Veterans Homebuyer Accessibility Act of 2015

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit for veteran first-time homebuyers and for adaptive housing and mobility improvements for disabled veterans, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Homebuyer Accessibility Act of 2015 2. Veteran first-time homebuyer tax credit (a) In general Subsection (a) of section 36 (a) Allowance of credit In the case of an eligible veteran who purchases a principal residence in the United States during the taxable year, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this subtitle for such taxable year an amount equal to 10 percent of the purchase price of the residence. . (b) Additional limitation for adaptive housing improvements (1) In general Paragraph (1) of section 36(b) of such Code is amended by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) as subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E), respectively, and by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph: (B) Special rule for adaptive housing improvements In the case of a principal residence with special fixtures or movable facilities made necessary by the nature of the disability of the veteran, if such fixtures and facilities are— (i) provided to the veteran pursuant to specially adapted housing assistance under chapter 17 or 21 of title 38, United States Code, or (ii) similar to such fixtures and facilities that would be provided to the veteran if the veteran received such assistance, then subparagraph (A) shall be increased by the lesser of $8,000 or the portion of the purchase price of the principal residence attributable such fixtures or movable facilities. . (2) Conforming amendments (A) Subparagraph (D) of section 36(b)(1) of such Code, as redesignated by paragraph (1), is amended by striking $8,000 the sum of the limitations under subparagraphs (A) and (B) (B) Subparagraph (E) of section 36(b)(1) of such Code, as redesignated by paragraph (1), is amended by striking subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) subparagraphs (A) and (C) (c) Eligible veteran (1) In general Paragraph (1) of section 36(c) of such Code is amended by striking First-time homebuyer. first time homebuyer Eligible veteran. eligible veteran (2) Long-time resident Paragraph (6) of section 36(c) of such Code is amended by striking treated as a first-time homebuyer treated as meeting the no present ownership interest requirement of paragraph (1) (d) Recapture of credit Subsection (f) of section 36 of such Code is amended to read as follows: (f) Recapture of credit (1) In general If a taxpayer disposes of the principal residence with respect to which a credit was allowed under subsection (a) (or such residence ceases to be the principal residence of the taxpayer (and, if married, the taxpayer’s spouse)) before the end of the 36-month period beginning on the date of the purchase of such residence by the taxpayer the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year of such disposition or cessation shall be increased by the amount of the credit so allowed. (2) Exceptions (A) Death of taxpayer Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any taxable year ending after the date of the taxpayer’s death. (B) Involuntary conversion Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case of a residence which is compulsorily or involuntarily converted (within the meaning of section 1033(a)) if the taxpayer acquires a new principal residence during the 2-year period beginning on the date of the disposition or cessation referred to in paragraph (1). Paragraph (1) shall apply to such new principal residence during the 36-month period referred to therein in the same manner as if such new principal residence were the converted residence. (C) Transfers between spouses or incident to divorce In the case of a transfer of a residence to which section 1041(a) applies— (i) paragraph (1) shall not apply to such transfer, and (ii) in the case of taxable years ending after such transfer, paragraph (1) shall apply to the transferee in the same manner as if such transferee were the transferor (and shall not apply to the transferor). (D) Special rule for members of the Armed Forces, etc (i) In general In the case of the disposition of a principal residence by an individual (or a cessation referred to in paragraph (1)) in connection with Government orders received by such individual, or such individual’s spouse, for qualified official extended duty service, paragraph (1) shall not apply to such disposition (or cessation). (ii) Qualified official extended duty service For purposes of this section, the term qualified official extended duty service (I) a member of the uniformed services, (II) a member of the Foreign Service of the United States, or (III) an employee of the intelligence community. (iii) Definitions Any term used in this subparagraph which is also used in paragraph (9) of section 121(d) shall have the same meaning as when used in such paragraph. (3) Joint returns In the case of a credit allowed under subsection (a) with respect to a joint return, half of such credit shall be treated as having been allowed to each individual filing such return for purposes of this subsection. (4) Return requirement If the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year