April 10, 20236-minute read
Author: Andrew Dehan
Share:
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check out ourdisclosure policyfor more details.
Owning a home comes with its own set of expenses, from mortgage payments to home repairs. Homeowners insurance is one of the expenses you’ll pay as a homeowner. Homeowners insurance is typically not tax deductible. On the other hand, homeowners do enjoy other tax deductions. You can claim these deductions if you itemize your taxes each year. We’ve compiled what you need to know to help you save on your tax bill.
Are Homeowners Insurance Premiums Tax Deductible?
In general, they are not. If you use your home as a home – without a home office or deriving any income from it – your expenses, including insurance premiums, are not deductible. You may be able to deduct a portion of your premiums if you rent out part of your home through Airbnb or another home-sharing app, or if you have a home office. Speak to a tax professional to determine how much you can deduct. You do, however, get to deduct your property taxes, up to $10,000. If you own a property strictly for investment purposes, you will be able to deduct the entire amount of your premiums as a business expense.
See What You Qualify For
Congratulations! Based on the information you have provided, you are eligible to continue your home loan process online with Rocket Mortgage.
If a sign-in page does not automatically pop up in a new tab, click here
9 Tax Deductions For Homeowners
Here are the nine main deductions you should know about.
1. Mortgage Points Deduction
Your mortgage debt may be the largest debt you’ll ever tackle. Consider purchasing mortgage points. These can be a great way to not only save money over the duration of your mortgage but also to write off some of the interest paid on your loan. Mortgage points are often referred to as discount points and are bought upfront, at the time you close on your mortgage. One point is equal to 1% of your total mortgage amount. For example, let’s say your home is $200,000 and you want to put down an additional $2,000 at closing. In this case, you’d purchase one mortgage point. The purpose of mortgage points is to reduce your interest rate over the lifetime of your loan. Your interest rate decreases for each mortgage point you purchase. Let’s say the market rate is 4.5%. You can usually expect to get a .25% discount interest rate reduction for each point you buy. One mortgage point might decrease your rate to 4.25% and two points might decrease it to 4%. Talk to your agent and lender about your specific mortgage point eligibility and requirements. You can typically claim the full amount on your taxes the same year you buy mortgage points. There are some stipulations you must meet to qualify, but most U.S. homeowners meet these standards. If your home loan amount is over $750,000, you’ll be limited to a specific amount you can claim on your taxes. Use Form 1098 (provided by your mortgage lender) to claim the deduction and find the total number of mortgage points purchased. You’ll put this amount on line 10 of Form 1040 Schedule A. Your accountant or tax software can walk you through this step.What Are Mortgage Points?
How Do Tax Deductions Work For Mortgage Points?
2. Mortgage Interest Deduction
You can also put a little money back into your own pocket with a type of tax break called a mortgage interest deduction. This deduction allows you to claim the total amount paid toward your mortgage interest within one year. Homeowners can deduct the interest paid on the first $750,000 of qualified personal residence debt on a primary or second home. You can find the amount of mortgage interest paid per year on Form 1098 from your mortgage lender. You’ll report this amount on Schedule A of the 1040 form.
3. Property Tax Deduction
Homeownership also requires you to pay property taxes. What you’ll pay in property taxes ranges depending on the state and county you live in as well as the overall value of your home. This covers things like road and highway construction, education and more. You can deduct the property tax payments you make each year if you itemize your taxes. Let’s say you’re married and filing jointly. You can deduct up to $10,000 in property taxes per year when filing your taxes. On the other hand, if you’re single or filing separately, you can deduct up to $5,000 in property taxes. You’ll claim this deduction using Schedule A of the 1040 tax form.
4. Rental Deductions
Did you know you’re eligible for a rental deduction if you rent out a part of your home such as a garage apartment, basem*nt or spare bedroom? You’ll need to pay taxes on any rental income, but you can recoup some money through maintenance and repair costs, insurance, utilities and more. Simply fill out Schedule E of the 1040 form and subtract any rental expenses from your rental income. Be sure to check with a tax professional to ensure you maximize this deduction.
5. Home Office Deductions
In some cases, you may be able to deduct business expenses from your taxes, particularly if you’re a self-employed homeowner. You must be self-employed – not just a remote employee – to qualify for this deduction, and meet all of the IRS’s stringent requirements to take advantage of this deduction. The IRS lets homeowners with a qualifying home office to calculate the amount you’re able to deduct from your taxes in one of two ways. The first method involves calculating the actual expenses you spend operating your business from home. This could include maintenance, utilities, internet and other expenses. You’ll need to keep your receipts to back up your claims. The second method is a simplified estimate that allows you to deduct $5 per square footage of office space. So, if your work area is a 10x20 space, or 200 square feet, you’d qualify for a $1,000 deduction.
6. Home Improvement Deductions
Home improvement products can add tremendous value to your home both by improving your space and increasing your home’s worth. Another upside to home improvement projects is that many of them qualify for tax deductions. Home improvements that improve your home’s value are called capital improvements. Types of qualified improvements include swimming pools, home additions, garages, a new roof, a new central air conditioning system, water heater upgrades, home security systems and more. As a homeowner, you can’t deduct these expenses. But the value of any capital improvements you make to the home is added to your cost basis in the home which in turn affects whether, and how much, you’ll pay in capital gains taxes when you sell the property. It’s important to keep records of all major home improvements for this reason. A qualified accountant or tax specialist can help you work through all improvements to determine which ones are eligible for this tax treatment.
