How do I get my $8000 tax credit and do I have to pay it back?

Simply put, if you normally get a tax refund from the IRS, you can expect to get your homebuyer credit IN ADDITION to the amount of your usual refund. If you don’t get a refund normally and don’t owe the IRS anything either, you’ll get a check for your full homebuyer credit. If you usually owe the IRS money, your homebuyer credit will be applied to the amount you owe and you will get a check for the difference (or no check at all if what you owe is more than the credit). And NO, you DO NOT have to pay this credit back!