What can I do if my ex-husbands SSN is on the mortgage 1098 but I solely pay the mortgage? IRS has flagged this on 2014 return. How can avoid this on future returns?

[lac6064]

Wells Fargo will not let me change any info on the loan. Re-financing is not an option so I am looking for the correct way to avoid getting flagged every year by the IRS until the loan can be re-financed.

[SweetieJean]

Does your divorce decree say anything about this?  Do you in the home that has that mortgage?  Were you still married on 12/31/2014?

[bwa · Accepted solution]

You can enter mortgage interest in two ways, and there is a line in Turbotax and on IRS's Schedule A itemized deductions for both.

• Way 1:  Enter it as mortgage interest on Form 1098
• Way 2:  Enter it as mortgage interest not on Form 1098.

The IRS only addresses the first name and SSN listed on a Form 1098.  If yours is the second name listed, enter it as mortgage interest not on Form 1098.  That way, the IRS won't try to match it with a Form 1098 that doesn't list you as the first listed borrower.

[SweetieJean]

But won't the IRS then try to match the 1098 to her ex's tax return?

[bwa]

Yes, they will.  However, if he's not claiming the interest they won't bother to ask why, and if he is claiming interest that he didn't pay, then he has a problem.  The poster doesn't.