Deducting mortgage interest

In most cases, you can fully deduct your mortgage interest secured by your primary or secondary home. Beginning in 1987, mortgage interest to buy, build, or improve your home (acquisition debt) up to $1,000,000 or home equity loans up to $100,000 became tax deductible.

Points (also known as origination fees or discount points)

Generally, points paid to obtain a loan on your home or to reduce the interest rate can be fully deducted in the first year. You also have an option to deduct this amount over the life of the loan.

Points paid to refinance a mortgage are generally not fully deductible in the year you pay them. However, if you use a portion of refinanced loan proceeds to improve your primary home, you can fully deduct the part of points related to the improvement in the year paid. The reminder of the points can be deducted over the life of the loan.

If you have been deducting your points over the life of your mortgage and it ends due to a payment in full or refinancing, do not forget to deduct the remaining amount of points in the year the mortgage ends.

Property taxes

Property taxes paid on real estate that your own are also tax deductible.

These deductions can be claimed on Schedule A (Itemized deductions) of your tax return.

- You can also deduct late payment charges, mortgage prepayment penalty and moving expenses.

- Some expenses that are not tax deductible are: HOA fees, title, mortgage or hazard insurance, the principle part of your mortgage, or appraisal and inspection fees.

Tax-free profits

When you sell your primary residence, you can exclude the entire gain up to $500,000 for couples who file jointly or up to $250,000 for single filers. In order to qualify, you have to meet the ownership and use test (you must have lived there for at least two of the previous five years as your primary residence). You can only claim this exemption once every two years. Extenuating circumstances such as health, change in place of employment or a qualified unforeseen occurrence may allow you to claim a partial exemption if this period is less than two years.

Please consult your tax, legal, or investment advisor when making financial decisions. For additional information please visit http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p936.pdf.