Are home equity loans tax deductible

Home Equity Loans

Are home equity loans tax deductible?

Updated May 15, 2023

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Written by

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Reviewed by

Key Takeaways:

  • Home equity loans are similar to other kinds of mortgages

  • Home equity loans are tax deductible if used to improve the home you borrow against

  • To get the tax benefit, you need to itemize your deductions

Home. It’s where you make memories, entertain friends and family, and feel safe. Upgrades and renovations can improve the look, feel, and functionality of your home. One way to finance these upgrades is by using a home equity loan. If you do, you might also get a tax benefit.

It's a great feeling to invest in your home and make it a place that truly reflects your personal style and taste. It’s an even better feeling when you know you’ve tackled the financial challenge in a smart way.

Home equity loan interest might be tax deductible

The interest you pay on mortgage debt can be deducted from your federal income taxes under certain conditions. Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) count as mortgage debt.

Here’s what to know.

First, a deduction is a way to lower your taxable income. If you earn $10,000 and you have a $1,000 deduction, you only have to pay taxes on $9,000.

This particular deduction is for the interest you paid on your mortgage loan in that tax year. The lender will send you an annual statement that gives you the exact dollar figure. 

There are a few rules:

  • You itemize your deductions. 

  • The money you borrowed was used to buy, build, or substantially improve the home that you borrowed against.

  • The interest was paid on no more than $750,000 of mortgage debt ($375,000 for single tax filers). This includes your home equity loan or HELOC and your first mortgage if you have one. If your total mortgage debt is more than $750,000, you can still deduct the interest you paid on the first $750,000.

How is a home equity loan similar to a mortgage?

A home equity loan and your mortgage, if you have one, are both loans against your home. Both let you deduct loan interest from your federal taxes under the conditions described above. 

They are similar in a few other ways, too. For both loans:

  • You can get a fixed interest rate, and equal payments over the life of the loan

  • A professional appraisal is required to determine the current market value of the home

  • Homeowners insurance is required

  • Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio will need to meet the lender’s requirements

In case it’s been a while since you got a mortgage, your DTI is the percentage of your income that goes toward debt payments, including your housing expenses. In general, lenders want you to have a DTI of 43% or less.

Homeowners, get help with your high-interest debt

Use the equity in your home to consolidate debt, lower your monthly payments, and reduce your stress.

How is a home equity loan different from a mortgage?

Mortgage interest is always a potential tax deduction because a mortgage is always used to purchase the home that you borrowed for. In contrast, since home equity loans can be used in many other ways, the interest doesn’t always qualify for the tax deduction. 

For this reason, if you’re considering a remodel or home maintenance, borrowing against your home could save you money compared with taking a personal loan, which isn’t tax deductible at all.  

Home repair expenses can now seem a little easier to bear, so you may want to go ahead and get a quote for redoing your bathroom or adding a deck in the backyard.

To deduct home equity loan interest, you have to itemize

You can get the tax deductions for home equity loan interest only if you itemize your tax deductions on Form 1040, Schedule A. Filling out the form isn't difficult. But you might want to talk to a tax professional or use tax preparation software to walk you through it so that you don’t miss any deductions you qualify for.

The IRS assumes that everyone qualifies for some deductions, so you don’t have to itemize them. You can automatically deduct $25,900 (married couples filing jointly) or $12,950 (single filers) for the 2022 tax year, no questions asked. That’s called “taking the standard deduction.”

Itemizing can lower your tax bill if, when you add up all of your deductions, the total is greater than the standard deduction for that tax year. 

What kinds of deductions can you itemize?

Many everyday expenses are legitimate deductions. Some common ones are:

  • Property taxes

  • State sales tax

  • Mortgage interest on the first $750,000 of mortgage debt

  • Medical and dental expenses if they exceed 7.5% of your income

  • Long-term care insurance premiums

  • Charitable contributions

  • Educator classroom supplies ($250)

  • Student loan interest

  • Health insurance premiums if you are self-employed

  • Business expenses if you are self-employed or own a business

What forms do you need for the home equity loan tax deduction?

