Real Estate (Taxes, Mortgage Interest, Points, Other Property Expenses)
Question: If I must deduct points over the life of my mortgage, and I have a 30 year mortgage, does this mean that I divide the points paid by 30 and enter that amount on Schedule A?
Answer:
No, while you have to deduct the points over the life of the loan (amortize) you don't divide the points by 30. Instead you divide the points by the number of payments over the term of the loan and deduct points for each year according to the number of payments made in that year.
- If the loan ends prematurely, due to payoff or refinance with a different lender, for example, then the remaining points are deducted in that year.
- Points not included in Form 1098 (PDF), (usually not included on a refinance) should be entered on Schedule A (Form 1040) (PDF), Itemized Deductions, line 12 "Points not reported to you on Form 1098."
Additional Information:
- Publication 936, Home Mortgage Interest Deduction
- Instructions for Schedule A (Form 1040) (PDF)
- Tax Topic 504, Home Mortgage Points
Category: Itemized Deductions, Standard Deductions
Subcategory: Real Estate (Taxes, Mortgage Interest, Points, Other Property Expenses)
