Your home isn’t just your castle; it is also a source of tax deductions. Yet, every year, Americans let these potential tax deductions pass by, not realizing how to take advantage of them. Complicating matters, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 has made major changes to the tax breaks that every homeowner should know.
IRS Publication 530, titled “Tax Information for Homeowners”, can fill you in on the deductions that are available to you for the 2018 tax year. Several of the most important tax benefits are listed below.
- Mortgage Interest – This should be the largest home-related tax deduction that is available to you. If you bought your home before December 15, 2017, you can deduct interest payments on either primary or secondary homes, up to the limit of $1 million in collective mortgage debt if married and filing jointly, or $500,000 for single filers or married couples filing separately. Under the new tax law, if you purchased your home on or after December 15, 2017, you may only deduct interest payments on up to $750,000 in mortgage debt.
The mortgage interest deduction applies to anything that meets the definition of a basic living space that you own. Condominiums, mobile homes, and even boats are included assuming that they meet the living space definition with at least one sleeping area, a kitchen, and a toilet. Details may be found in IRS Publication 936, “Home Mortgage Interest Deduction.” - Points – Any points that you paid at closing to lower the interest rate on your mortgage are deductible. Generally, the deductions must be amortized over the life of the mortgage, but there are circumstances where you may be able to deduct the entire amount of your points paid in the year of purchase.
- Property Taxes – You can deduct real estate taxes that are assessed uniformly (no taxes that reflect a special privilege or a service granted to you). Property taxes associated with the purchase of a home may also be deducted. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the deduction is capped at a total of $10,000 for all property taxes, sales tax, and state and local taxes starting in 2018.
- Mortgage Interest Credit – Typically, mortgage interest is taken as a deduction. However, if you have a qualifying low income, you can claim mortgage interest as a credit instead. This subtracts the total directly from your tax bill instead of from your taxable income used to determine your tax bill. To claim this credit, you must have received a qualified Mortgage Credit Certificate from a suitable state or local agency. File Form 8396 along with your tax form to claim your credit.
- Home Equity Loans – If you borrowed against your home equity in 2018 or prior, either with a loan or a line of credit (HELOC), the interest may be deductible only if you used the funds to “buy, build or substantially improve” your main home and second home. This loan counts towards your total qualified residence debt, which includes your mortgage and is capped at $750,000.
Check the IRS publications and see if any of these valuable deductions apply to you. Take advantage of every tax deduction that you can. Otherwise, the government simply keeps more of your money.
Failing to pay your taxes or a penalty you owe could negatively impact your credit score.