Is Construction Loan Interest Tax Deductible?

The Internal Revenue Service has one set of rules governing the deduction of construction interest on residential property you occupy and a different set of rules for construction interest on rental properties. Although the IRS generally disallows deduction of interest during the construction period, it does allow you to depreciate construction-related interest paid on commercial projects. It also allows you to deduct some interest paid on residential construction as long as you occupy the building immediately after it's completed.

​Consider Also​: Mortgage Interest Deduction: Definition, Qualifications And Guide For Taxes for Year 2020

The IRS rules governing deduction of interest on commercial construction are a little tricky. If you're constructing a building that you intend to rent out -- an apartment complex, for instance -- you will normally secure financing prior to beginning construction for such things as permits, surveys, soil reports and architectural and engineering fees.

The IRS treats interest that accrues on the money you draw from the construction loan until actual construction begins as a current business expense that is fully deductible against income in the tax year the interest is paid. Once construction begins, it is not deductible. This includes both the interest on amounts drawn before construction and amounts drawn during construction.

Once construction ends, all further interest payments become fully deductible as a current business expense.

Although you can't deduct interest paid on construction of commercial projects during the actual construction period, the IRS does allow you to add mortgage interest to the cost basis of residential rental property and to depreciate it over the allowed depreciation period.

For property placed in service after ​1986​, which is subject to the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System, or MACRS, this is normally ​27.5 years​. The detailed calculation of MACRS depreciation in some circumstances – such as the year of acquisition and the year of sale – can become complicated, so you might want to get advice from a certified public accountant.

The IRS allows residential property owners to deduct interest paid during the period of occupancy, subject to the ​$375,000​ limit if married filing separately or ​$750,000​ mortgage limit if filing jointly. Previous to 2018, the limit was ​$500,000​ for filing separately and ​$1 million​ for joint filers.

In Publication 936, you'll notice that interest on secured construction loans on residential properties can be tax deductible for up to ​24 months​ only if the property is lived in at or before the 24 month deadline. In all cases, you take this as an itemized deduction on your Schedule A.

​Consider also​: An Overview of Itemized Deductions: Definitions, How to Claim and Limitations

Interest paid on debt for construction or purchase of second homes is subject to the same rules as interest paid on your primary residence. The deduction limits are cumulative, however. If you have a $600,000 mortgage on your primary residence and a $500,000 mortgage on your second home, the interest on only ​$750,000​ of the $1.1 million mortgage debt is deductible.