is increased under this subsection, the taxpayer shall, notwithstanding section 6012, be required to file a return with respect to the taxes imposed under this subtitle. . (e) Application of credit Subsection (h) of section 36 of such Code is amended to read as follows: (h) Termination This section shall not apply to any residence purchased after December 31, 2017. . (f) Assignment of credit in case of construction Section 36 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (i) Credit may be assigned (1) In general In the case of a residence constructed by the taxpayer, if such taxpayer elects the application of this subsection for any taxable year, any portion of the credit determined under this section which is attributable to an increase under subparagraph (B) of subsection (b)(1) for such year which would (but for this subsection) be allowable to the taxpayer may be assigned to any person who is an eligible designee. The person so designated shall be allowed the amount of the credit so assigned and shall be treated as the taxpayer with respect to such credit for purposes of this title (other than this paragraph), except that such credit shall be treated as a credit listed in section 38(b) for such taxable year (and not allowed under subsection (a)). (2) Eligible designee For purposes of paragraph (1), the term eligible designee (3) Election requirements Any election under paragraph (1) shall include such information and shall be made at such time, and in such form and manner, as the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe. . (g) Conforming amendments (1) Section 38(b) of such Code is amended by striking plus , plus (37) the portion of the veteran first-time homebuyer credit assigned to the taxpayer to which the second sentence of section 36(i)(1) applies, . (2) The heading for section 1400C(e)(4) of such Code is amended by striking national first-time homebuyers credit veteran first-time homebuyers credit (h) Clerical amendments (1) The heading for section 36 of such Code is amended to read as follows: 36. Veteran first-time homebuyer credit . (2) The item relating to section 36 in the table of sections for subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended to read as follows: Sec. 36. Veteran first-time homebuyer credit. . (i) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to residences purchased after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Veteran home mobility improvement credit (a) In general Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 36C. Veteran home mobility improvement credit (a) In general In the case of a veteran, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this subtitle for any taxable year an amount equal to the amount paid or incurred by the taxpayer for qualified adaptive housing improvements for the taxable year. (b) Limitation The credit allowed under subsection (a) shall not exceed $8,000. (c) Qualified adaptive housing improvement For purposes of this section, the term qualified adaptive housing improvement (1) provided to the veteran pursuant to specially adapted housing assistance under chapter 17 or 21 of title 38, United States Code, or (2) similar to such fixtures and facilities that would be provided to the veteran if the veteran received such assistance. (d) Credit may be assigned (1) In general If the taxpayer elects the application of this subsection for any taxable year, any portion of the credit under this section for such year which would (but for this subsection) be allowable to the taxpayer may be assigned to any person who is an eligible designee. The person so designated shall be allowed the amount of the credit so assigned and shall be treated as the taxpayer with respect to such credit for purposes of this title (other than this paragraph), except that such credit shall be treated as a credit listed in section 38(b) for such taxable year (and not allowed under subsection (a)). (2) Eligible designee For purposes of paragraph (1), the term eligible designee (3) Election requirements Any election under paragraph (1) shall include such information and shall be made at such time, and in such form and manner, as the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe. . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Section 1324(b)(2) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting 36C, 36B, (2) Section 38(b) plus , and (38) the portion of the veteran home mobility improvement credit assigned to the taxpayer to which the second sentence of section 36C(d)(1) applies. . (3) The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 Sec. 36C. Veteran home mobility improvement credit. . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015.

Summary: Veterans Homebuyer Accessibility Act of 2015 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for first-time homebuyers, to: (1) allow a veteran of the Armed Forces a tax credit for 10% of the purchase price of a principal residence purchased prior to January 1, 2018; (2) allow an additional tax credit for the cost, not exceeding $8,000 in a taxable year, of installing special fixtures or movable facilities in a residence to accommodate a disability of the veteran; and (3) require a recapture of credit amounts if the veteran sells such residence within 36 months after purchasing it.