These Loans May Come With Big Tax Benefits

By James Thompson

It turns out that not all loan programs are the same when it comes times to look at your tax situation. Did you know 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? Some loans may give you a tax credit which shrinks the yearly tax you owe and other kinds of loans may give you a tax deduction which lowers your gross income. Just about everyone wants to borrow cash from time to time and it's smart to do your research before jumping into a big loan commitment. Here's a quick guide to which loans may give you for a tax deduction, though obviously individual cases will vary.

Student Loans: You can, in many 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 reduce the taxes you pay, especially if you're a cash-strapped student with a limited income. The interest you pay on many student loans can only be deducted if you make under a certain amount of money, based on your individual filing status.

Home Mortgages: Out of all the loans that have tax benefits associated with them, home mortgages are probably the most talked about. Most home payment plans are designed so that you can deduct the amount of interest you pay on the loan every year. Since most home loans are set up to be paid over thirty years, that means that purchasing a house can give you 30 years of possible 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 money you owe on your federal taxes each year. Today many people are looking for different ways to change a home loan to take advantage of decreasing interest rates.

Home Equity Loans (HELOC): A home equity loan used to improve your house could eventually increase the value of your dwelling and give you even more equity in the long run. If your dwelling is more valuable now than when you bought it then you might be able to take out a home equity loan and deduct the interest you pay on that borrowed money. 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 deductions by using the money for home repairs.

Sometimes taking out the right kind of loan can literally save you thousands of dollars on your income taxes, so it's worth spending a little bit of time to look into what sort of tax credits you qualify for. There are, of course, a lot of differences between these loans. Everyone will not 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. Before you apply for any of these loans you may want to speak with your tax professional to make sure the tax benefits apply to your individual situation. - 31393

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