Almost everyone needs to borrow money from time to time and it makes sense to do your homework before jumping into a big loan commitment. Were you aware that when you borrow money you could actually be reducing the amount of taxes you have to pay to the government? Surprisingly, not all loans are equal when it comes times to look at your tax situation. Some loans can give you a tax credit which shrinks the income tax you owe and other kinds of loans can give you a tax deduction which reduces your taxable income. Here’s a simple guide to which loans may give you for a tax deduction, though obviously individual cases will be different.
Student Loans: The interest you pay on many student loans can only be deducted if you make under a certain amount of money, based on your individual filing status. Did you know that some loans you take out for education could give you a tax advantage? You can, in some cases, deduct the interest you paid on the loan from your federal taxes. Not all school loans are eligible for this, but it’s a good way to decrease the taxes you pay, especially if you’re a struggling student with a limited income.
House Mortgages: For most taxpayers their home is the largest purchase they ever make, and paying a home loan can actually be a good way to reduce the amount of money you owe on your federal taxes each year. Most home loans are designed so that you can deduct the amount of interest you pay on the loan every year. Out of all the loans that have tax deductions associated with them, house mortgages are probably the most well-known. Since most home loans are set up to be paid over 30 years, that means that buying a house can give you 30 years of potential tax deductions.
Home Equity Loans (HELOC): A home equity loan used to improve your home could eventually raise the value of your home and give you even more equity in the long run. If your home is more valuable now than when you bought it then you might be able to take out a home equity loan and deduct the interest you pay on that borrowed money. There are some restrictions about how much of your loan’s interest actually qualifies for a tax deduction. You can use a home equity loan for a variety of things, you may be able to get additional tax deductions by using the money for home upgrades. For many people part of the cost of a HELOC can be balanced out with home remodeling tax deductions.
Sometimes applying for the right kind of loan can definitely save you thousands of dollars on your income taxes, so it’s worth investing a little bit of time and energy to look into what sort of tax credits you qualify for. There are, of course, a lot of variables between these loans. Not everyone will be eligible for all the different tax credits that these loans may offer. Sometimes your income, the amount of money you want to borrow and the reason of the loan will limit the amount of money you can deduct from your taxes in any given year. Before you take out any of these loans you may want to speak with your tax professional to make sure the tax benefits apply to your individual situation.
Need to learn more about the ins and outs of home loans? Visit our site to learn more about how to modify a home loan, upside-downmortgages and the home buyer tax credit extension.