Home insurance is an essential part of owning a home. However, did you know that home insurance can actually be tax deductible? Let us discuss when homeowners insurance premiums are tax deductible and the insights on saving money on taxes.
Are My Home Insurance Premiums Tax-Free?
Yes, homeowners insurance premiums can be tax deductible if your home is on a loan. However, if you’re paying your insurance premiums out of pocket, you will not qualify for the deduction.
When you take out a mortgage to purchase a home, your lender typically requires you to purchase homeowners insurance to protect you and them in the event of a catastrophe such as a fire or theft. As part of the mortgage agreement, you must pay your premiums each month, and these premiums are generally tax deductible.
To be eligible for the deduction, you must itemize your deductions on your tax return. This means that you’ll need to include a list of all your deductible expenses, such as mortgage interest and property taxes, on your tax return. You can then subtract your deductible expenses from your total taxable income, which can help reduce your tax burden.
Other Tax Deductions for Homeowners
Besides homeowners insurance premiums, other tax deductions can help you save money on your taxes, including:
- Mortgage Interest: If you’ve taken out a mortgage to purchase your home, you may be eligible to deduct taxes on the interest you pay on that loan.
- Property Taxes: You can deduct the amount of property taxes you’ve paid each year from your taxable income.
- Home Improvement Expenses: If you’ve made any improvements to your home such as remodeling or landscaping, you may be eligible to deduct the cost of these improvements.
- Mortgage Insurance: If you’ve taken out mortgage insurance, you may be able to deduct the cost of that insurance.
- Moving Expenses: If you’ve recently moved, you may be eligible for a deduction for the cost of moving.
Reasons You Should Not Take These Deductions
While several tax deductions can help you save money on your taxes, there are some potential drawbacks to taking these deductions, which include:
- If you do not itemize your deductions, you won’t be able to take advantage of them.
- If you’re in a higher tax bracket, you may not benefit from these deductions as much as someone in a lower tax bracket would.
- Some of these deductions, such as mortgage interest and property taxes, are only deductible if they’re paid directly to the lender. This means that if you’re paying your mortgage or taxes through an escrow account, you won’t qualify for deductions.
As taking out tax deductions has both advantages and disadvantages, it is a good idea to speak to a tax advisor or accountant to determine whether or not to itemize deductions on your returns.
Get Best-in-Class Escrow Services from Brighton Escrow Inc.
Brighton Escrow Inc. can help you with any of your real estate escrow needs and ensure that your buying and selling processes are streamlined. Contact us today to learn more about our escrow services.
