Mortgage Interest Tax Credit
The government’s policy is to encourage home ownership. To help low-income people become homeowners, the government offers certain assistance, including the opportunity to claim a tax credit for mortgage interest.
Even better than deducting your mortgage interest, you may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $2,000 of home mortgage interest paid through mortgage interest certificates. These certificates are issued to certain homeowners as a means of encouraging home ownership. The credit may be claimed regardless of whether you itemize your personal deductions or claim the standard deduction.
If you received a mortgage credit certificate from your state or local government in connection with the purchase or renovation of your main home, you may be entitled to claim a tax credit with respect to your mortgage interest. The amount of the credit is the percentage shown on your mortgage credit certificate multiplied by the lesser of:
Interest you paid during the year on your actual loan amount
Interest you paid on the loan amount shown on your mortgage credit certificate
The credit cannot be more than $2,000 if the percentage shown on your mortgage credit certificate is 20 percent or more.
You must reduce your deduction for home mortgage interest by the amount of any credit you claim.
