topic Problem Entering Mortgage Interest for Second Home in Deductions & credits

Problem Entering Mortgage Interest for Second Home

DoctorS1969 — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:16:58 GMT

I have a second home that my brother lives in. I do not charge him rent. When I select the option "other" for type of residence, it brings me back to the summary screen and tells me to enter the amount there. However, there is no way to do it that way. If I select the edit button again, it just gives me the same options. How can I enter this type of deduction?

Re: Problem Entering Mortgage Interest for Second Home

DMarkM1 — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 14:01:37 GMT

Assuming you are asking to enter the mortgage interest payments you made on a loan for a second home. If so, in the "Deductions and Credits" section:

Navigate to the "Your Home" topic
Find and "Revisit" the "Mortgage interest..." item.
"Add another 1098"
"Type it in yourself"
Put in the lender name
Enter the form 1098 information

Re: Problem Entering Mortgage Interest for Second Home

DoctorS1969 — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 03:17:03 GMT

Except it doesn't let me do that. I have the lender typed in. Then it will ask what type of property do I have. I select "Other" (This includes rentals you don't live in and business properties.) I hit continue. It then asks "select your property type for details on what to do next." I select "something else". That brings up the following message: The IRS lets you deduct mortgage interest for 1 primary home and 1 vacation or second home. If you have more properties, enter the loan info for your primary home and the second home you paid the most interest on. You can do this from the summary." Then I hit "Go to Summary" and I'm right back to where I started. There's no option at that point to enter the mortgage interest.

Re: Problem Entering Mortgage Interest for Second Home

KrisD15 — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 04:56:49 GMT

Yes, you need to select second home if this is the case and it sounds like it is.

You simply have a second house and your brother happens to stay there,

UNLESS you are saying you want to treat the other property as a rental that is inactive.

When you select "Something else" the interview has ended so you can't go anywhere, the program starts the interview over.

"If you have more properties, enter the loan info for your primary home and the second home you paid the most interest on. You can do this from the summary."

It really should say

"If you have any other properties, enter the loan info for your primary home and the second home you paid the most interest on. You can do this from the summary."