My loan officer messed up and is requesting first mortgage payment over a year later. Which year does this mortgage payment go on taxes?

[osusimpsoro]

I refinanced my home mortgage July 2016 (cash out refi). It's now Jan 2018 and I got a letter from my loan officer that they did an internal audit and found out I never paid them for first month's payment (they paid the first month before my current loan service took over and never told me, something the company missed). Looking at my records, this appears to be true. I'll be making the payment this month (Jan 2018). Does this mortgage payment interest go on my 2018 taxes? Or should I request the loan officer to send me a tax document for this payment in 2016 and file an amended 2016 return? Thanks!

[IreneS · Accepted solution]

Mortgage interest is deductible in the year you made the payment.  If you made the payment in January 2020, it should be reflected in the 1098 issued by the mortgage company next year.  This will go on your 2020 return.

[Edited | 4/8/2020 |  1:16pm PDT]

[retiree]

You can only claim the interest payment in the year you actually make it.  Of course if the loan is now a Home Equity Loan (instead of a mortgage)  The interest for HEL (HELOC)  is no longer deductible per the recent tax changes.