Tax deductions for Homeowners make owning LUCRATIVE!
***I will start with my disclaimer – please consult a license CPA for tax advice and guidance***
Even in a down market, owning is oft times better than renting. This rings especially tru come tax season. The following 2009 tax deductions can only be applied to homeowners who owned DURING 2009…if you just bought or plan to buy this year, plan on them for 2010 tax season!
1. Mortgage Interest Deduction. Arguably the MOST POPULAR deduction, this deduction is meant to encourage homeownership by making it more lucrative than renting. Compare a own vs. rent scenario where the monthly payment is $1000. If your mortgage payment is $1000 and $900 of that is interest, you are allowed to REDUCE your GROSS INCOME by $10,800 ($900 x 12 months). There is no deduction for rent payments. Thus, a homeowner who grosses $50,000 per year will have that number reduced to $39,200. If he is in a 20% tax bracket, instead of paying $10,000 they will only pay $7960, a savings of $2140 on your tax bill.
2. Energy Efficiency Deduction. Have you upgraded to a solar water heater, solar panels, hi-efficiency A/C, new insulated garage door, or similar home improvement? You may be eligible for deductions that will lower your gross income OR dollar-for-dollar tax credits. The credit is 30% of the cost of installing such energy savers, up to a top credit of $1,500. Some credits are even more, depending on the project!
3. First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit. While not a tax deduction, this dollar-for-dollar tax credit is claimed on your taxes (which is why I included it in this article!) Put into action by the Obama Administration in 2009 to stimulate/encourage homebuyers and home sales, this max $8000 credit can only be claimed by meeting the following criteria:
• Buyers must NOT have owned within the last 3 years
• The purchase must be completed NO LATER THAN July 1, 2010
4. Real estate taxes paid in the same tax year can be claimed as a deduction.
5. If you used a traditional or Roth IRA for a downpayment on a purchase this year, plan on deducting up to $10,000 of that withdrawal on your taxes.
For more information on these and many other tax deductions related to owning or disposing of real estate, visit Kiplinger’s online at http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2007/01/hometaxopedia.html
About Me
- Rich Cornelius
- Born in New York, I retired to the Tampa Bay area at the ripe old age of 18 months, and have been a resident ever since. I attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, received my Bachelors Degree in Aeronautical Science and became an airline pilot with a major carrier. After 5 years in professional aviation, I joined Sand Key Realty, Sales & Rentals. While at Sand Key Realty, I successfully sold more than $10M in residential real estate, including one of the highest sales on record on Clearwater Beach. In June of '07, I joined Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in Clearwater so I could better serve family, friends and clients alike and meet all of their real estate needs. In real estate, as in aviation, I do it right the first time because of the trust and responsibility placed in me by my clients. Simply put, it’s all about the details.
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