Two homes

[dwg711]

My son separated from his wife. He took our a mortgage to cover the equity from his house that he gave his wife. (He did not have a prior mortgage). His wife used the cash to buy another house and take out a mortgage. They would like to file their tax jointly. How do they treat the houses?  Do they have to treat one as a second home?

[DMarkM1 · Accepted solution]

For claiming the mortgage interest deduction and real estate taxes, the entries do not specify primary or secondary homes.  The Forms 1098 just need to be for one or the other. 

The mortgage interest deduction is an itemized deduction available to the person/persons paying the mortgage (name on the loan/Form 1098 or on the deed).  

In order to itemize, the deductions need to exceed the standard deduction.  For 2020 that is $24,800 for the Married Filing Jointly status.

The entries are made in the "Deductions & Credits" tab.  

1. Scroll down to "Your Home"
2. "Show More"
3. "Start/Revisit" the Mortgage Interest and Refinancing form" topic
4. Enter the form 1098 information requested