Deducting interest from HELOC to finance projects?

Deducting interest from HELOC to finance projects?

Vendor · Vancouver, WA · Member since 2017 · 65 posts · 31 votes

Hi

I have properties that I will take HELOC loans out on in order to finance the next property. It will be for construction, or acquisition, or fixing it up.

However, this year my accountant just told me that the interest on a HELOC is only deductible if the loan is used on the exact same property that is secured by the loan. I can't deduct the interest on a HELOC on property 1, to fix up or improve property 2. I've read some articles on this, and it appears to be accurate. If I take a HELOC, I can only deduct interest if I use the money to improve the property that is secured by the HELOC.

I would like to be able to use a HELOC loan similar to any other sort of business financing I can obtain. If I use credit in any way, I can write the interest off as a valid expense. If I buy a car for business, and finance the loan, the interest I pay the bank is a valid business expense. If I take out of small business loan, the interest is a valid business expense. If I take out a HELOC on an existing property to improve, build, secure another, I can NOT deduct that interest.

I read many articles on biggerpockets about using HELOC as a means to secure or improve properties, but can that interest be a deducted as a valid expense? How?

0Reply
25 views

Most Popular Reply

Natalie KolodijBusiness Member
Moderator
Tax Strategist| National Tax Educator| Accepting New Clients · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
7y

Your accountant is dead wrong and doesn't understand IRS interest tracing rules. § 1.163-8T

See this reply in the discussion

5 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    @Garen T. my understanding is you can write it off as long as you are using it on business expenses like the purchase, rehab or flip of a property and not personal expenses. I'm not a CPA but the advice you've been given doesn't match   @Natalie Kolodij take. Your accountant may not be correct. Does he/she specialize in RE space?  

  • Natalie KolodijBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Tax Strategist| National Tax Educator| Accepting New Clients · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    7y

    Your accountant is dead wrong and doesn't understand IRS interest tracing rules. § 1.163-8T

  • Rental Property Investor · Northern, CA · Member since 2012 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    7y

    @Garen T. The info you got from your accountant is not correct. If you take out a HELOC (or cash-out refi or any other financing) on Property A, and use it to purchase/fix-up investment property B, then the interest you pay on that financing is deductible against investment property B.

    You can research the Interest Tracing Rules that Natalie mentioned to learn more about how/why you can do this if you're interested, but the bottom line is yes - the interest would still be a valid expense for an investment property.

  • Vendor · Vancouver, WA · Member since 2017 · 65 posts · 31 votes
    7y

    Thanks everyone. 
    @natalie 

    @Natalie Kolodij, Thanks for your expert opinion on this.

    Garen

  • Clarksville, TN · Member since 2017 · 41 posts · 37 votes
    7y
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.