June 20, 2017
IM体育赛表分析排行榜
Found In:
On December 22, 2017, The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law. The information in this article predates the tax reform legislation and may not apply to tax returns starting in the 2018 tax year. You may wish to speak to your tax advisor about the latest tax law. This publication is provided for your convenience and does not constitute legal advice. This publication is protected by copyright.
Article Highlights:
One option that you see promoted on television is the “reverse mortgage,” which allows a homeowner to borrow against the equity they have built up in their home over the years. The loan is not due until the homeowner passes away or moves out of the home. If the homeowner dies, the heirs can pay off the debt by selling the house, and any remaining equity goes to them. If at that time the loan balance is equal to or more than the value of the home, the repayment amount is limited to the home’s worth.
In order to be eligible for this loan, the borrower must be at least 62 years of age and have equity in the home. The reverse mortgage must be a first trust deed. Thus any existing loans would have to be paid off with separate funds or with the proceeds from the reverse mortgage. The amount that can be borrowed is based upon age, and the older the borrower, the greater the amount that can be borrowed and the lower the interest rate. The loan amount will also depend on the value of the home, interest rates, and the amount of equity built up.
The borrower has the option of taking the loan as a lump sum, a line of credit, or fixed monthly payments. In addition, the money generally can be used for any purpose, without restrictions imposed.
One question that always comes up when discussing reverse mortgages is, when will the interest be deductible? In answering that question, these are factors to consider:
Reverse mortgages have brought financial security to many seniors so that they can live a comfortable life. If you are a senior who is struggling with your finances, carefully explore your options, including the possibility of a reverse mortgage. Keep in mind, however, that some reverse mortgages may be more expensive than traditional home loans, and the upfront costs can be high, especially if you don’t plan to be in your home for a long time or only need to borrow a small amount.
If you have questions about reverse mortgages and the mortgage interest deduction, please give this office a call.
- Reverse Mortgages
- Reverse Mortgage Terms
- When Is the Interest Deductible?
- Who Deducts the Interest?
One option that you see promoted on television is the “reverse mortgage,” which allows a homeowner to borrow against the equity they have built up in their home over the years. The loan is not due until the homeowner passes away or moves out of the home. If the homeowner dies, the heirs can pay off the debt by selling the house, and any remaining equity goes to them. If at that time the loan balance is equal to or more than the value of the home, the repayment amount is limited to the home’s worth.
In order to be eligible for this loan, the borrower must be at least 62 years of age and have equity in the home. The reverse mortgage must be a first trust deed. Thus any existing loans would have to be paid off with separate funds or with the proceeds from the reverse mortgage. The amount that can be borrowed is based upon age, and the older the borrower, the greater the amount that can be borrowed and the lower the interest rate. The loan amount will also depend on the value of the home, interest rates, and the amount of equity built up.
The borrower has the option of taking the loan as a lump sum, a line of credit, or fixed monthly payments. In addition, the money generally can be used for any purpose, without restrictions imposed.
One question that always comes up when discussing reverse mortgages is, when will the interest be deductible? In answering that question, these are factors to consider:
-
Interest (regardless of type) is not deductible until paid. A reverse mortgage loan is not required to be repaid as long as the borrower lives in the home. Therefore, the interest on a reverse mortgage is not deductible by anyone until the loan is paid off.
- Generally, reverse mortgages are classified as equity loans, and the deductible interest would be limited to the interest accrued on the first $100,000 of debt. There are exceptions where the reverse mortgage has paid off an existing acquisition debt loan. Equity debt interest is not deductible by taxpayers subject to the alternative minimum tax (AMT).
Debtor
- If the debtor pays off the loan while still living, the debtor is the one who deducts the sum of the interest they would have been entitled to deduct each year had it been paid, subject to the limitations discussed in 1 & 2 above.
Estate – If the estate pays off the mortgage after the debtor has passed away, the estate would deduct the interest on its income tax return. The amount deductible would be the sum of the interest the debtor would have been entitled to deduct each year had they paid it, subject to the limitations discussed in 1 & 2 above.
Beneficiary – If the beneficiary who inherits the home pays off the mortgage, the interest would be deductible as an itemized deduction on that individual’s personal 1040 income tax return. The amount deductible would be the sum of the interest the debtor would have been entitled to deduct each year had they paid it, subject to the limitations discussed in 1 & 2 above. If there is more than one beneficiary who pays off the mortgage, any beneficiaries who itemize deductions on their personal 1040s would be allowed to deduct their share of the allowable interest in proportion to the amount of the loan that each has paid off.
Estate – If the estate pays off the mortgage after the debtor has passed away, the estate would deduct the interest on its income tax return. The amount deductible would be the sum of the interest the debtor would have been entitled to deduct each year had they paid it, subject to the limitations discussed in 1 & 2 above.
Beneficiary – If the beneficiary who inherits the home pays off the mortgage, the interest would be deductible as an itemized deduction on that individual’s personal 1040 income tax return. The amount deductible would be the sum of the interest the debtor would have been entitled to deduct each year had they paid it, subject to the limitations discussed in 1 & 2 above. If there is more than one beneficiary who pays off the mortgage, any beneficiaries who itemize deductions on their personal 1040s would be allowed to deduct their share of the allowable interest in proportion to the amount of the loan that each has paid off.
Reverse mortgages have brought financial security to many seniors so that they can live a comfortable life. If you are a senior who is struggling with your finances, carefully explore your options, including the possibility of a reverse mortgage. Keep in mind, however, that some reverse mortgages may be more expensive than traditional home loans, and the upfront costs can be high, especially if you don’t plan to be in your home for a long time or only need to borrow a small amount.
If you have questions about reverse mortgages and the mortgage interest deduction, please give this office a call.
Have a Question About This Topic?
Share this article...
Printable PDF
