With a lower interest rate on your home loan,
you will have less interest to deduct on your income tax return. That, of
course, may increase your tax payments and decrease the total savings you
might obtain from a new, lower-interest mortgage.
You should be aware of an Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) ruling with respect to points paid solely for refinancing your
home mortgage. IRS regulations require that interest (points) paid up front
for refinancing must be deducted over the life of the loan, not in the year
you refinance, unless the loan is for home improvements. This means that if
you paid a certain number of points, you would have to spread the tax
deduction for those points over the life of the loan. If, however, the loan
or a portion of the loan is for home improvements, you may be able to deduct
the points or a portion of the points. Check with the IRS regarding the
current rulings on refinancing, particularly if you are using the new loan
to make home improvements.