Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Decrease Your Taxes With These Common Loans


By James Thompson

It turns out that not all money borrowing programs are the same when it comes times to look at your tax situation. Were you aware that when you borrow money you could also be reducing the amount of federal taxes you have to pay at the end of the year? Many loans can give you a tax credit which shrinks the tax you owe and other kinds of loans may give you a tax deduction which lowers your gross taxable income. Almost everybody wants to borrow cash from time to time and it's smart to do your research before jumping into a big situation involving money. Here's a brief guide to what loans may qualify you for a tax credit, though obviously individual cases will be different.

School Loans: The interest you pay on most education|school|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 some loans you take out for education could give you a tax advantage? You can, in many cases, deduct the interest you paid on the loan from your income taxes. Not all education 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.

Home Mortgages: For most people their home is the biggest purchase they ever make, and paying a mortgage can actually be a good way to reduce the amount of cash you owe on your income taxes each year. Most house mortgages are designed so that you can deduct the amount of interest you pay on the loan every year. Out of all the loans that have tax benefits associated with them, house mortgages are probably the most well-known. Since most house loans are designed to be paid over 30 years, that means that buying a home can give you 30 years of possible tax benefits.

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 borrowed money. 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 get tax savings for using the money to upgrade your house's energy efficiency. A home equity loan used to improve your dwelling could eventually increase the value of your home and give you even more equity over time.

Sometimes applying for the right kind of loan can literally 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 deductions you are eligible for. There are, of course, a lot of variables between these loans. Everyone will not 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 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 talk with your tax professional to make sure the tax benefits apply to your individual situation.

About the Author:


You like it? Share it!


0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home