The government of the United States takes various steps to support families (or single individuals) with low income so they can afford a life of adequate quality. One such example is a credit people can use to cover their mortgage interest when they buy real property. The US Internal Revenue Service (or IRS) has developed a template that applicants can use to receive the credit: IRS Form 8396.
If you think it is enough to just have a low income to use this form, unfortunately, you are wrong. This form can be used only by taxpayers who participate in the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) program. These certificates are given to property buyers by governmental agencies (either on a state or local level).
There are different programs you can apply to. They vary from state to state. But the limit for such credit, in general, coincides in all American areas: you cannot get more than 2,000 US dollars. Besides counting the current credit, the form also allows you to move parts of your credit from previous to next years.
It is relatively easy to complete this template in comparison with many other forms proposed by the Service. You will have to work with numbers that define your interest, previous credits, and other figures. The form consists of two pages: you have to fill out the first page and a small part on the second page. However, the second page is added mostly for instructions you are welcome to use.
If you do not feel like working with numbers and believe that you may fail or make mistakes, it is recommended to ask a tax expert for a consultancy or even for the form completion instead of you. You will just have to provide them with all the required numbers. Remember that you cannot add untruthful or incorrect data in the form; the Service imposes various punishments for such deeds.
We have added a brief manual so you know what lines in the form you should fill out. Read each line attentively before you write anything in there. Again, in case of any doubts, it is better to pass the task to someone else who has enough knowledge.
1. Find the Relevant Form Template
Before entering any data anywhere, you have to ensure that the template you are using is correct. It must have the current year on top (right-hand side). You can get IRS Form 8396 here: our form-building software will generate it for you easily. The form is also available on the Service’s official site, but you may spend a lot of time there while you look for it.
2. Add Your Personal Info
Even though you will attach this document to your tax return (1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR Form), you still have to introduce yourself to the Service. You have to fill out six lines here.
Step by step, indicate your name (the same as in your return), SSN (or social security number), the address of the property for which your MCC had been issued (if it differs from the address you had entered in your return). Then, state who had issued the certificate, its number, and the date when you received it.
3. Read the Suggested Form Statement
You will see a statement telling what numbers you have to prepare for the form’s first part. Read it carefully and do what you are asked to do.
4. Count the Current Year’s Credit
You will calculate the current year credit in Part I. Insert interest paid on the amount described in the first line, then add the required numbers from your certificate. Below, provide calculations as asked. Use the Service’s guide to figure out the result you should enter in the form. Use your previous 8396 Forms to write numbers in the following lines.
Then, scroll to the current form’s second sheet and fill out a worksheet there. You will keep the worksheet in your archives, but you have to fill it out to take one number from there and add it in Part I. In line 9, you will define the current credit. Copy the result from here to your tax return (the template gives info on where exactly you should copy it).
5. Complete Part II (If Needed)
In the heading of Part II, you will see a condition that obliges you to complete this part. Read it and understand if it is applicable (you should get back the first part and compare some numbers).
Basically, by completing Part II, you will define the credit you will carry to the next year. Every line here demands various calculations from you. Follow the template to provide correct numbers and determine the carryforward amount.
We have already mentioned that you should attach this record to your tax return. Every year the Service sets a deadline for the whole package (your return and all the needed add-ons). This year (2021), you have to submit everything no later than April 15.
You can use one of the offered delivery methods: either go to the local post office and send everything in paper form (check the address on the Service’s site) or use a specifically developed electronic system to submit all the forms digitally. The Service encourages taxpayers who file their papers online because they are received and processed much faster.
Generally, if you want to know more about mortgages, interest credits, and procedures tied to property sales in the US, you can use the IRS tips and guidelines. It is recommended to read the Service’s Publications on the topic (523, 530, and 972). All of them are accessible online and will probably answer your questions and let you discover more information on the topic.
