topic Mortgage Interest in Deductions & credits

Mortgage Interest

lkspic84 — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 19:26:54 GMT

I have two 1098's - one for a primary home and one for a secondary home. The total combined debt is less than $750,000. I have entered the 1098's which creates two Home Int worksheets that are correct and yet the Schedule Mortgage Interest from 1098 shows $0. I have tried deleting and re-entering several times. The only way to get Schedule A to include this interest is to manually enter the total amount of interest in the "No Form 1098" line. How do I get TurboTax to recognize the interest reported on the 1098's so I don't have to enter duplicate amount on the wrong line of Schedule A?

Re: Mortgage Interest

Karis_F — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 19:42:28 GMT

Both Form 1098's should show up as itemized deductions on Schedule A as long as you indicate that one is for your Primary Home and the other is for a Second Home.

After you enter Form 1098, you will get to a screen that says What kind of property is this loan for? This is where you will indicate which 1098 is for your primary home and which 1098 is for your second home.

Here is a TurboTax article with instructions on how to enter more than one Form 1098.

Re: Mortgage Interest

lkspic84 — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:13:48 GMT

I agree the interest from both 1098's SHOULD show on Schedule A, however the reason I am posting here is because they DON'T show on the Schedule A. I have designated one as Primary and one as Secondary. The Home Int worksheets show the correct information but the total interest from Form 1098 still shows $0 on Schedule A.

Re: Mortgage Interest

Karis_F — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:30:57 GMT

The other thing you can check in the 1098 entry is the screen that says Let's get some details about this loan.

The loan should be indicated as This loan is neither of these, unless it was a HELOC or refi. For those, you will need to answer the question asking if you used the loan only on the home it's secured by.

Re: Mortgage Interest

lkspic84 — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:35:40 GMT

That is an interesting point and the reason I had to go to the Home Int worksheets to check the detail. When I first entered the information for the 1098s, the program asked those questions and I responded appropriately. Again - the Home Int worksheets show the correct information and responses. It is the Schedule A Line 8a that shows $0 for interest on Form 1098. My only workaround has been to enter the combined interest on Sch A Line 8b - I don't want to file the return this way because that is incorrect!

Re: Mortgage Interest

AnnetteB6 — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:43:27 GMT

Double check the entry for line 3d of the Home Mortgage Entry Worksheet to be sure that it is indicated that the mortgage is secured by a residence of yours. If that box is checked 'no', then the interest is not deductible.

@lkspic84

Re: Mortgage Interest

lkspic84 — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:57:40 GMT

The Home Int worksheets are correct.

Line 1b: one is Main Home; the other is Second Home

3a: Yes on both

3b: has the respective interest amounts reported on Form 1098

3d: Yes on both

4: respective amounts entered - total is < $750,000

5: respective dates entered - both after 2017

6a: Yes default entry on both - I can't access this line 6b Nothing entered

9: Property taxes entered and properly reflected on Schedule A

11: No on both

12 thru 14: No on both

Limitation Smart Worksheet:

A: No on both

B: No twice on both

C: Yes on both

D: No on both

F: amounts entered and box checked for one 1098 on both

G1-9: All amounts properly summarized on both worksheets

I am about to give up. I spent over an hour on it last night. Saved, Deleted, Re-entered, Closed out, Re-opened. I have tried everything I can think of.

Re: Mortgage Interest

lkspic84 — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 21:29:06 GMT

I FOUND THE SOLUTION! There is yet another worksheet! I was focused on Schedule A and Home Int Wkst. There is also a Tax & Int Wks. There is a section on that worksheet for Mortgage Interest Limited Smart Worksheet - I have no idea where this worksheet gets information but it was incorrect. There is a line that asks "Does you mortgage interest need to be limited:" It was checked Yes. It turned Red when I changed the response to No. The solution was to enter an amount on A2 equal to the amount on A1 which is the total combined mortgage interest. Once those two lines are equal, the limitation was not applied and Schedule now shows the correct total interest paid. Whew! I'll never know where this information came from because I have tried so many different combinations and workarounds. One day wasted on Mortgage Interest but now I'm back on track.