I 'd suggest that you call and ask. I'm in Canada and am not familiar with the term. We have first time home buyers credit but we don't give anyone a break the second time around.

From what I heard, if you have lived in your present house for more than 5 years, you are entitled to the 'step-up' home credit. It doesn't have to be your first house. You would be eligible without involving your wife at all.

Jane

Actually you may be eligible for the larger first time buyers credit IF your wife has never owned a home in her name or has not done so for the past 3 years. It will take a few days for all the details to come out, but expect you will be eligible for the $6500 credit.

I don't know what details have changed, but when I last checked, we did not qualify since Tom bought this house. Have you asked your agent? They should know offhand.

I don't even know if the first time buyer credit has officially been extended yet. I wouldn't count on your RE agent to know if you qualify. I work in a RE office andmost of the agents my office could not answer your question. You will need to talk to a tax professional.

It has been extended through next summer, but the OP would be eligible for the repeat buyer, not first-time buyer, credit (as he noted). I don't think the fact that his wife wasn't on the first deed matters, since I know with the first-time buyer credit they review both histories; I assume they would do that for the repeat buyer credit as well. You could email the program coordinators with the question, though, since it's a relatively common situation so others may be wondering too.

Full details are here:
http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/

As far as my understanding Artemis is correct.

On married couples they look at both buyers.

I'm not sure of the details when lets say, in your situation your wife was the only one on the new deed and you were filing married filing seperately.