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Mortgage Interest and Standard Deduction

Why should I take the standard deduction of $25,100 when my mortgage interest alone is over $31,000?

 

Our home was purchase BEFORE 2017.

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3 Replies
AmyC
Expert Alumni

Mortgage Interest and Standard Deduction

You would not. Double check that the program is giving you full credit on your sch A.

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Mortgage Interest and Standard Deduction

Thanx, AmyC...

 

Unfortunately, I think my research has led me to a (more) correct answer.  My stocks outperformed the market last year, and my total income exceeded $550k.  Accordingly, it looks like the mortgage deduction doesn't apply.

 

I'm STILL not quite sure this is correct.  However, I cannot get TurboTax to acknowledge the $20K in mortgage expense as being "better" than the the standard $25K

AmyC
Expert Alumni

Mortgage Interest and Standard Deduction

Yes, now that you mention income.  Publication 17 states:

"Who is subject to limitation? 

You are subject to the limit on certain itemized deductions if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is more than $313,800 if married filing jointly or Schedule A (Form 1040) qualifying widow(er), $287,550 if head of household, $261,500 if single, or $156,900 if married filing separately. Your AGI is the amount on Form 1040, line 38.
 

Which deductions are limited? 

The following Schedule A (Form 1040) deductions are subject to the overall limit on itemized deductions.

  • Taxes paid—line 9.
  • Interest paid—lines 10, 11, 12 and 13. 
  • Gifts to charity—line 19.
  • Job expenses and certain miscellaneous deductions—line 27.
  • Other miscellaneous deductions—line 28, excluding gambling and casualty or theft losses.

Which deductions are NOT limited? 

The following Schedule A (Form 1040) deductions aren't subject to the overall limit on itemized deductions. However, they are still subject to other applicable limits.

  • Medical and dental expenses—line 4.
  • Investment interest expense—line 14.
  • Gifts by cash or check that you elect to treat as qualified contributions—included on line 16.
  • Casualty and theft losses of personal use property—line 20.
  • Casualty and theft losses of income-producing property—line 28.
  • Gambling losses—line 28."

For more information on itemized deduction limitations, see Schedule A instructions

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