Tax deduction: New loan, refinanced or sold home? See our tips and advice on what you should check on your tax return.
You can lose thousands by not checking
Did you know that almost 10% of the population do not check their tax return, or that almost half only take a quick look? 2/5 check your tax return carefully, and you don’t want to miss out on the deductions you’re entitled to, do you?
We understand that many people find this with the tax return both boring and difficult. Therefore, many choose to trust that what is reported is correct
It is not always correct what is submitted automatically, there can be both deficiencies and data errors which are the reasons for this. In any case, it is your responsibility that the information is correct when you approve the tax return.
An example is a deduction for costs associated with establishing or refinancing a loan. Here, you are entitled to a deduction for the costs you incurred in taking out a new mortgage or refinancing an existing loan. You can get a deduction for what you have paid in debt interest, interest on late payment and/or interest benefit from a reasonable loan from your employer.
You can claim a tax deduction for:
- costs for taking out a loan, including establishment fees.
- financing costs in connection with the conversion of loans to obtain a lower interest rate, also costs to a valuer.
- fees to the housing association related to special repayment of IN loans (joint debt with individual repayment right)
- interest on loans from the employer and from private lenders (for example family members)
- paid late interest on debt interest, and interest and costs on credit purchases
- interest on loans abroad
You cannot claim a tax deduction for:
- interest that is due, but which you have not paid by the end of the due year (unless they are included in activities subject to bookkeeping). Such interest is only deducted for the year in which you pay it. Also for student loans in Lånekassen, deductions are only given for interest that has been paid.
- debt collection fees and costs in connection with debt collection.
- interest surcharge on tax arrears (does not apply to late payment interest).
If you change, delete or add information about debt interest, you must be able to document this with an annual statement or confirmation from the credit institution. You do not need to attach the confirmation, but you must be able to show it if the tax authorities ask for it.
Tax deduction for taxable rental accommodation
If you own a home or apartment that you rent out and you tax the rental income, you have the right to deduct maintenance expenses related to the rental unit, as well as other expenses related to the rental relationship. If the home has major maintenance needs, accounting reconciliation can be beneficial.
All costs you receive in connection with rental income can, as a starting point, be claimed as deductions.
Examples of costs:
- Municipal taxes
- Insurance for the rental unit
- Paid property tax on the rental property
- Costs for electricity, heating, cleaning (if the tenant does not pay for this)
- Expenses for necessary maintenance
- Costs in connection with driving to the rental property
Distribution of debt interest between spouses/cohabitants/co-borrowers
The loan is only reported on one of you, even if you have the loan together with someone else. The distribution and how this can be done depends on whether you are married or not. The distribution must be repeated every year, and both must actively make the change. A change in one does NOT automatically result in a change in the other borrower.
The total must be the same anyway. Therefore; if debt interest is reduced by NOK 8,000 with one, it must increase by NOK 8,000 with the other. You must change or add information about the lender, debt, debt interest and reason for the change. Both borrowers must have a 22 percent deduction from what you have paid in debt interest.
Spouses with a joint loan
When you are married and have a loan together, the spouses can distribute the deduction for the debt and the debt interest between them as they wish. It does not matter what is reported by the bank and what is the real responsibility between the spouses. It is also immaterial which of you has actually paid the interest.
Cohabitants or co-borrowers with a joint loan
When cohabitants/co-borrowers have a loan together and the bank has reported the amount only on one, both must change their tax returns. They must distribute the deduction for the debt and the debt interest according to the actual liability. Here it is also immaterial which of the cohabitants/co-borrowers has actually paid the interest.
We also recommend you take a look at these pages:
– the tax authority’s deduction guide, you can find it here
– calculation of the asset value of housing, you can find it here