The income tax exemption on mortgage debt forgiven in a short sale or a workout for principal residences expired at the end of 2013. Without immediate action by Congress, distressed homeowners will have to pay tax on "phantom income" from forgiven debt. NAR has launched a nationwide Call for Action on "The Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act." This bill would extend an expired provision that has helped millions of distressed American families by allowing tax relief for homeowners when lenders forgive some portion of the mortgage debt they owe.

New York currently has an 11-percent response rate. Please take action now on this very important issue!