Are Loans Tax Deductible? Business Loan And Personal Loan Tax Deduction

Did you know that there is a business and personal loan tax deduction? This allows you to pay less tax and realize more profit. Continue reading to find out the requirements to get a tax deduction on loan interests, when interest isn’t tax-deductible, and how much interest you can deduct. Get Approved For A Loan Today  

Are Loans Tax Deductible?

Regardless of the amount or purpose, a loan is not considered earnings or income for tax purposes. Therefore, it won’t affect the amount you owe to Uncle Sam. Even better, you can reduce your taxable income and what you owe in taxes by deducting the amount you pay in interest. But what types of loans offer a deduction for the interest paid?

Is Personal Loan Interest Tax Deductible?

No, you cannot deduct personal loan interest from your taxes. This is because personal loans are not for business or investment purposes. Therefore, the interest you pay on a personal loan is not a business expense, and you cannot write it off as a deduction. However, deducting the interests when you use the personal loan exclusively for specific expenses and investments is possible.

Why Are Personal Loans Not Deductible?

Personal loans are a type of liability. This is because the loan represents money that you owe to someone else. In other words, they are something you owe, not an expense. #DidYouKnow Personal loans are consumer loans people use to cover living expenses.

Exceptions That Allow You To Deduct Personal Loan Interests

Business Expenses

A person must show that personal loan proceeds expenditures are legitimate business expenses. Keep in mind that you can only deduct the interest paid. Examples include research required to launch a product or service, marketing expenses, rent paid for a business location, business insurance, payroll, equipment rental expenses, etc.

Qualified Higher-Education Expenses

Funds from a personal loan used to refinance a student loan or pay for college tuition may qualify as tax-deductible interest. You should consult a tax professional on whether you qualify to take the interest deduction based on IRS requirements and limitations.

Taxable Investments

Deducting personal loan interest when you purchase specific stocks, bonds, and mutual funds is possible. However, you must purchase qualified investments to be able to deduct any interest you pay. To qualify for an investment interest deduction, a person’s itemized deductions must exceed the standard deduction. Itemized deductions include amounts paid for:

• state and local income or sales taxes
• real estate taxes
• personal property taxes
• mortgage interest
• disaster losses
• charitable donations
• dental and medical expenses

Are Personal Loans Taxable Income?

Because you repay a personal loan, it’s not income, so you don’t pay income tax.

Is A Canceled Personal Loan Considered Taxable Income?

A lender can forgive or cancel a debt. The amount that you don’t repay can become taxable income. This can happen when a person defaults on repaying a loan and the creditor settles the account. Creditors send Form 1099-C to the borrower, which shows the amount canceled and may be subject to income tax.

Is A Business Loan Interest Tax Deductible?

Yes, you can deduct business loan interest. You can take this deduction on both secured and unsecured loans, as well as lines of credit. The amount depends on the purpose of the loan. Businesses can deduct up to 100% of the interest paid on small business loans used for commercial purposes. Apply For A Business Loan!

Requirements To Get A Tax Deduction For Your Business Loan Interest

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 535, you must meet the following requirements to get a deduction for business loan interest.

1. You are legally liable for that debt.
2. Both you and the lender intend repayment.
3. There is a genuine debtor-creditor relationship.

Accordingly, if you make loan payments to family and friends that include interest, you can’t use the interest paid as a tax deduction. Instead, you must acquire the business loan from a legitimate lender. Likewise, you must use the money toward a verifiable business expense such as equipment, inventory, or hiring more staff. You can’t deduct the interest if you simply keep the money in the bank without making business purchases. #CaminoTip There may be additional requirements, so in any case, you should contact a tax professional for further details. There is another situation where the loan is taxable income. If the business couldn’t repay the loan, creditors report the cancellation on Form 1099-C as income, which would be taxable.

Common Tax Deductions for Business Owners

In What Situations Is The Interest Not Tax Deductible?

• Refinancing a loan: If you use loan proceeds from a second loan to pay off the first loan, you cannot deduct any interest you pay. However, when you start paying off the new loan, that interest is tax-deductible.
• Loan origination fees paid. These fees aren’t business expenses and don’t qualify as deductions.
• Standby fees. You can’t deduct any interest included in a standby fee paid to a lender to secure a future loan.
• Capitalized interest. Interest incurred for a long-term asset is not expensed as business interest but treated as capitalized interest and depreciated over the asset’s useful life.

How Much Interest Can You Deduct?

Most small businesses can deduct the total interest paid to an accredited lender within a tax year. For example, should you have a loan that covers both personal and business expenses, you can only deduct the amount of interest that applies to business expenses. Let’s say you split out a $10,000 loan evenly between business and personal expenses. In that case, you can deduct only the interest paid on $5,000. You would need to keep thorough records to support the business expenses you actually paid. You report business loan interest on different forms depending on your entity’s business structure.

• Sole Proprietors and Single-Member LLCs should use Schedule C
• Partnerships and Multi-member LLCs Form 1065
• Corporations and S-corporations  Forms 1120 and 1120-S

Moreover, business owners should submit the current IRS Form 8990 and follow the prevailing tax year instructions when submitting their tax returns. You can keep up with the total amount of interest you pay by posting the sum to your interest paid expense account in your accounting system when you make the payment. Then, if a lender or bank sends a statement at the end of the year, you can compare the two amounts.

Treat Yourself Or Your Business To Capital

Do you see how beneficial this interest tax deduction can be for your business? Applying for a business loan may now be one of your must-haves. And Camino Financial can help. The sooner you apply for one of our loans, the more interest you can report on your tax return which means a bigger tax refund. We tailor Camino Financial loans to match your business needs. When you apply for one of our loans, you will know instantly if you prequalify.

Our loan process is transparent, quick, and simple. Additionally, it is entirely online from beginning to end.

You don't need collateral After 12 months of making timely payments, you can graduate to a second loan. Apply today for one of our business loans. You can deduct the interest on your tax return when you meet the IRS requirements. Apply now!