Tax Breaks – Cheaper by the Dozen

RIVERWOODS, ILL., March 9, 2011 – Owning your own home opens the door
to many tax savings opportunities. CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business and the leading
global provider of tax, accounting and audit information, software and services
(CCHGroup.com), examines specific ways homeowners can take advantage of current
income tax laws.

The rule of thumb for homeowner tax deductions is that you must file Form 1040
and any itemized deductions must be made on Schedule A (Form 1040). If you itemize
you cannot take the standard tax deduction, but there are a number of tax credits
and exclusions that can be taken whether or not you itemize.

“Many homeowners aren’t aware of all the tax deductions they’re
entitled to take,” said Mark Luscombe, JD, LLM, CPA, and CCH Principal
Federal Tax Analyst. “Taxpayers can take advantage of deductions for 2010
tax returns and may be able to file an amended return if they missed a homeowner
deduction for a previous year.”
Homeowners’ 12 Steps to Potential Tax Savings

2010 is the last tax filing year to benefit from a refundable “first
time homebuyers’ credit” of 10 percent of the purchase price of
a new home – up to $8,000. The credit is available for homes purchased
before October 1, 2010 and the purchasers must have entered into a binding
agreement to buy the home before May 1, 2010. Furthermore, the taxpayer must
not have had an “ownership interest” in a principal residence
during the three years before the purchase.
A refundable “repeat homebuyers’ credit” is available
for purchasers who entered a contract to buy a home by April 30, 2010 and
closed on the sale of the home before October 1, 2010. The credit is 10 percent
of the purchase price with a limit of $6,500. To claim the credit, the repeat
home buyer must have owned and used the same home as a principal residence
for five straight years within a time period that may go back a maximum of
eight years. The home buyer also must be at least 18 years-old and the home
purchase price must be under $800,000.
Homeowners can exclude up to $250,000 of gain on the sale of their homes
(up to $500,000 for joint filers) if they have owned and lived in the home
as their principal residence for two out of the five years prior to the sale,
although a partial exclusion may be available for sales due to change of employment,
health or unforeseen circumstances. The periods of ownership and occupancy
do not have to be identical.
Homeowners may also take the interest on their mortgage indebtedness of
up to $1 million as an itemized deduction. The interest can be on their principal
residence and one additional residence.
For ordinary income purposes, up to $100,000 in home-equity loan interest
can also be deducted. In regards to the alternative minimum tax (AMT), interest
on home equity loans is deductible only if the loan is used to acquire, build
or “substantially improve” a home.
Points paid on a home mortgage loan for the purchase or improvement of
a principal residence are deductible in the year paid to the extent that the
points represent a customary practice in the area. Points paid on a refinancing
loan must be deducted over the term of the loan.
Through 2010, mortgage insurance premiums may also be deducted as mortgage
interest. However, the mortgage insurance had to be originally acquired on
or after January 1, 2007.
Homeowners are also able to take their state and local property taxes as
an itemized deduction. An option to take up to $500 ($1,000 for joint filers)
as an additional standard deduction for real estate taxes expired at the end
of 2009 and is not available for 2010.
If a residence of the taxpayer is rented for fewer than 15 days during
the year, the rental income is excludable from gross income and no deductions
attributable to such rental are allowable.
If a homeowner’s mortgage debt of up to $2 million on their principal
residence is forgiven, as in a write-down or foreclosure, it is not treated
as “cancellation of debt income.” This special relief is temporary
and is available for six years, retroactively for taxpayers filing amended
returns, from January 1, 2007 through the end of 2011.
If you own a home and installed qualifying energy-efficient fixtures and
systems by December 31, 2010, you may claim a 30-percent tax credit –
up to a maximum of $1,500 for both the 2009 and 2010 tax years. The American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides for energy tax credits
applying to the installation of insulation and energy-efficient exterior windows
and doors, heat pumps, furnaces, central air conditioners and water pumps.
A separate 30-percent credit is available to homeowners who installed alternative
energy equipment such as fuel cells, solar water heaters, solar electric equipment,
small wind energy property and geothermal heat pumps. Although the tax credit
is more likely to apply for businesses, it’s also available for homeowners.

About CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business
CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business (CCHGroup.com)
is the leading global provider of tax, accounting and audit information, software
and services. It has served tax, accounting and business professionals since
1913. Among its market-leading solutions are the ProSystem fx Suite,
CorpSystem, CCH IntelliConnect, Accounting Research Manager and the U.S. Master
Tax Guide. CCH is based in Riverwoods, Ill. Wolters Kluwer (www.wolterskluwer.com)
is a market-leading global information services company. Wolters Kluwer is headquartered
in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. Its shares are quoted on Euronext Amsterdam
(WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices.