Thursday, December 17, 2009

Reduce Your Income Taxes With These Everyday Loans

By John Miller

Were you aware that when you take out a loan you could also be reducing the amount of taxes you have to pay at the end of the year? Surprisingly, not all money borrowing programs are the same when it comes times to look at your tax situation. Just about everyone needs to borrow cash sometimes and it makes sense to do your research before jumping into a big loan commitment. Many loans may give you a tax credit which lowers the yearly tax you owe and other kinds of loans can give you a tax deduction which reduces your gross income. Here's a quick guide to what loans may give you for a tax deduction, though obviously everyone's tax situation will vary.

School Loans: The interest you pay on some student loans can only be deducted if you make under a certain amount of money, based on your individual filing status. Did you know that many loans you take out for school could give you a tax advantage? You can, in many cases, deduct the interest you paid on the loan from your federal 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 struggling student with a limited income.

House Mortgages: For most people their home is the biggest purchase they ever make, and paying a home loan can actually be a good way to reduce the amount of cash you owe on your federal taxes each year. Most home mortgages are set up so that you can deduct the amount of interest you pay on the loan every year. Out of all the loans that have tax deductions associated with them, home mortgages are probably the most talked about. Since most home mortgages are set up to be paid over thirty years, that means that buying a home can give you 30 years of potential tax deductions.

Home Equity Loans: If your home 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 number of things, you may be able to get additional tax credits by using the money for home upgrades. In some case you can even get tax credits for using the money to upgrade your home's energy efficiency. A home equity loan used to improve your house could eventually raise the value of your house and give you even more equity over time. For some people some of the cost of a home equity loan can be offset with home repair tax credits.

Sometimes applying for the right kind of loan can definitely save you thousands of dollars on your income taxes, so it's worth investing a little bit of time to look into what sort of tax credits you qualify for. There are, of course, a lot of variables between these loans. Not everyone will be eligible for all the different tax deductions that these loans may offer. Sometimes your living situation, the amount of money you want to borrow and the reason 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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