Why is there no 1098 Box 6 on the turbo tax program? It has 1,2,3,5,7,11 - does it just not matter? Box 6 is the money spent on mortgage points. Thank you

[Vanessa A]

As you walk through after entering your 1098, you will be asked "Tell us about any point paid to xx.  If you bought the home in 2022, then you will be given the option to enter all of your points.  If the loan was prior and you have been amortizing your points over the life of the loan, you will select the "I'm spreading the points over the life of my loan"

On the next screen, based on which box you check, you will be given the chance to enter your points you paid. 

[LMO67]

The solution posted does not work for me.  I selected spread over the life of the loan and the next screen does not let me enter the points.  How do I get these in there?

[LindaS5247]

Usually, your lender will send you Form 1098, showing how much you paid in mortgage points and mortgage interest during the year. Transfer this amount to line 8a of Form 1040 Schedule A. If any of your points were not included on Form 1098, enter the additional amount you paid on line 8c of Form 1040 Schedule A.

After you enter your form 1098 Mortgage Interest, continue with the interview and you'll get to the screen where you can enter Form 1098 Mortgage Interest Box 6, points.

In general, points are deductible in the year paid IF you use your loan to "buy or build your main home."  There are several "tests" that your loan has to meet in order to be able to deduct the points in the year paid:  

1. Your main home secures your loan (your main home is the one you live in most of the time).
2. Paying points is an established business practice in the area where the loan was made.
3. The points paid weren't more than the amount generally charged in that area.
4. You use the cash method of accounting. This means you report income in the year you receive it and deduct expenses in the year you pay them.
5. The points paid weren't for items that are usually listed separately on the settlement sheet such as appraisal fees, inspection fees, title fees, attorney fees, and property taxes.
6. The funds you provided at or before closing, including any points the seller paid, were at least as much as the points charged. You can't have borrowed the funds from your lender or mortgage broker in order to pay the points.
7. You use your loan to buy or build your main home.
8. The points were computed as a percentage of the principal amount of the mortgage, and
9. The amount shows clearly as points on your settlement statement.
    

If you are using TurboTax desktop after you enter the mortgage interest and property taxes on the screen that says "Let's Get the Details . . ." and you click on continue the next screen asks you about points "Tell Us About Points . . ."  If you click on the first box 

The next screen will ask you for information about the points

TurboTax Online asks the same questions but the screens look a little different.  If you go through the mortgage interest screens you will come to the screen that asks about points.

You can also try these steps:

1. Click on Federal > Deductions & Credits.
2. In the Your Home section, click on the Start/Revisit box next to Mortgage Interest, Refinancing, and Insurance.  
3. If you haven't entered any mortgage information yet, just proceed through the screens, entering the requested information on your mortgage. 
4. If you've already entered information on your mortgage, you will see the Mortgage Deduction summary screen.  Click Edit next to your lender. 
5. On the screen, Did you pay points in 2022 when you took out the loan?  mark the first radio button If you took out the loan to purchase the home or refinanced to improve your main home.
6. If you refinanced your mortgage and did not improve the property, mark the second radio button. 
7. On the next screen, enter the amount of points reported to you.
8. Proceed through the screens, entering the requested information.