Should add the Initial Escrow Payment paid at Closing (County Tax Impounds) on my home purchased in 2016 to the property (real estate) taxes value in Form 1098?

[Anonymous]

I purchased a home in 2016 and paid $1413.51 as County Tax Impounds as a part of my closing costs. There is also an Aggregate Adjustment of ($372.50) which brings down the Initial Escrow Payment at Closing to $1041.01.

Also my mortgage was transferred to a different lender in 2016 itself. Therefore I have a Form 1098 from each lender.

Lender 1 - (Original Lender)

Mortgage Interest Paid (Box 1) - $1604.64

Points paid on purchase of Principal residence (Box 6) - $4498.73

Other (Box 10) - Empty

All other boxes are empty or $0.00

Lender 2 - (Lender to which my mortgage was transferred)

Mortgage Interest Paid (Box 1) - $3551.26

Points paid on purchase of Principal residence (Box 6) - $0.00

Real estate taxes (Box 10) - $1680.06

All other boxes are empty or $0.00

So I want to know if I can add the initial tax amount of $1041.01 to the real estate taxes from second lender of $1680.06 in the Property Taxes section of Turbo Tax?

[PaulaM]

Impound accounts (escrow accounts), are simply accounts that are used by the mortgage company to collect insurance and tax payments that will be eventually paid out to your insurance company and taxing authority.

The allowable deduction would be for the amount that was remitted to the county tax authority, on your behalf ($1680.06.) If property taxes were actually paid with your closing statement to the taxing authority (not paid in escrow), then yes, you could adjust the amount to reflect that occurrence.

Most other fees associated with your settlement statement, are added to the basis of your home, and not deductible.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p936.pdf