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Revenue Costs and Incentive Effects of the Mortgage Interest Deduction for Owner-Occupied Housing

In: Economic Analysis of Tax Expenditures

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  • James M. Poterba
  • Todd Sinai

Abstract

We analyze how changes in the income tax deduction for home mortgage interest would affect loan-to-value ratios on owner-occupied homes, the distribution of income tax liabilities, and the consumption of housing services. Using the 2004 Survey of Consumer Finances, we estimate that repealing the mortgage interest deduction in 2003 would have raised federal and state income tax revenues by $72.4 billion in the absence of any household portfolio adjustments, but by only $58.5 billion if homeowners drew down financial assets to pay down their mortgage debt.
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Suggested Citation

  • James M. Poterba & Todd Sinai, 2008. "Revenue Costs and Incentive Effects of the Mortgage Interest Deduction for Owner-Occupied Housing," NBER Chapters, in: Economic Analysis of Tax Expenditures, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberch:13142
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    1. Martin Gervais & Manish Pandey, 2008. "Who Cares About Mortgage Interest Deductibility?," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 34(1), pages 1-24, March.
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