When HELOC interest may be tax-deductible
In general, HELOC interest may be tax-deductible when the funds are used to buy, build or substantially improve the home that secures the loan. In other words, the money needs to go back into the home itself, not just pass through your account on the way to something else.
Substantial improvements can include projects like renovating a kitchen, adding new space or upgrading major systems such as roofing, plumbing or electrical. These kinds of improvements don’t just maintain your home, they enhance it or extend its lifespan.
If your HELOC is helping you invest in your home in a meaningful way, the interest may qualify for a deduction.
In order to take advantage of tax-deductible interest, you must also itemize your deductions on your tax return.
When HELOC interest is not deductible
Once HELOC funds move outside of your home, the tax treatment changes. If you use the money for personal expenses (like paying off debt, covering tuition, booking travel or buying a car) the interest isn’t deductible under current IRS rules.
Even if those decisions support your broader financial goals, they aren’t tied to improving the property itself, which is what determines eligibility.
Where things get a bit more layered is if you use your HELOC money for multiple types of expenses. If your HELOC is used for both home improvements and personal expenses, the interest doesn’t fall neatly into one category. Instead, it’s divided based on how the funds were used. The portion tied to home improvements may qualify for a deduction, while the portion used for personal expenses does not.
That said, if you take the standard deduction on your taxes, you won’t be able to deduct HELOC interest, even if you’ve used the funds for home improvement purposes.
Current IRS rules to know
The rules around HELOC interest were reshaped by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017. Before these changes, interest on home equity borrowing was sometimes deductible even if the funds were used for personal expenses. Under current rules, that’s no longer the case. Today, the focus is much narrower: The interest is only eligible when the funds are used to buy, build or substantially improve the home that secures the loan.
There are also limits on how much mortgage debt can qualify for interest deductions. For loans taken out after December 15, 2017, interest is generally deductible on up to $750,000 of combined mortgage debt for married couples filing jointly, or $375,000 for married filing separately. This limit applies across your primary mortgage and any home equity borrowing combined, not each loan separately.
These guidelines set the foundation for how HELOC interest is treated today. While the rules themselves are fixed for now, the cost of borrowing can still shift over time. Interest rates, for example, move with broader market conditions as well as factors like your loan type, property details, location and loan-to-value ratio. That affects how much interest you may pay overall, even though it doesn’t change whether the interest qualifies for a deduction.
How to track and document eligible interest
When it comes to claiming a deduction, your records tell the story. That means keeping documentation that shows how your HELOC funds were used and when. This can include receipts, contractor invoices, bank statements and any notes that help connect the spending back to your home.
If you’re using your HELOC for a mix of expenses, keeping track as you go can save you a headache later. Separating your costs and their documentation into eligible and ineligible categories makes it much easier to see what qualifies and what doesn’t, instead of trying to untangle everything when you’re filing your taxes.
When to talk to a tax professional
Some HELOC situations are fairly straightforward. Others can get more complex, especially when the funds have been used for different purposes over time.
For example, if part of your HELOC went toward home improvements and another part was used for personal expenses, figuring out what qualifies for a deduction isn’t always clear-cut. The same goes if you’re unsure whether a project meets the IRS definition of a substantial improvement.
In these situations, a tax professional can help you sort through the details. They can explain how your specific usage fits within current rules, what may qualify for a deduction, how to report it accurately and whether it makes sense to itemize deductions on your return.
Understand the rules before you claim
Using your home equity can open up meaningful possibilities, whether you’re improving your space, tackling long-awaited projects or simply creating a bit more flexibility in your finances.
When tax deductions come into play, it’s natural to have questions. The details are nuanced, but with a clear understanding of how your HELOC is being used and how that fits within IRS rules, it becomes much easier to navigate.
