The correct answer is "Excess Mortgage Interest" specifically refers to the portion of mortgage interest that exceeds certain thresholds set by federal tax laws. If your mortgage interest is not over the threshold, regardless of not itemizing, do not enter anything in that field. This causes the negative mortgage interest deduction because the excess mortgage interest amount reduces the mortgage interest. You don't want that, unless you actually have a situation where your interest is over the threshold.
If you do have excess mortgage over the threshold, then enter the excess amount in that field. This amount will deduction for the mortgage interest.
LInk to IRS.gov
The key term is excess mortgage interest.
I am not a tax attorney, CPA or EA. I am a 10yr tax professional with an IRS certified PTIN and I am an employee with TurboTax.
