For Example Lets Take A Look At Sallys Mortgage
This image is for illustrative purposes only
On December 31, 2019, Sally took out a $200,000 mortgage at a 4% interest rate. Using a mortgage calculator, well say Sally paid $7,280 in loan interest for 2020. In that same year, she paid $2,000 in property taxes. Mortgage interest and property taxes are deducted on Schedule A of Form 1040. You can read more about the fine print on home mortgage interest deduction in IRS Publication 936.
Ira Withdrawals With No Tax Penalty
Using retirement funds to buy a house is not only possible, its an option that the IRS supports by making it possible to do so while avoiding any tax penalties. In most scenarios, you would have to pay at least two tax penalties if you withdrew funds from an Individual Retirement Account before you turn 59½: income tax as well as a 10% additional penalty. But if you use the money to buy a house, you wont have to pay the 10% early-withdrawal penalty.
What happened to the first-time homebuyer tax credit?
The First-time Homebuyer tax credit offered homebuyers up to $8,000 and was in effect from 2008 to 2010, but it no longer exists. This tax credit wont apply to any home purchase that took place after May 1, 2010.
Misconception : You Will Get A Tax Break
Despite the hype, the overwhelming majority of homeowners receive no tax break at all from the mortgage interest tax deduction. Keep in mind that to even qualify for the deduction, homeowners must itemize their deductions when determining their income tax liability. Itemizing provides an opportunity to account for specific expenses, including mortgage interest, property taxes, and partial medical expenses. As mortgage interest is often the largest of these expenses that a taxpayer pays, deducting it is often cited as a financial incentive to buy a home.
Once again, while an attractive idea in theory, the reality is that passage of the TCJA means that itemizing deductions no longer makes sense for most people.
For taxpayers who are single or married but filing separately, the standard deduction is $12,950 in 2022 . For heads of households, it is $19,400 in 2022 . For married couples filing jointly, the standard deduction is $25,900 in 2022 .
Taxpayers who do not have deductions that add up to more than the standard deduction amounts would not need to itemize, and, therefore, derive no tax benefit from paying interest on their mortgages.
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Mortgage Interest Deduction Example
So how do you decide which one to do? It all comes down to which method saves you more money. If your standard deduction saves you more money than your itemized deduction, take the standard deduction. Or vice versa.
Heres an example. You itemize the following deductions as a single individual: mortgage interest , student loan interest and charitable donations . These deductions add up to $8,200. In this case, you would want to take the standard deduction of $12,550 instead, because an additional $4,350 would be deducted from your taxable income.
Now lets say your mortgage interest is $11,000 and the other deductions remain the same. Your itemized deductions would total $13,200. In this case, you would want to take the itemized deduction, because it reduces your taxable income $650 more than the standard deduction would.
Dont forget: If youre paying someone to prepare your taxes for you, it may cost more to have them itemize your taxes since this requires more work. Make sure you factor in the extra cost when deciding which method saves you the most money.
One of the most important things to know about taking either the itemized or standard deduction is that you cannot take both. You must choose one or the other.
What Can You Deduct

What you can deduct depends on your particular financial circumstances. However, in general, you can deduct any mortgage interest that you pay , any points you had to pay to get your mortgage or to pre-pay interest, and any property taxes you pay. In the past homeowners were able to deduct interest paid on up to $100,000 of home equity loan debt for any reason, but the 2018 tax law no longer allows the deduction of interest paid on HELOCs and home equity debt unless it is obtained to build or substantially improve the homeowner’s dwelling.
Tax deductions are not the same as credits. At the end of the year, you deduct the interest from your taxable income, reducing your overall tax burden. Therefore, if your taxable income is $50,000 and you paid $5,000 in mortgage interest, your taxable income would be reduced to $45,000. Your taxes will then be calculated based on the appropriate percentage of your income for your tax bracket.
In contrast, a tax credit would deduct $5,000 from the amount of taxes you owe or would give you $5,000 if you owed no taxes.
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What Are The Tax Savings Generated By My Mortgage
With the interest on a mortgage being deductible when you itemize deductions, it may surprise you how much you can save in taxes. Use this calculator to determine your potential tax savings with a mortgage.
