Equity Home Loans

Home Equity loan can I deduct from my taxes?

When I got the home equity loan 4 yrs ago it was for 20% over the value of the home and I used not deduct the intrest from the loan on my taxes. In the last 4 yrs the home value has gone up and both my mortgage and equity loan have gone down. I am below the value the home now and was wondering if I can now deduct the interst from my taxes. My last apprasial 5yrs ago is for about what the loans are for, but I am doing a refi and getting a new apprasal this month which will be for much more then the current loans are. In other words can I use this appraisal this month as proof that the loans are less then the value of the home for the 2007 tax period.

Public Comments

1. no interest on a HELOC or similar is deductible only to the extent the loan was used to purchase the house or make improvements to it. yours wasn't used for that purpose and so the interest isn't deductible.