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February 5, 2021
Question

Refinance mortgage interest

  • February 5, 2021
  • 1 reply
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I refinanced my mortgage in 2020.  In the statement from the escrow company I paid interest on the loan to the old lender for about 20 days until the refinance loan closed.  I did not receive a 1098 for the interest I paid from the old lender.  Can I deduct this interest on my return?  If so, how do I do that with Turbo Tax.  I only have a settlement letter from the Escrow company showing the interest I paid.

    1 reply

    DawnC
    Employee
    February 5, 2021

    You can possibly get your mortgage info by going to your lender’s website. Other documents, like your monthly mortgage bills and your Closing Disclosure (or HUD-1), will also have some of this info.  Enter it as if you have the 1098 and contact the lender for any information you need to take the deduction.   

     

    The IRS lets you deduct your mortgage interest, but only if you itemize deductions. You can't deduct the principal (the borrowed money you're paying back).

    In addition to itemizing, these conditions must be met for mortgage interest to be deductible:

    • The loan is secured, which means the lender has some kind of guarantee of payment, usually in the form of property. If a borrower defaults on payments, the lender can seize the property that’s securing the loan. If you’re buying or refinancing a home, especially if it’s your first home, the loan is usually secured by the home you’re buying or refinancing.
    • The home with the secured loan must have sleeping, cooking, and toilet facilities.
    • The debt can’t exceed $750,000 (or $1,000,000 if the loan was taken before December 16, 2017) in order to get the full deduction.
    • You or someone on your tax return must have signed or co-signed the loan.
    • If you rented out the home, you must have used the home more than 14 days during the tax year or 10% of the number of days you rented it out, whichever is greater.

    If you’ve ever used part of this loan to pay for things other than this home, you cannot deduct the interest from that amount of the loan, even if the transaction didn’t take place this year.

     

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