This information may help you analyze your financial needs. It is based on information and assumptions provided by you regarding your goals, expectations and financial situation. The calculations do not infer that the company assumes any fiduciary duties. The calculations provided should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice. In addition, such information should not be relied upon as the only source of information. This information is supplied from sources we believe to be reliable but we cannot guarantee its accuracy. Hypothetical illustrations may provide historical or current performance information. Past performance does not guarantee nor indicate future results.
What Is The Mortgage Interest Deduction
The mortgage interest deduction is a tax deduction for mortgage interest paid on the first $1 million of mortgage debt. Homeowners who bought houses after Dec. 15, 2017, can deduct interest on the first $750,000 of the mortgage. Claiming the mortgage interest deduction requires itemizing on your tax return.
Heres a look at how it works and how you can save money at tax time.
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Standard Deduction Amounts 2022
$25,900 | $27,700 |
If the deductions you qualify for as a homeowner are higher than the standard deduction amount tied to your tax filing status, then it may make more sense for you to itemize your deductions otherwise, the standard deduction may work in your favor. Consult your tax professional for specific guidance.
Tax Strategies For Homeowners
Once you’ve crunched the numbers, you can see that you receive only pennies for every dollar you spend on home mortgage interest. Consequently, it’s not financially expedient for most homeowners to squander thousands of dollars on mortgage interest every year in the name of tax savings.
Instead, most homeowners would receive a larger financial benefit from making a bigger cash payment up front. More cash up front means thousands of dollars saved in interest down the road. You will also avoid PMI premiums by making a down payment of at least 20 percent, and many lenders are more inclined to offer lower interest rates to borrowers with large down payments.
Knowing how to estimate your tax savings from mortgage interest will help you make an informed decision about whether buying a home is the most financially expedient option for you. Following the steps here will also reveal whether the standard deduction or itemized deductions will save you the most on next year’s tax bill. Whatever your tax savings, keep in mind that it still makes the most sense to minimize the interest you pay on any loan, including mortgages.
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Mortgage Interest Deduction: Doing The Math
The only way to determine if the MID is worth the trouble is to do the math and estimate your annual savings. To figure out your first-year tax savings, you will need to know the following: mortgage amount, mortgage term, interest rate, federal tax rate, and state tax rate. With that information in hand, follow this step-by-step guide to estimating your MID tax savings:
How To Deduct Mortgage Points On Your Tax Return
OVERVIEW
If you ever decide to take the plunge and buy a home, your mortgage will likely be the largest debt you’ll ever take on. And as part of owning a home, you may be faced with fees in terms of mortgage points. However, paying mortgage points can sometimes make good financial sense, and you can often deduct points on your taxes.
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What Does A Mortgage Calculator Do
A mortgage payment calculator determines what your expected monthly payment for a home would be given the variable details you include.
The calculator will estimate such items as:
- Principal and interest
- Tax and insurance
These outputs are all influenced by other factors, such as the current market, your credit score, income, and debt.
Its common among home buyers to not be fully aware of how much you may have to pay on your monthly mortgage paymentsits pretty complex to determine.
A mortgage calculator is a great tool because it allows home buyers to gain insight into their financials and what they can expect, as a great jumping off point for conversation with a lender.
Other Deductions And Future Changes

The four deductions listed above are the most frequently used deductions. However, there are other deductions that you may qualify to receive. It is a good idea to look at your complete tax picture with a professional when itemizing, so you do not miss out on any advantages or tax incentives for homeowners.
Also, rules governing itemized tax deductions consistently change. If itemizing your deductions is your best option this year, it may not be in years to come. It’s important to keep up with tax changes that pertain to home ownership so that you may always take advantage of what’s available.
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Determine How Much Home You Can Afford
One of the most basic, but important benefits of a mortgage payment calculator is to find out how much you can reasonably spend on your new home.
In some cases, a buyer will start looking at homes and they may have their heart set on something out of their price range.
If you start the process with a mortgage payment calculator, then youll know your exact price range and can move forward in confidence.
