Homeownership comes with many benefits, including the opportunity to save money through various tax breaks. As a homeowner or buyer, it’s important to understand the tax breaks available to you to maximize your savings.
This guide will provide an overview of 11 tax breaks that are relevant to homeowners and home buyers. Including mortgage interest deductions, property tax deductions, and energy-efficient home improvement credits.
In this guide, we’ll cover the eligibility requirements, maximum amounts allowed, and how each tax break works. With this guide, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of the tax breaks available to you as a homeowner or home buyer. So let’s dive in and start maximizing your savings!
The Mortgage Interest Deduction is one of the most well-known tax breaks for homeowners. It allows you to deduct the interest paid on a mortgage for your primary residence from your taxable income. This can result in significant savings on your annual tax bill.
The mortgage interest you can deduct is limited to the interest paid on the first $750,000 of mortgage debt for a married couple filing jointly or the first $375,000 for a single filer.
This limit applies to debt taken out after December 15, 2017. For debt taken out prior to that date, the limit is $1 million for a married couple filing jointly and $500,000 for a single filer.
It’s important to keep accurate records of the mortgage interest paid throughout the year, as this information will be required when calculating your deduction. You can typically find this information on your mortgage statement or by contacting your lender.
The Property Tax Deduction is another tax break available to homeowners. It allows you to deduct the amount of property taxes you pay on your primary residence from your taxable income.
There is no specific limit to the amount of property taxes that you can deduct. You can deduct all of the property taxes you pay throughout the year as long as they meet the eligibility requirements.
It’s important to keep accurate records of the property taxes paid throughout the year, as this information will be required when calculating your deduction. You can typically find this information on your property tax bill or by contacting your local tax authority.
The Energy-Efficient Home Improvements Tax Credit is a tax break for homeowners who make energy-efficient improvements to their primary residence.
This credit allows you to claim a portion of the cost of qualifying upgrades on your tax return, reducing your taxable income and lowering your overall tax bill.
The maximum amount of the Energy-Efficient Home Improvements Tax Credit is 10% of the cost of the improvements, up to a total of $500. This credit is only available for improvements made in 2021 and 2022.
The First-Time Homebuyer Credit is a tax credit available to first-time homebuyers. This credit can provide significant savings on your annual tax bill and help offset some of the costs associated with purchasing your first home.
The maximum amount of the First-Time Homebuyer Credit is $8,000 for married couples filing jointly or $4,000 for single filers. The credit is only available for homes purchased in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
The First-Time Homebuyer Credit provides valuable financial assistance to those taking the first step in homeownership. By taking advantage of this tax credit, first-time homebuyers can reduce their taxable income and lower their overall tax bill.
The Home Office Deduction is a tax break available to those who use a portion of their home for business purposes. This deduction allows you to claim a portion of the expenses related to maintaining your home office, reducing your taxable income, and lowering your overall tax bill.
The amount of the Home Office Deduction is calculated based on the percentage of your home that is used for business purposes. You can claim a portion of your home’s expenses, such as mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance, utilities, and repairs, based on this percentage.
By taking advantage of the Home Office Deduction, homeowners who use a portion of their home for business can reduce their taxable income and lower their overall tax bill.
This tax break is an excellent way to offset the costs of maintaining a home office, making it easier to run a successful home-based business.
The Capital Gains Exclusion is a tax break available to homeowners who sell their primary residence. This exclusion allows you to exclude a portion of the profits from the sale of your home from your taxable income, reducing your overall tax bill.
The maximum amount of the Capital Gains Exclusion is limited to $250,000 for single filers or $500,000 for married couples filing jointly. To claim the exclusion, you must have lived in the home as your primary residence for at least two of the five years leading up to the sale.
The Mortgage Insurance Premium Deduction is a tax break available to homeowners who have mortgage insurance on their home loans. This deduction allows you to deduct a portion of the premiums you pay for mortgage insurance. reducing your taxable income and lowering your overall tax bill.
The amount of the Mortgage Insurance Premium Deduction is limited to the lesser of the actual amount of premiums paid or the maximum amount allowed by the IRS. The maximum amount is set each year and is based on your adjusted gross income.
The State and Local Bond Financing Tax Credit is a tax break available to homeowners who have invested in state and local bonds. This tax credit allows you to claim a portion of the interest earned on these bonds as a credit against your taxable income, reducing your overall tax bill.
The amount of the State and Local Bond Financing Tax Credit is equal to the interest earned on the bonds. This amount is calculated based on the bond’s face value and the interest rate set by the issuer.
The Moving Expense Deduction is a tax break available to homeowners who have relocated for work-related reasons. This deduction allows you to deduct certain expenses incurred during the move, reducing your taxable income and lowering your overall tax bill.
The amount of the Moving Expense Deduction is limited to the actual expenses incurred during the move.
This can include expenses such as transportation and storage fees for your belongings. As well as any costs associated with selling or renting your old home.
By taking advantage of the Moving Expense Deduction, homeowners who have relocated for work-related reasons can deduct certain expenses incurred during the move, reducing their taxable income and lowering their overall tax bill.
This tax break is an excellent way to offset the costs associated with relocating for work, making it easier to manage homeownership expenses.
The Retirement Savings Contributions Credit, also known as the Saver’s Credit, is a tax credit available to eligible homeowners who make contributions to their retirement savings accounts. This tax credit allows you to claim a portion of your contributions as a credit against your taxable income, reducing your overall tax bill.
The Retirement Savings Contributions Credit is equal to a percentage of the amount you contribute to your retirement savings account, up to a maximum credit of $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for joint filers. The exact percentage depends on your adjusted gross income and filing status.
Disaster Tax Relief is a set of tax provisions available to homeowners who have been affected by a declared disaster. These tax provisions provide relief to taxpayers in the form of tax credits, deductions, or other benefits, making it easier for homeowners to recover from the financial impact of a disaster.
Disaster Tax Relief can include a variety of tax provisions, including:
Whether you’re a homeowner or a homebuyer, taking advantage of these tax breaks can make a significant difference in your financial situation. So make sure you’re aware of these tax breaks for homeowners and take advantage of them when you can. With a little planning and preparation, you can effectively reduce your tax liability and make the most of your investment in your home.