AB 1865: Personal income taxes: exclusion: homeownership savings accounts.

The Personal Income Tax Law, in modified conformity with federal income tax laws, allows various exclusions from gross income, and allows various deductions in computing the income that is subject to the taxes imposed by that law, including miscellaneous itemized deductions that are allowed only to the extent that the aggregate amount of those deductions exceeds 2% of adjusted gross income. generally defines gross income as income from whatever source derived, except as specifically excluded, and provides various exclusions from gross income for purposes of computing tax liability.

This bill, on and after January 1, 2024, and before January 1, 2029, would allow a deduction, not to exceed specified amounts, of the amount a qualified taxpayer, as defined, contributed in any taxable year to a homeownership savings account and would exclude from gross income any income earned on the moneys contributed to a homeownership savings account. The bill would provide that a qualified taxpayer may withdraw amounts from a homeownership savings account to pay for qualified homeownership savings expenses, defined as expenses paid or incurred in connection with the purchase of a principal residence in this state. The bill would provide that any amount withdrawn from that account that is not used for these expenses would be included as income for that taxpayer. The bill would define various terms for its purposes. 2025, and before January 1, 2030, would exclude from gross income any amount accruing to a first-time homeownership savings account, as defined, whose beneficiary is a qualified taxpayer. The bill would also, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, and before January 1, 2030, exclude from gross income any amount withdrawn from a first-time homeownership savings account that is used to pay for qualified homeownership savings expenses of a qualified taxpayer who established the account. The bill would define a first-time homeownership savings account as an account with a financial institution that is designated as a first-time homeownership savings account by the person establishing the account that meets specified requirements.

Existing law requires a bill authorizing a new tax expenditure to contain, among other things, specific goals, purposes, and objectives the tax expenditure will achieve, detailed performance indicators, and data collection requirements.

This bill would include additional information required for any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure.

This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.