Tax Deduction

Private Mortgage Insurance – TAX Deduction

By Deborah Laemmerhirt | March 19, 2014
Tax Deduction

Tax Deduction

Private Mortgage Insurance – TAX Deduction

Private Mortgage Insurance – TAX Deduction. If you put down less than 20 percent for a conventional mortgage when you bought your home, your lender likely asked you to get mortgage insurance. Those mortgage insurance premiums may be deductible on your federal income taxes if you itemize and you also meet other requirements.

The mortgage insurance deduction is there for you to use on your 2013 taxes, but you may not get it next year. It expired at the end of 2013 and won’t be available in 2014 unless Congress renews it.

How does your tax refund stack up? Are you getting more or less than average taxpayer? For early filers, the average federal refund totaled $3,211, an increase of $190 from 2013. Get advice about the tax credits available for this filing season and answers to your other tax questions from the IRS’ Interactive Tax Assistant. Once you file, you can use “Where’s My Refund?” to track the progress of your refund.

Mortgage Insurance Deduction Rules

To use the mortgage insurance deduction, you have to clear some hurdles:

  • You can only deduct mortgage insurance premiums for a mortgage you got on or after Jan. 1, 2007.
  • If you refinanced in 2007 or later, you can deduct the mortgage insurance premiums for the portion of your loan equal to your original loan.
  • Look in Box 4 of the Form 1098 your mortgage lender sends you to find out how much you paid for mortgage insurance premiums for 2013.

Income Limits

Even if your loan meets those qualifications, to take the deduction, you still have to meet income requirements based on your adjusted gross income. Your AGI appears on Form 1040, line 38.

  • In general, the deduction gets reduced if your adjusted gross income is more than $100,000 ($50,000 married filing separately) and you lose it completely when you adjusted gross income goes above $109,000 ($54,500 married filing separately).
  • Use the IRS’ itemized deductions work sheet (line 13) to see if your adjusted gross income will limit your mortgage insurance deduction.

Deducting Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premiums

  • If you paid a big mortgage insurance premium at settlement, called an upfront fee, your deduction may work differently than the deduction for monthly payments (but you still have to follow all the rules mentioned above).
  • “Mortgage insurance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Rural Housing Service is commonly known as a funding fee and guarantee fee respectively,” the IRS says. “These fees can be deducted fully in 2013 if the mortgage insurance contract was issued in 2013.”
  • If you paid in advance for any other mortgage insurance, you have to allocate those fees over the shorter of:

The mortgage term (usually 15 or 30 years) 84 months (seven years).

If you pay off the loan, your deduction ends — you cannot deduct the remaining amount.  April 15th is nearly here.  If you are paying Private Mortgage Insurance you may be able to get a TAX deduction for it.

Tax laws and tax rules are constantly being updated and interpreted. This article contains general information, so please discuss your individual situation with a trusted tax adviser before making tax decisions.

Posted in Buyers, Financial, Homeowner, Uncategorized and tagged , , , ,

About Deborah Laemmerhirt

Let me assist you in finding everything you need to know about buying or selling a home! As the preeminent real estate professional in my community, I am dedicated to providing the finest service available while breaking new ground. Because the real estate industry is becoming more sophisticated and challenging every day, you need a professional that understands the industry and is positioned to stay ahead of the game. I go the extra mile to help you achieve your goals. That’s why I constantly research the home, market and estate values so your home is priced effectively from day one. I also make sure the public knows your home is for sale by using innovative marketing techniques to attract potential buyers. As an Internet-savvy real estate representative in Connecticut, I’ve had the opportunity to help many home buyers find their ideal homes and many sellers obtain top dollar for their homes. Buying or selling a home is one of the largest financial transactions that most people ever undertake, so I will help you through every step of the process. My goal is to make your home selling or buying experience as easy and enjoyable as possible. My services include: Explaining the home selling and buying process thoroughly Diligently selecting homes that meets your criteria Pricing your home correctly and implementing a unique yet proven marketing plan Negotiating on your behalf Tracking the closing process to ensure a smooth transaction I welcome the opportunity to address any questions you might have about buying, selling or current market conditions. Please call or e-mail me any time, and I will be happy to discuss your next steps in the buying or selling process. I specialize in both Residential and Commercial Properties. I also head a Real Estate Group to provide you with expert service and support. Areas of Expertise Making transitions in your life is challenging. You may be moving from out of town, a different state, internationally or just next door! Regardless of the distance I am prepared to respond to your unique needs.If you are a BUYER looking to downsize, up-size, want a new construction, desire a condominium, to invest, even if this is your first home, I will design a unique plan to fulfill your needs in a reasonable time frame, with the best negotiated price and the least amount of inconvenience.For my Home Sellers, I have an innovative marketing plan that will leave nothing to chance. Just call, and I would be happy to share the DIFFERENT and SUCCESSFUL TOOLS I utilize on each of my listings. I have lived in Connecticut for over 35 years. I practice Real Estate in Fairfield County, New Haven County and Litchfield County. This includes, but is not limited to Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Oxford, Ridgefield, Redding, Roxbury, Sherman, Southbury, Warren, Washington, Westport and Wilton.