Is credit card interest tax-deductible?

Asked by: Kaley Kertzmann  |  Last update: September 2, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (46 votes)

Credit card interest is not deductible on income taxes. The personal interest deduction was eliminated in the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Interest payments on home loans, student loans, and investment property may be tax-deductible. Personal expenses cannot be deducted as business expenses.

Can I claim credit card interest on my taxes?

Key takeaways

Credit card interest is not tax-deductible for personal expenses. The government stopped allowing a tax deduction for credit card interest in the 1980s. Interest on student loans, mortgages, home equity loans, and business expenses are still tax-deductible.

What qualifies as deductible interest?

Types of interest deductible as itemized deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040, Itemized Deductions) include: Investment interest (limited to your net investment income; see Publication 550, Investment Income and Expenses) and. Qualified mortgage interest including points (if you're the buyer); see below.

Is paying off credit card debt tax-deductible?

Interest paid on credit cards and car loans is not deductible.

Can you write off a credit card annual fee?

Key Takeaways

Credit card fees are not deductible for individuals and are deductible for businesses. Businesses can deduct all credit card fees as well as finance charges. Businesses are eligible to deduct credit or debit card processing fees associated with paying taxes, but individuals are not.

Can You Deduct Credit Card Interest From Your Tax Bill?

37 related questions found

Can you claim credit card fees on tax?

Because they can be classified as operating expenses, the answer to 'are merchant fees tax deductible' is usually yes. Your business pays fees to both the card issuer and card network processor to accept credit card payments.

How do I offset my credit card annual fee?

If you have a credit card with an annual fee and are no longer receiving enough value to make the fee worthwhile, consider asking for a retention offer before downgrading or closing your account. If you receive an offer, it may offset the annual fee for another year.

What debt can you write off on taxes?

To be deductible, a debt must be a bona fide loan with an expectation of repayment and may include interest and a promissory note. The debt must be 100% worthless before it can be deducted. Documented efforts to collect the debt must be made, such as letters, invoices, and phone calls.

What happens to written off credit card debt?

The debt remains yours to pay, and it will likely be sold to a collection agency, which can lead to further damage to your credit score. Because of the negative impact a written-off debt can have, you may wonder whether you should take steps to resolve it.

Are credit card statements sufficient for tax deductions?

A credit card statement can only serve as a record of payment, but a receipt may be needed to provide the details of such purchase. If you have no receipts, you cannot prove that you bought something tax-deductible.

Does credit card debt affect your tax return?

As a general rule of thumb, plan on 30% towards federal and 10% towards state. These numbers may be different based on your income and filing status. Credit card debt will not prevent you from receiving your tax refund, but it can affect how much of a refund you receive if you had a debt settlement.

Is homeowners insurance tax deductible?

You may look for ways to reduce costs including turning to your tax return. Some taxpayers have asked if homeowner's insurance is tax deductible. Here's the skinny: You can only deduct homeowner's insurance premiums paid on rental properties. Homeowner's insurance is never tax deductible your main home.

Can I deduct a car purchase on my taxes?

You could deduct your car's expenses, and maybe even the purchase price if it's low enough, when filing your taxes, and that could boost your refund or reduce the taxes you owe. But there are several qualifying conditions to be able to do this. Keep reading to learn more about deducting car expenses on your tax return.

How much interest can I write off on my taxes?

You can deduct home mortgage interest on the first $750,000 ($375,000 if married filing separately) of indebtedness.

Is car insurance tax deductible?

If you only use your car for personal use, then you likely can't deduct your car insurance premiums from your taxable income. Generally, you need to use your vehicle for business-related reasons (other than as an employee) to deduct part of your car insurance premiums as a business expense.

What is the tax form for credit card interest?

1099-INT: Interest income

1099-INT states how much interest you received in the last calendar year.

What happens after 7 years of not paying debt?

In general, most debt will fall off your credit report after seven years, but some types of debt can stay for up to 10 years or even indefinitely. Certain types of debt or derogatory marks, such as tax liens and paid medical debt collections, will not typically show up on your credit report.

Is writing off debt a good idea?

Good practice

Creditors should consider writing off unsecured debts when mental health conditions are long-term, hold out little likelihood of improvement, and are such that it is highly unlikely that the person in debt would be able repay their outstanding debts.

Is a charge-off worse than a collection?

A charge-off is generally considered worse than a collection for your credit. With collections, you typically have more negotiating power for getting them removed from your credit report.

What kind of debt can take your tax return?

That means the BFS can use your tax refund to repay: Past-due child or spousal support. Defaulted student loans, direct loans, and unpaid fines. Unpaid back taxes (federal and state)

What expenses can you itemize on taxes?

If you itemize, you can deduct these expenses:
  • Bad debts.
  • Canceled debt on home.
  • Capital losses.
  • Donations to charity.
  • Gains from sale of your home.
  • Gambling losses.
  • Home mortgage interest.
  • Income, sales, real estate and personal property taxes.

Can I deduct personal loan interest on taxes?

Interest paid on personal loans, car loans, and credit cards is generally not tax-deductible. However, you may be able to claim the interest you've paid when you file your taxes if you take out a loan or accrue credit card charges to finance business expenses.

Can credit card interest be waived?

Credit card holders who ask for a reduction in fees, a lower interest rate, or a higher credit limit are often successful. Many cardholders simply don't know that they can ask. Your odds of success improve if you keep the balances on your credit cards at a safe level.

Is credit card annual fee tax deductible?

Key takeaways

Credit card fees are not tax deductible for individuals. Business credit card fees and interest may be tax deductible if they meet IRS regulations. It's important to use different credit cards to keep your personal finances and business finances separate.

How much will it cost in fees to transfer a $1000 balance to this card?

Balance transfer fee. This fee will typically be 3% to 5% of the amount transferred, which translates to $30 to $50 per $1,000 transferred. The lower the fee, the better, but even with a fee on the high end, your interest savings might easily make up for the cost.