These Loans May Come With Large Tax Deductions

By Thomas Miller

It turns out that not all loan programs are equal when it comes times to look at your tax situation. Were you aware that when you take out a loan you could actually be reducing the amount of taxes you have to pay at the end of the year? Many loans can give you a tax credit which shrinks the yearly tax you owe and other kinds of loans can give you a tax deduction which lowers your gross income. Almost everyone needs to borrow money from time to time and it makes sense to do your homework before diving into a big situation involving money. Here's a simple guide to which loans may qualify you for a tax deduction, though obviously everyone's tax situation will be different.

Student Loans: Did you know that some loans you take out for school could give you a tax advantage? You can, in many cases, deduct the interest you paid on the loan from your federal taxes. Not all student loans are eligible for this, but it's a good way to reduce the taxes you pay, especially if you're a struggling student with a limited income. The interest you pay on many education loans can only be deducted if you make under a certain amount of money, based on how you file your taxes.

House Mortgages: Out of all the loans that have tax deductions associated with them, home mortgages are probably the most talked about. Most house mortgages are designed so that you can deduct the amount of interest you pay on the loan every year. Since most home loans are designed to be paid over 30 years, that means that purchasing a home can give you 30 years of potential tax deductions. For most taxpayers their home is the largest purchase they ever make, and paying a home loan can actually be a good way to reduce the amount of cash you owe on your federal taxes each year. Today many people are looking for different methods to change a house loan to take advantage of lower interest rates.

Home Equity Loans: If your house is more valuable now than when you bought it then you might be able to take out a home equity loan (sometimes called a HELOC) and deduct the interest you pay on that loan. There are some restrictions about how much of your loan's interest actually qualifies for a tax deduction. You can use a home equity loan for a variety of things, you may be able to get additional tax credits by using the money for home upgrades. In some case you can even qualify for tax savings for using the money to improve your house's energy efficiency. A home equity loan used to improve your home could eventually raise the value of your dwelling and give you even more equity over time.

Before you take out any of these loans you may want to speak with your tax professional to make sure the tax benefits pertain to your individual situation. There are, of course, a lot of variables between these loans. Not everyone will be eligible for all the different tax credits that these loans may offer. Sometimes your age, the amount of money you want to borrow and the purpose of the loan will limit the amount of money you can deduct from your taxes in any given year. Sometimes applying for the right kind of loan can definitely save you thousands of dollars on your income taxes, so it's worth investing a little bit of time to look into what sort of tax benefits you qualify for. - 31387

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