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 Form 1040
(Sch A)), 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
IRS.gov/Form1098MA.