

President Donald Trump has voiced his support for a bill introduced by Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) that would eliminate the federal capital gains tax on primary home sales.
Trump was asked by reporters on Sunday for his thoughts on the “No Tax On Home Sales Act” and how it might impact home ownership.
Trump told the press, “We’re looking at that, and it’s going to be—it could be a very big positive,” adding, “But I think it’s going to be a great incentive for a lot of people that really need money.”
Currently the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) puts a levy on the value that’s accrued between the purchase and sale of a home–also known as a capital gain.
However, IRS rules say that this is only the case if a home increases in value by $250,000, or $500,000, if filing jointly.
In order to qualify for the exclusion, an individual must have lived in the home for at least two out of the last five years.
Rep. Greene’s bill aims to eliminate the capital gains tax on primary residences in its entirety, as she notes that the exemptible amount of $250,000-$500,000 hasn’t been update since 1997 and has resulted in middle class homeowners “being hit with capital gains taxes that were originally intended for wealthy investors” as home prices have risen.
In a press release last week, Greene stated,”Families who work hard, build equity, and sell their homes should not be punished with massive tax bills. The capital gains tax on home sales is an outdated, unfair burden—especially in today’s housing market, where values have skyrocketed. My bill fixes that.”
Greene argues that her bill will free up inventory and encourage home sales by removing a “key disincentive to selling” and allowing homeowners to relocate or to downsize without being penalized for their home having appreciated in value.
Critics of the proposed bill say that it will primarily benefit wealthy families while further reducing federal revenue.
The bill has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee for further review.