Figure A. Are My Points Fully Deductible This Year?
Summary: This flowchart is used to determine if mortgage points are fully deductible for the current tax year.
Start
This is the starting of the flowchart.
Decision (1)
Is the loan secured by your main home?
| IF Yes Continue To Decision (2) |
| IF No Continue To Process (a) |
Decision (2)
Is the payment of points an established business practice in your area?
| IF Yes Continue To Decision (3) |
| IF No Continue To Process (a) |
Decision (3)
Were the points paid more than the amount generally charged in your area?
| IF Yes Continue To Process (a) |
| IF No Continue To Decision (4) |
Decision (4)
Do you use the cash method of accounting?
| IF Yes Continue To Decision (5) |
| IF No Continue To Process (a) |
Decision (5)
Were the points paid in place of amounts that ordinarily are separately stated on the settlement sheet?
| IF Yes Continue To Process (a) |
| IF No Continue To Decision (6) |
Decision (6)
Were the funds you provided (other than those you borrowed from your lender or mortgage broker), plus any points the seller
paid, at least as much as the points charged?
Footnote: The funds you provided do not have to have been applied to the points. They can include a down payment, an escrow
deposit, earnest money, and other funds you paid at or before closing for any purpose.
| IF Yes Continue To Decision (7) |
| IF No Continue To Process (a) |
Decision (7)
Did you take out the loan to improve your main home?
| IF Yes Continue To Process (b) |
| IF No Continue To Decision (8) |
Decision (8)
Did you take out the loan to buy or build your main home?
| IF Yes Continue To Decision (9) |
| IF No Continue To Process (a) |
Decision (9)
Were the points computed as a percentage of the principal amount of the mortgage?
| IF Yes Continue To Decision (10) |
| IF No Continue To Process (a) |
Decision (10)
Is the amount paid clearly shown as points on the settlement statement?
| IF Yes Continue To Process (b) |
| IF No Continue To Process (a) |
Process (a)
You cannot fully deduct the points this year. See the discussion on Points.
Process (b)
You can fully deduct the points this year.
End
This is the ending of the flowchart.
