S form to report your capital gains. You could owe capital gains tax if you sell a home that has appreciated in value because it is a capital asset.Exemption applications must be filed with your local assessor's office. See our Municipal Profiles for your local assessor's mailing address. Will the government impose an income tax on the sale of your home, similar to the way you pay taxes on the earnings from your job? Get answers to frequently asked questions about capital gains, losses and the sale of your home. If you want to make a profit from the sale of your house, you will owe capital gains taxes. However, there are some legal methods to minimize those taxes. Some homeowners may be able to avoid paying capital gains tax on their profit because of an IRS exemption rule called the Section 121 exclusion. How capital gains taxes on home sales work.