause (i) which is not a multiple of $5,000 shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $5,000. (II) In the case of the $2.70 amount, any increase under clause (ii) which is not a multiple of 5 cents shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of 5 cents. . (c) Eligible basis Clause (i) of section 42(d)(5)(B) of such Code is amended by striking and , and (III) in the case of a building containing units which are designated to serve extremely low-income households by the State housing credit agency and require the increase in credit under this subparagraph in order for such building to be financially feasible as part of a qualified low-income housing project, the eligible basis of such building determined by the portion of such units shall be 150 percent of such basis determined without regard to this subparagraph. . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to allocations made in calendar years beginning after December 31, 2014. 6. Use of mortgage interest savings for affordable housing programs (a) Use of savings For each year, the Secretary of the Treasury shall determine the amount of revenues accruing to the general fund of the Treasury by reason of the enactment of section 3 of this Act that remain after use of such revenues in accordance with section 5 of this Act and shall credit an amount equal to such remaining revenues as follows: (1) Housing Trust Fund The Secretary shall credit the Housing Trust Fund established under section 1338 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 ( 12 U.S.C. 4568 (2) Section 8 rental assistance The Secretary shall credit an amount equal to 30 percent of the amount of such remaining revenues to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for use only for providing tenant- and project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f (3) Public Housing Capital Fund The Secretary shall credit an amount equal to 10 percent of the amount of such remaining revenues to the Public Housing Capital Fund under section 9(d) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437g(d) (b) Changes to Housing Trust Fund Not later than the expiration of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall revise the regulations relating to the Housing Trust Fund established under section 1338 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 ( 12 U.S.C. 4568 (1) to increase the limitation on amounts from the Fund that are available for use for operating assistance for housing; (2) to allow public housing agencies and tribally designated housing entities to be recipient of grants amounts from the Fund that are allocated to a State or State designated entity; and (3) eliminate the applicability of rules for the Fund that are based on the HOME Investment Partnerships Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.

Summary: Common Sense Housing Investment Act of 2015 Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax deduction for mortgage interest, to: (1) allow, in lieu of such deduction, a tax credit for 15% of mortgage interest paid in a taxable year for the taxpayer's principal residence and one other residence; (2) provide for a phaseout of the tax deduction for mortgage interest between 2016 and 2020; (3) allow a deduction for interest and taxes relating to land for dwelling purposes owned or leased by cooperative housing corporations; and (4) increase the state housing credit ceiling for the low-income housing tax credit. Directs the Department of the Treasury to apply the savings from the enactment of this Act to the Housing Trust Fund, for assistance under the Section 8 low-income housing program, and for the Public Housing Capital Fund.