Friday, October 30, 2009

Reduce Your Income Taxes With These Everyday Loans

By James Thompson

Did you know that when you borrow money you could actually be reducing the amount of taxes you have to pay to the government? Surprisingly, not all loan programs are the same when it comes times to look at your tax situation. Almost everyone needs to borrow money sometimes and it's smart to do your homework before jumping into a big loan commitment. Many loans can give you a tax credit which shrinks the income tax you owe and other kinds of loans may give you a tax deduction which reduces your gross income. Here's a brief guide to which loans may give you for a tax deduction, though obviously individual cases will vary.

School 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 school loans can only be deducted if you make under a certain amount of money, based on your individual filing status.

House Mortgages: Most house mortgages are set up so that you can deduct the amount of interest you pay on the loan every year. 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 income taxes each year. Since most house mortgages are designed to be paid over 30 years, that means that purchasing a house can give you 30 years of possible tax deductions. There is lots of good information on the internet about mortgages if you look for it. Out of all the loans that have tax benefits associated with them, home mortgages are probably the most well-known.

Home Equity Loans: If your house 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. There are some restrictions about how much of your loan's interest actually qualifies for a tax benefit. 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. In some case you can even qualify for tax deductions for using the money to upgrade your home's energy efficiency. A home equity loan used to improve your dwelling could eventually increase the value of your dwelling and give you even more equity in the long run.

Sometimes applying for 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 and energy to look into what sort of tax benefits you qualify for. There are, of course, a lot of variables between these loans. Everyone will not be eligible for all the different tax credits that these loans may offer. Sometimes your income, 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 take out any of these loans you may want to speak with your tax professional to make sure the tax benefits apply to your individual situation. - 29904

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