Home Owner Tax Breaks for Huntsville AL

With the tax code constantly changing, first-time home buyers need to educate themselves to understand year-to-year changes.  As an incentive to buy homes, the government provides tax breaks to existing and new home owners.  Home owners receive multiple tax deductions, tax credits and other breaks that aren’t available to those who rent.  If you bought your first home in 2017, it is smart to familiarize yourself with current home owner tax breaks so you can take advantage of them and save some money.

1. HOME MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION

The mortgage interest deduction is one of the largest home tax breaks and is a significant new home owner tax credit.  It covers interest paid on loans of up to $1 million, or $500,000 if you’re married but filing a separate return. This deduction can especially benefit borrowers with new loans because interest changes on mortgages are typically steeper in the early years of the mortgage’s term. Don’t miss out on this money saving tax credit.  Your loan provider should send you a form 1098 which will show how much interest you paid the previous year. Home Mortgage Interest Deduction

2. MORTGAGE INTEREST CREDIT

The federal government's mortgage interest credit provides another chance for first-time home buyers to claim a tax break for the mortgage interest they paid. Unlike the mortgage interest deduction, which reduces your taxable income, this mortgage interest credit directly counts against your tax bill, lowering what you owe.  To be eligible for this tax break, a state or local government must have issued you a MORTGAGE CREDIT CERTIFICATE.  Typically, this certificate is issued when you originate your mortgage.  It tells you how much interest you can claim as a credit.  If you also claim a mortgage interest deduction when you file your taxes, you must reduce the credit by that amount.

3. MORTGAGE POINTS DEDUCTION

You can also deduct what you pay in points to obtain the mortgage loan in the first place. Mortgage points are prepaid interest that can help a borrower qualify for a lower interest rate over the life of the loan. How to Deduct Mortgage Points on Your Tax Return

4. TAX FREE IRA WITHDRAWALS

Saving money for a down payment and closing costs is something many people must do when buying a home. The IRS says you can pull funds from your IRA to help. You can take up to $10,000 from your IRA without penalty to buy a home, although you'll still need to pay taxes on the money. Your 401k plan does not qualify for the exception to the 10 percent penalty. Using Your IRA to Purchase a Home

5. PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTION

Property taxes are one of the many advantageous tax breaks for first-time home buyers. You can deduct property taxes paid during the year for which you're filing. If you purchase a home midway through the tax year, you can claim all taxes paid from the date of sale onward. Claiming Property Tax Deductions

6. HOME IMPROVEMENT TAX BREAKS

Improvements you make to a home can qualify for a tax break. If you use a home equity loan or other loan secured by your home to finance improvements, the loan will qualify for the same mortgage interest deductions as your main mortgage.  Home Improvements that are Tax Deductible You might be thinking that you can save money by trying to do it on your own, but the truth is that the time, energy and stress the Realtor will save you is priceless! YOUR HOME SEARCH STARTS HERE  FIND OUT WHAT YOUR HOME IS WORTH  Photo Credit: taar.com

---