New Tax Credit Programs Introduced: MIHTC & NHTC
Aug. 19, 2021 (WASHINGTON) – Sweeping housing legislation announced today in the U.S. Senate would enhance the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) and introduced the middle-income housing tax credit (MIHTC) and neighborhood homes tax credit (NHTC).
The “DASH Act” aka Decent, Affordable, Safe Housing for All would provide an expansion of 9% LIHTC annual allocation, provide a 50% basis boost for properties for extremely low-income renters; reduce for four years the 50% financed-by test for tax-exempt-bond-financed properties, provide a potential 30% difficult development area basis boost for rural and Indian properties.
The bill, introduced by Senate Finance Committee Ronald Wyden (D-Oregon) would also create a 5% and 2% MIHTC for rental properties serving tenants with incomes between 60% and 100% of the area median income (AMI), create an NHTC worth up to 35% of the qualified development cost or 80% of the national median sale price for new homes, whichever is less; create a renter’s tax credit for affordable housing operators who provide housing to tenants with monthly incomes below 30% of the AMI; and create a first-time homebuyer refundable credit for 20% of the purchase price of a home up to $15,000. Senator Wyden said “Housing is a human right. Yet, millions of Americans pay more than half of their monthly take-home pay to keep a roof over their head. And more than half a million Americans don’t have housing at all,” Wyden said. “America is amidst a serious crisis of housing affordability, and it’s a big challenge that demands big, bold solutions. As housing prices skyrocket, a generation of young people are increasingly locked out of homeownership. It’s time America’s lawmakers get with the program and enact 21st century housing policies that adequately address 21st century challenges.”