Save Even More Money on Your Taxes

Save Even More Money on Your Taxes

It’s no secret that we’re all experiencing higher costs and the impact of rising inflation on our pocketbooks.

The good news is that the recent Inflation Reduction Act includes some adjustments that can help taxpayers save more money for the 2023 tax year.

You’ll be able to keep more of your income with the new tax rate schedules, which raise the income thresholds for tax brackets. And it gets even better since the IRS also increased the standard deduction for married couples and those filing individually — the largest adjustments to deductions since 1985.

I’m a real estate agent not a CPA, so why am I talking about taxes? Good question!

It’s because you should know about the tax advantages of becoming a homeowner — and to stay in the know of any recent tax changes that can impact you.

Homeowner Tax Breaks

Being a homeowner can help you save even more on your taxes and help you keep even more of your hard-earned income. Whether it’s deductions or tax credits, you have the opportunity to keep more money in your pocket when you own a home.

Let’s take a look at some of the general tax perks you could benefit from as a homeowner. Of course, you want to consult with your own tax advisor for personal tax advice before doing anything.

• Mortgage interest. Interest paid on home loans is deductible up to $750,000 for a principal residence plus a second home. This can mean up to hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars in tax savings to you every year. Ask a tax advisor what that savings could be for you since everyone’s will be different depending on factors like your tax bracket, your mortgage amount, etc.
  
• Property taxes. Property taxes on all real estate are fully deductible. That means even more tax savings, and even more money you could keep in your pocket.
  
• Credit for green improvements. Not a tax break but a credit. Allows homeowners to take up to $500 off their federal income tax for making certain improvements that increase the energy efficiency of their homes, such as water heaters, furnace, boiler, heat pump, windows or roofing. Right now, this tax credit is approved through 2023 only.
  
• Investment Property/Rental Property. The cost of maintaining and marketing a rental property can be deducted from the income the property generates, without regard to the owner’s tax status. These expenses include mortgage interest payments, insurance, utilities, maintenance, repairs, advertising costs and management fees, as well as the non-cash cost of depreciation.
  
• Home office. You can deduct the costs of a home office that you use exclusively as your principal place of business. Since many of you may have started working from home in recent years, make sure you know the specifics to get any deductions.
  
• Tax-free rental income. If you rent out your own home for 14 or fewer days during the year, the rental income is tax-free.
  
• Homestead exemption. This exemption removes all or a portion of value from your residence homestead as authorized by the state or adopted by the local taxing unit on local taxes. The exemption is slightly different depending on the where you live, but generally it includes:
  • Homestead cap: 10% annual cap on the increase of appraised value of the home (10% may be exceeded if you add improvements, land or extensive renovations)
  • School taxes: $40,000 homestead exemption form their homes value for school taxes
  • County taxes: If a county collects a special tax for farm-to-market roads or flood control, a residence homestead is allowed to receive a $3,000 exemption for this tax. If the county grants an optional exemption for homeowners age 65 or older or disabled, the owners will receive only the local-option exemption.
• Effective January 1, 2022, a Texas property tax exemption changes are meant to benefit new property owners by allowing the homestead exemption for a partial year. So if you bought a home this year, you can add the homestead exemption now! GO DO IT! Previously, homesteads acquired after January 1 were not eligible for the exemption until the following tax year.
  
• Age 65 or older and disabled exemptions: Individuals age 65 or older or disabled residence homestead owners qualify for a $10,000 homestead exemption for school taxes, in addition to the $40,000 exemption for all homeowners. If the owner qualifies for both the $10,000 exemption for age 65 or older homeowners and the $10,000 exemption for disabled homeowners, the owner must choose one or the other for school taxes. The owner cannot receive both exemptions.
  
• Optional percentage exemptions: Any taxing unit, including a city, county, school, or special district, may offer an exemption of up to 20 percent of a home’s value. But, no matter what the percentage is, the amount of an optional exemption cannot be less than $5,000. Each taxing unit decides if it will offer the exemption and at what percentage. This percentage exemption is added to any other home exemption for which an owner qualifies. The taxing unit must decide before July 1 of the tax year to offer this exemption.
  
• Optional age 65 or older or disabled exemptions: Any taxing unit may offer an additional exemption amount of at least $3,000 for taxpayers age 65 or older and/or disabled.
  

As you can see, there are several ways you can save on your taxes and reap the benefits of homeownership.

Never hesitate to reach out to me with any questions when it comes to buying a home or becoming a homeowner. If you or anyone you know is thinking about buying a home, I’d love to help. I like to start with a get-to-know-you conversation and to walk through the entire process of buying a home well before we start looking at homes. Then you’re all set with a strategy that works for you particular situation!

And if you’d like to know more about how being a homeowner can help you taxwise, reach out to a Certified Public Accountant or me — I can recommend someone to help you with those estimates. (MKSellsTexas@gmail.com)