At tax time, your house is not simply a home: It's also a tax deduction.
You get to deduct:
- Your property taxes. And if you bought the home in 2009, you may be able to deduct more property taxes than you think. Don’t forget to include taxes you may have reimbursed the seller for—taxes the seller had already paid before you took ownership.
- You won't get a 1098 report listing these taxes. Instead, that amount will be shown on the settlement sheet.
- Property taxes for taxpayers who don't itemize. You can increase your 2009 standard deduction by up to $500 for real estate taxes paid in 2009 or by up to $1,000 for real estate taxes paid in 2009 if you are married and file jointly.
- The mortgage interest on your primary residence, as well as on a second residence. (There are limits, but relatively few taxpayers are affected.)
- The interest on up to $100,000 borrowed on a home equity loan or home equity line of credit, regardless of the reason for the loan.
- Points that you paid when you purchased the house (or those that you convinced the seller to pay for you).
- The premiums paid for Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) in 2009, but only for policies issued after 2006. (The right to this deduction disappears as Adjusted Gross Income rises from $100,000 to $110,000 (or $50,000 to $55,000 for those who use married filing separately status.)
- Home improvements required for medical care.
Call your Accountant for more details or your Tax Return agency.
Source: TurboTax for 2009