7. Energy Efficiency Deductions
Energy-efficient upgrades are more popular than ever. Transforming your home into an energy-efficient property can help you save money on your utility bills and taxes. The Residential Renewable Energy tax credit allows you to claim credits when you implement solar, wind, geothermal or fuel-cell systems. Energy-efficient upgrades that qualify for this tax credit include solar-powered water heaters, solar panels, wind turbines and geothermal heat pumps. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 offers substantial new incentives to encourage homeowners to switch to renewable energy sources.
8. Deductions For Accessibility Improvements
If you make home improvements to improve your home’s accessibility for disabled members of your household, you may qualify for additional tax deductions. IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses, in the section Capital Expenses, provides guidance on what types of improvements are deductible. You can deduct the expenses you incurred to make your home accessible, minus any home appreciation you may have enjoyed due to the improvement. For business owners, ada.gov has compiled a fact sheet of available tax incentives for improving accessibility to your place of business.
9. Capital Gains Tax Exclusion
You might wonder if you’ll be responsible for paying capital gains tax when you sell your home. The good news is that when you decide to sell, you most likely won’t have to pay a cent of capital gains tax. Thanks to the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, you may be exempt from paying capital gains as long as you meet the qualification criteria. You’ll need to have lived in and owned the home for 2 of the past 5 years and not have used this tax break within the last 2 years. You’re exempt from paying capital gains tax on home profits up to $500,000 if you file taxes jointly. You’re also exempt from paying this tax on home profits up to $250,000 if you’re an individual filer.
Why You Might Not Take These Deductions
Many homeowners have found themselves skipping the record-keeping requirements and legal complexities of itemizing their deductions and simply taking the standard deduction. For 2022, the standard deductions are:
Your Filing Status | Your Standard Deduction |
Single | $12,950 |
Married couples filing separately | $12,950 |
Heads of households | $19,400 |
Married couples filing jointly | $25,900 |
Surviving spouses | $25,900 |
The Bottom Line: You Won’t Be Able To Deduct Insurance Premiums
Unfortunately, homeowners insurance premiums aren’t tax deductible, unless the property creates a source of income. The good news is that the increase in the standard deductions makes itemized deductions a thing of the past for most homeowners. Want to learn more about the tax benefits of owning a home? Our Learning Center is here to help.
Protect what's precious
Find the best home security system for you.
As an expert in personal finance and taxation, I can provide valuable insights into the information presented in the article by Andrew Dehan regarding tax deductions for homeowners. My expertise is grounded in a deep understanding of the U.S. tax code, specifically as it pertains to homeownership and related financial considerations.
The article begins by highlighting the various expenses associated with owning a home, including mortgage payments, home repairs, and homeowners insurance. Notably, it points out that homeowners insurance premiums are generally not tax-deductible, except under specific circ*mstances, such as when the property generates rental income.
Here is an overview and further explanation of the key concepts discussed in the article:
-
Homeowners Insurance Premiums:
- The article states that, in general, homeowners insurance premiums are not tax-deductible if the home is used solely as a residence without generating income. However, deductions may be possible if the property is used for rental purposes or has a home office. Consulting a tax professional is recommended to determine eligibility and the extent of possible deductions.
-
Property Taxes Deduction:
- Homeowners can deduct property taxes paid, subject to certain limits. For example, married couples filing jointly can deduct up to $10,000 in property taxes annually, while single or separately filing individuals can deduct up to $5,000. This deduction is claimed on Schedule A of the 1040 tax form.
-
Mortgage Points Deduction:
- The article discusses the option of purchasing mortgage points, which can be used to reduce interest rates over the life of a mortgage. Homeowners may be eligible to claim the full amount of mortgage points on their taxes the year they are purchased. Form 1098, provided by the mortgage lender, is used to claim this deduction on line 10 of Form 1040 Schedule A.
-
Mortgage Interest Deduction:
- Homeowners can benefit from a mortgage interest deduction, allowing them to claim the total amount paid toward mortgage interest within a tax year. The deduction is applicable to the first $750,000 of qualified personal residence debt on a primary or second home. Form 1098 is again used to report this amount on Schedule A of the 1040 form.
-
Rental Deductions:
- If a portion of the home is rented out, homeowners may qualify for rental deductions. These deductions can include expenses such as maintenance, repair costs, insurance, and utilities. Schedule E of the 1040 form is used to report rental income and deductions.
-
Home Office Deductions:
- Self-employed homeowners with a qualifying home office may be eligible for business expense deductions. These can be calculated based on actual expenses or a simplified estimate of $5 per square foot of office space. Receipts are crucial to support claims.
-
Home Improvement Deductions:
- Capital improvements that increase a home's value, such as swimming pools or a new roof, may not be directly deductible, but they impact the cost basis of the home. This can affect capital gains taxes when selling the property.
-
Energy Efficiency Deductions:
- Homeowners can claim tax credits for implementing energy-efficient upgrades, such as solar panels or geothermal systems. The Residential Renewable Energy tax credit is mentioned as a way to receive credits for qualifying improvements.
-
Deductions for Accessibility Improvements:
- Homeowners making improvements for accessibility may qualify for additional tax deductions. Guidance on eligible improvements can be found in IRS Publication 502, and expenses incurred can be deducted, minus any home appreciation.
-
Capital Gains Tax Exclusion:
- The article highlights the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, which provides an exemption from capital gains tax when selling a home. To qualify, homeowners must have lived in and owned the home for two of the past five years and not have used this tax break within the last two years.
-
Standard Deductions:
- The article concludes by mentioning that many homeowners opt for the standard deduction, especially with the increase in standard deduction amounts for 2022. The standard deduction amounts vary based on filing status.
In summary, the article provides comprehensive information on various tax deductions available to homeowners, ranging from mortgage-related deductions to energy efficiency credits and capital gains tax exclusions. Homeowners are encouraged to explore these opportunities to optimize their tax positions and consult with tax professionals for personalized advice.