Sunday, March 28, 2010

These Loans Can Save You Money On Your Income Taxes


By John Miller

Surprisingly, not all money borrowing programs are equal when it comes times to pay your taxes. Were you aware that when you take out a loan you could actually be shrinking the amount of federal taxes you have to pay at the end of the year? Many loans may give you a tax credit which shrinks the income tax you owe and other kinds of loans may give you a tax deduction which lowers your gross income. Just about everybody wants to borrow money from time to time and it makes sense to do your research before diving into a big loan commitment. Here's a simple guide to what loans may qualify you for a tax credit, though obviously individual cases will be different.

Student Loans: You can, in some cases, deduct the interest you paid on the loan from your income taxes. Not all student loans are eligible for this, but it's a good way to decrease the taxes you pay, especially if you're a struggling student with a limited income. The interest you pay on most school loans can only be deducted if you make under a certain amount of money, based on your individual filing status.

Home Mortgages: For most people their home is the biggest purchase they ever make, and paying a mortgage can actually be a good way to reduce the amount of cash you owe on your income taxes each year. Most house payment plans are designed so that you can deduct the amount of interest you pay on the loan every year. Out of all the loans that have tax deductions associated with them, house mortgages are probably the most talked about. Since most house loans are set up to be paid over 30 years, that means that buying a home can give you 30 years of potential tax benefits.

Home Equity Loans: 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 repairs. If your home 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. A home equity loan used to improve your home could eventually increase the value of your house and give you even more equity in the long run. There are some restrictions about how much of your loan's interest actually qualifies for a tax deduction. In some case you can even get tax credits for using the money to improve your home's structure like replacing windows with more energy efficient types. For some homeowners part of the cost of a HELOC can be balanced out with home repair tax credits.

Before you apply for 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. Everyone will not be eligible for all the different tax benefits that these loans may offer. Sometimes your income, the amount of money you want to borrow and the reason 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 spending a little bit of time and energy to look into what sort of tax benefits you qualify for.

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