[ArtB]

Real Estate taxes are tax deductable on the Federal tax return. For those of us who have not paid off our bond.....this tax amount includes the annual prorated amount. What if I pay off my bond? Is the bond payoff amount tax deductible in addition to the Real Estate taxes (which exclude a bond amount?).

[BogeyBoy]

Originally Posted by ArtB

Real Estate taxes are tax deductable on the Federal tax return. For those of us who have not paid off our bond.....this tax amount includes the annual prorated amount. What if I pay off my bond? Is the bond payoff amount tax deductible in addition to the Real Estate taxes (which exclude a bond amount?).

Well ArtB, here's the good news - welcome to TOTV!

And here's what you probably would not like to hear:

The bond is not a tax, it is a non-advalorem assessment which the IRS does not allow as a tax deduction.

[ljones190]

That is also my understanding that you can not deduct bond costs on your federal income tax. We decided to get a HELOC to pay off the bond. The Heloc is not fixed and will rise with the prime rate, no danger of that happening for the short term. We have not done it yet since we do not want to pay the off the bond until we move to TV after retirement, hopefully 2012. The Heloc would be tax deductible and the only risk is the non fixed rate interest rate. Sorry HELOC= Home Equity Line of Credit.

[Hal :-)]

Originally Posted by ljones190

That is also my understanding that you can not deduct bond costs on your federal income tax. We decided to get a HELOC to pay off the bond. The Heloc is not fixed and will rise with the prime rate, no danger of that happening for the short term. We have not done it yet since we do not want to pay the off the bond until we move to TV after retirement, hopefully 2012. The Heloc would be tax deductible and the only risk is the non fixed rate interest rate. Sorry HELOC= Home Equity Line of Credit.

Often there's a loan option with a HELOC agreement. You can lock in a fixed rate loan if you sense rates are on the rise. The loan rate will be a bit higher than the adjustable but it could be worth it. Rate's are all-time low now. When they move up, there's a good chance it'll be far and fast.