The tax deductions you’re eligible to take for mortgage interest* and property taxes greatly increase the financial benefits of home ownership. Let’s work through a hypothetical situation to see how it works.
If we assume the following:
- $9,877 Interest (a loan of $150,000 for 30 years, at 7%, using year-five interest)
- +$2,700 Property taxes (at 1.5 percent on $180,000 assessed value)
- $12,577 Total deduction
Then, multiply your total deduction by your tax rate.**
For example, at a 28 percent tax rate: $12,577 x 0.28 = $3,521.56, or $293.46/month
$3,521.56 = Amount by which you have lowered your federal income tax
*Mortgage interest may not be deductible on loans over $1.1 million. In addition, deductions are decreased when total income reaches a certain level.
**The rate at which you’re taxed is determined by your tax bracket, which in turn is determined by how much you earned in a given year along with your filing status (single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household). IRS Publication 501 will help you determine your rate.
