A large amount of factors contribute to whether or not a refinance is going to
be a
profitable venture for you. For instance, refinancing to a
lower rate will mean less tax benefit for you. In some cases, this may make
refinancing a poor financial decision. The presence of a
mortgage tax may also damage the benefits that a refinance
could bring you otherwise. It’s important to take your tax situation into
account when you think about
refinancing.
Mortgage Tax
If your state levies a tax on
home loans, you may have to pay it again when you refinance. Still, there are a
number of factors that can affect how much you do or do not pay, not the least
of which is individual state tax laws.
- In some cases, if you are refinancing very recently after your initial
mortgage, the state may not require you to pay the tax again.
- Depending on the state, the lender may be required to cover most or all of
this tax anyway.
- You could negotiate with your lender to cover this cost, especially if they
want to keep your business.
- It takes more paperwork, but there is the option of reassigning the previous
mortgage to a new lender, rather than starting a new mortgage. Both lenders
would have to sign off on this arrangement, with your previous mortgage adapting
to the new terms with the new lender. This way, you would skirt the state tax
because there would technically not be a new loan to tax. There are legal fees
involved, so you would have to weigh these against how much you’ll save on
taxes.
Deductions
When you purchased your initial mortgage, any points
you paid on the loan were deductible in that tax year as one, rather large, lump
sum. When refinancing, this same deduction is amortized over the period of your
loan. For example, if your refinanced loan is for $200,000 and you decide to pay
two points up front (2%=$4,000) on a 20-year mortgage, you would end up with a
$200 deduction every year for 20 years (rather than a one-time $2,000
deduction). If you decide to sell the home or refinance again, however, you can
claim the remaining deductions at once.
Did You Know?
The situation is similar for cash-out refinances. The tax benefits you can receive will be
amortized over the period of your loan.
If you itemize deductions on your
return, you’ll find that a refinance will inhibit your ability to claim loan
insurance on your taxes. If you use the proceeds of your refinance for home
improvement, you can deduct the entirety of the insurance, but if you use it for
any other reason, there will be restrictions. If you are used to making
deductions based on the insurance on your mortgage, you’ll want to factor this
into your decision of whether or not a refinance is a good idea.
Each
person’s tax situation is going to be different, so ask your accountant about
these issues. He or she will be able to look at your individual needs and help
you determine the best course of action.