Can I use the mortgage payment as an expense if I take out the interest and taxes?

[JJ373]

The amount I used would be money going to the principal, excluding the interest, taxes, insurance.

[MargaretL · Accepted solution]

No, the actual mortgage payment is never an expense and is never allowed as a deduction on your tax return, unfortunately.   Per IRS, you can deduct only mortgage interest, taxes and mortgage insurance on your home, but never the actual payments.