Mortgage & real estate

Mortgage Interest Deduction Calculator

See if itemizing your mortgage interest, property tax and charitable gifts beats the 2026 standard deduction, and how much tax it saves.

Updated for the 2026 tax year

Estimates only. These calculators use simplified assumptions, 2026 federal and North Carolina rules and the numbers you enter. They don't account for every type of income, deduction, credit or circumstance, so your actual results may be different. They are for general information and are not tax, legal or investment advice. Using them doesn't create a CPA-client relationship with Stancil. Talk with a CPA about your own situation before acting on a result. The calculations run in your browser, and the calculator doesn't send the numbers you enter to Stancil.

Itemizing vs. the standard deduction

Mortgage interest only lowers your taxes if you itemize, and itemizing only helps when your total itemized deductions are larger than your standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly for 2026). Your tax savings come from the amount above the standard deduction, not the full interest paid.

What counts

  • Mortgage interest on up to $750,000 of debt used to buy, build or improve your main or second home.
  • State and local taxes (SALT): property tax plus state income tax, capped at $40,400 for 2026. The cap phases down for income over $505,000, to no less than $10,000.
  • Charitable gifts: from 2026, only the amount above 0.5% of your AGI.

New for 2026: charity without itemizing

If you take the standard deduction, you can now also deduct up to $1,000 ($2,000 married filing jointly) of cash gifts to qualified charities. This calculator includes that on the standard side.

Frequently asked questions

Is mortgage interest still deductible in 2026?

Yes, on up to $750,000 of acquisition debt ($375,000 married filing separately) if you itemize. Loans taken out before December 16, 2017 keep the older $1 million limit. Interest on a home equity loan counts only if the money was used to buy, build or improve the home.

What is the SALT cap for 2026?

$40,400 for most filers ($20,200 married filing separately), up from $10,000 before 2025. It shrinks for modified AGI over $505,000, but not below $10,000.

What is bunching deductions?

Bunching means grouping deductible expenses, like two years of charitable gifts, into one year so you itemize that year and take the standard deduction the next. A donor-advised fund makes this easier.