Adding name to title will help with taxes
Detroit Free Press, January 21st, 2006
Dear Bob: For the last six years, I have lived in my mother's house to take care of her, as she is very senile.
I have been making the mortgage payments and paying the property taxes.
However, when I had my income taxes prepared last year, I was told I am
not entitled to these deductions because my name is not on the title
and my mother's name and Social Security number are on the mortgage.
Is this true? -- Michele M.
Dear Michele: Yes. The reason you are not entitled to claim
those itemized deductions on your personal income tax return is you
have no legal obligation to make those payments. You may have a moral
obligation to help your mother, but that doesn't count with the IRS.
However, this problem is easily solved. If your mother is capable of
signing a quitclaim deed, she can add your name to her title, perhaps
by holding title in joint tenancy with right of survivorship. Her name
would remain on the title but you would be legally obligated for those
payments you have been making and can claim them as itemized deductions
on your personal income tax returns.
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