Instructions for Homeowner
Form 1098-MA. The information on this statement is submitted to
the IRS by State Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) to report
(1) payments made by a State HFA under the Housing Finance
Agency Innovation Fund for the Hardest Hit Housing Markets
(HFA Hardest Hit Fund) (State HFA mortgage assistance
payments), and (2) payments made by you (homeowner mortgage
payments) under this program.
Homeowner’s taxpayer identification number (TIN). For your
protection, this form may show only the last four digits of your TIN
(social security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification
number (ITIN)). However, the filer has reported your complete TIN
to the IRS.
Safe-harbor deduction computation. You may use a safe-
harbor method to compute your deduction for mortgage interest,
mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) (if deductible, see Schedule
A (Form 1040 or 1040-SR)), and real property taxes on your main
home if you meet two tests. First, you meet the rules to deduct all
of the mortgage interest on your loan, all of your MIP, and all of
the real property taxes on your main home. Second, you
participated in an HFA Hardest Hit Fund program in which
program payments could be used to pay mortgage interest. If you
meet these tests, then you may deduct an amount equal to the
sum of all payments you actually made during the year to your
mortgage servicer or the State HFA. However, the amount you
may deduct cannot exceed the sum of the amounts shown on
your Form 1098 in box 1 (Mortgage interest received from payer
(s)/borrower(s)), any deductible MIP reported in box 5, and real
estate taxes reported in box 10. However, you are not required to
use this safe-harbor method to compute your deduction for
mortgage interest and real property taxes on your main home.
Account number (optional). May show an account number the
filer has assigned to distinguish your account.
Box 1. Shows the total amount of State HFA mortgage assistance
payments and homeowner mortgage payments.
Box 2. Shows the amount of State HFA mortgage assistance
payments.
Box 3. Shows the amount of homeowner mortgage payments you
paid to the State HFA.
Future developments. For the latest information about
developments related to Form 1098-MA and its instructions, such
as legislation enacted after they were published, go to
www.irs.gov/Form1098MA.