Assuming you qualify, you are exempt from paying recordation taxes at settlement. You’re also exempt from paying real property taxes for the first five years you live in your home, beginning the next full tax year after filing.

For properties under $400,000, you are exempt from the 1.1% (of the purchase price) recordation tax and customarily receive a credit for the seller’s 1.1% (of the purchase price) transfer tax at settlement. That amounts to a 2.2% swing at settlement in favor of the qualified homebuyer!

For properties $400,000 and above, you are exempt from the 1.45% (of the purchase price) recordation tax and customarily receive a credit for the seller’s 1.45% (of the purchase price) transfer tax at settlement. That amounts to a 2.9% swing

You must be domiciled in the District of Columbia to qualify for DC Tax Abatement.

To be domiciled in the District of Columbia you must:

• (a) Obtain a DC government-issued ID such as a DC Driver’s license;
• (b) Register to vote in DC; and
• (c) File DC Personal Income taxes

NOTE: THE PURCHASER CAN OBTAIN/DO THE ABOVE MENTIONED AFTER THE PURCHASE.

Yes

Your settlement agent, such as the team at Federal Title, will file the required documents with the deed after closing.

The settlement company handling your closing will know immediately, because your deed will go on record without transfer and recordation taxes.

You will also receive a letter from the District of Columbia confirming that you qualified for the tax abatement and list the years you will be exempt from property tax.

Yes. Even though military housing allowance

The DC Recorder of Deeds looks at all sources of income, not just taxable income. And you need to be domiciled in the District of Columbia which includes filing DC income taxes. You can fill out and file a form to change your residency to the District of Columbia.

It’s very likely.

Income of all household members over the age of 18 is used to determine eligibility for DC Tax Abatement, even if a household member that is living at the property is not on the title of the property. Another common example involves adult children still living at home.

On the other hand, the household income limit increases with the size of the household, so there’s a chance you may still qualify. Review the chart above under “Income restrictions” and read “Household income a factor on DC Tax Abatement application” for more information.

The real property tax exemption does not start until the next full tax year.

In other words, if you settle in April 2015 and the tax period for 2015 is October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015, you will not be given the exemption until the 2016 tax period. You will be required to pay real property taxes for April through September 2015. Your real property tax exemption will start 2016 and finish 2021.

You can apply for DC Tax Abatement after the fact up the three years from the date of settlement, according to the Recorder of Deeds office.