Im Pleased With The Result What Next
If you’re satisfied with the calculators result , the next step is to get in touch with potential lenders and begin the process of obtaining a mortgage loan. But rather than do that yourself, why not let us do the hard part for you? Simply click “Get FREE Quote,” answer a few brief questions and our trusted lending partners will evaluate your financial profile and contact you directly with their best offers. It couldn’t be easier the lenders come to you, so you dont need to go to them!
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What Is The Home Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction
The mortgage interest deduction lets you subtract an amount of interest you pay on your mortgage from your taxable income when you file your tax return. The deduction can save you money on your tax bill.
While there is a limit on the amount of the loan, the deduction includes interest on any loan related to building, buying or improving your primary residence. You can also claim it for rental property or second homes that you own with some limitations.
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The above article is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public it does not give personalized tax, investment, legal, or other business and professional advice. Before taking any action, you should always seek the assistance of a professional who knows your particular situation for advice on taxes, your investments, the law, or any other business and professional matters that affect you and/or your business.
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How To Claim The Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction On Your Tax Return
To claim the mortgage interest tax deduction, you will need to itemize your deductions using the Schedule A from the IRS in addition to the standard Form 1040.
When to Use Additional IRS Forms for Mortgage Interest Deductions
- Schedule C
- Use Schedule C if you have a home office where you conduct business or if you use money from your mortgage for business purposes. The Schedule C form covers profits and losses for self-owned businesses.
- Schedule E
- Schedule E is for reporting the supplemental income you receive from real estate. Use this form to claim a mortgage interest deduction on rental properties you own.
You will need to list your mortgage interest as an expense on both Schedule C and E.
Your tax forms, tax preparation software or your tax professional can walk you through the steps you need to take to claim the mortgage interest tax deduction.
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Interest On A Mortgage For Your Main Home
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The property can be a house, co-op, apartment, condo, mobile home, house trailer or a houseboat.
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The home has to be collateral for the loan.
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The home must have sleeping, cooking and toilet facilities to count.
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If you get a nontaxable housing allowance from the military or through the ministry, you can still deduct your home mortgage interest.
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A mortgage that you get in order to buy out your exs half of the house in a divorce counts.
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Interest On The Mortgage For Your Main Home
This property can be a house, co-op, apartment, condo, mobile home, houseboat or similar property. However, the property will not qualify if it doesnt have basic living accommodations, including sleeping, cooking and bathroom facilities. The property must also be listed as collateral for the loan youre deducting interest payments from. You can also use this deduction if you got a mortgage to buy out an exs half of the property in a divorce.
You can still deduct mortgage interest if you receive a non-taxable housing allowance from the military or through a ministry or if you have received assistance under a State Housing Finance Agency Hardest Hit Fund, an Emergency Homeowners Loan Program or other assistance programs. However, you can only deduct the interest you pay. You cannot deduct any interest that another entity pays for you.
Interest On The Mortgage For A Second Home

You can use this tax deduction on a mortgage for a home that is not your primary residence as long as the second home is listed as collateral for that mortgage. If you rent out your second home, there is another caveat. You must live in the home for more than 14 days or more than 10% of the days you rent it out whichever is longer. If you have more than one second home, you can only deduct the interest for one.
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Miracle Cure: The Mortgage Interest Deduction
Thanks to a law passed all the way back in 1913 , most of the interest paid onhome mortgage loans is eligible for the mortgage interest deduction. Its not as complicated as it sounds: any income you spend can be subtracted from your total taxable income, which in turn lowers the amount you pay in income taxes.
So, lets say for example that you make $75,000 this year and spend $10,000 of that on mortgage interestthats about the amount you would spend in the first year of a $250,000 mortgage with a 4% interest rate. By taking the mortgage interest deduction, your taxable income would fall to $65,000. Assuming your marginal tax rate is 25%, you could save $2,500 in taxes, just like that!
Even with a more modest $150,000 mortgage, you could still save on the order of $1,500 in income taxes taking this deduction in your first year of paying off the mortgage. Thats a lot of money, but keep in mind that your yearly savings from the mortgage interest deduction will fall over time. This is a natural result of the amortization of your loan. As you pay off your mortgage, a smaller portion of each payment goes toward interest, so theres less interest to deduct.