Instructions for Homeowner
Homeowner's identification number. For your protection, this
equal to the sum of all payments you actually made during the year to
form may show only the last four digits of your social security
your mortgage servicer, the State HFA, or HUD. However, the amount
number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN).
you may deduct cannot exceed the sum of the amounts shown on
However, the filer has reported your complete identification
your Form 1098, Mortgage Interest Statement, in box 1 (Mortgage
number to the IRS.
interest received from payer(s)/borrower(s)), and any real estate taxes
reported in box 4. However, you are not required to use this safe-
Form 1098-MA. The information on this statement is submitted to
harbor method to compute your deduction for mortgage interest and
the IRS by State Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) or the
real property taxes on your main home.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to report:
Account Number (optional). May show an account number the
(1) payments made by either HUD under the Emergency
Homeowners' Loan Program (EHLP) or a State HFA under the
filer has assigned to distinguish your account.
Housing Finance Agency Innovation Fund for the Hardest Hit
Box 1. Shows the total amount of State HFA/HUD mortgage
Housing Markets (HFA Hardest Hit Fund) or the EHLP (State HFA/
assistance payments and homeowner mortgage payments.
HUD mortgage assistance payments); and (2) payments made by
Box 2. Shows the amount of State HFA/HUD mortgage
you (homeowner mortgage payments) under these programs.
assistance payments.
Safe-harbor deduction computation. You may use a safe-harbor
Box 3. Shows the amount of homeowner mortgage payments you
method to compute your deduction for mortgage interest and real
paid to the State HFA or HUD.
property taxes on your main home if you meet two tests. First, you
Future developments. For the latest information about
meet the rules to deduct all of the mortgage interest on your loan and
developments related to Form 1098-MA and its instructions, such
all of the real property taxes on your main home. Second, you
as legislation enacted after they were published, go to
participated in an HFA Hardest Hit Fund program in which program
payments could be used to pay mortgage interest or you participated
in an EHLP. If you meet these tests, then you may deduct an amount