Save documents that prove how you used the home equity loan or HELOC:

  • Loan statements showing how much you borrowed

  • Receipts, contracts, and other documents showing how the funds were used

  • Form 1098, the Mortgage Interest Statement, from your lender showing interest payments. You’ll get separate 1098s for your mortgage, if you have one, and your home equity loan or HELOC.

Author Information

Aaron Crowe.jpg

Written by

Aaron Crowe is an Achieve contributor. He is a freelance journalist who specializes in writing about personal finances. He has worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers and websites for his entire career.

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Reviewed by

Kimberly is Achieve’s senior editor. She is a financial counselor accredited by the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education®, and a mortgage expert for The Motley Fool. She owns and manages a 350-writer content agency.

Frequently asked questions

Home equity is the difference between what you owe on your mortgage and the current value of your home. You build equity as your property value goes up and you make mortgage payments over the years.

Yes, although most HELOCs have a variable interest rate, some lenders offer HELOCs with a fixed-rate option. The interest rate won't change over the life of the loan, which can give you peace of mind and simplify budgeting your monthly payments.

If you're a homeowner needing funds, a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) with a fixed interest rate can be a great option. With a fixed rate, your interest rate will stay the same throughout the loan's life, making it easier to budget your monthly payments. A HELOC can be a flexible and convenient way to access cash for home improvements, debt consolidation, or other expenses.

A home equity loan lets you borrow a lump sum against your home at a fixed interest rate. Like a traditional mortgage, if you fail to repay the loan, the lender would have the right to take steps to sell it and get paid back.

HELOC is short for home equity line of credit. It is a revolving line of credit, like a credit card. You don’t have to borrow the entire amount at once but can draw money as you need it over a draw period that usually lasts several years. You only pay interest on the amount you withdraw. 

Just like a home equity loan or mortgage, when you take a HELOC you are borrowing against your home.

Most HELOCs have variable interest rates that can cause your monthly payments to fluctuate. A traditional variable-rate HELOC doesn’t give you any way to know what your interest rate will be several years from now when you enter repayment. A fixed-rate HELOC allows you to lock in your rate when your loan is approved. This lets you have a more predictable monthly payment.

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Home Equity loans are available through our affiliate Achieve Loans (NMLS ID #1810501), Equal Housing Lender. All loan requests are subject to eligibility requirements, application review, loan amount, loan term, and lender approval. Product terms are subject to change at any time. Offers are a line of credit. Loans are not available to residents of all states and available loan terms/fees may vary by state where offered. Line amounts are between $15,000 and $300,000 and are assigned based on product type, debt-to-income ratio, and combined loan-to-value ratio. Minimum 640 credit score applies for debt consolidation requests, minimum 700 applies for cash out requests. Other terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Fixed rate APRs range from 8.75% - 15.00% and are assigned based on underwriting requirements; offer APRs include a .50% discount for automatic payment enrollment (autopay enrollment is not a condition of loan approval). Example: average HELOC is $57,150 with an APR of 12.75% and estimated monthly payment of $951 for a 15-year loan. 10, 15, 20, and 30-year terms available (20 and 30 year terms only available for cash out requests). All terms have a 5-year draw period with the remaining term being a no draw period. Payments are fully amortized during each period and determined on the outstanding principal balance each month. Closing fees range from $750 to $6,685, depending on line amount and state law requirements and typically include origination (3.5% of line amount) and underwriting ($725) fees if allowed by law. Property must be owner-occupied and combined loan-to-value ratio may not exceed 80%, including the new loan request. Property insurance is required and flood insurance may be required if the subject property is located in a flood zone. You must pledge your home as collateral. Contact Achieve Loans for further details. Monthly savings claim is based on average monthly debt savings from originated loans for 2023. Monthly savings varies based on each loan situation and can be more or less than $800.

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