IRS Can't Find My 1098 Mortgage Interest Deduction Form - Co-Ownership Problem

This is actually a pretty common issue with co-owned properties. Since you pay all the mortgage but the 1098 has your son's SSN in the TIN box, the IRS computer system is flagging a mismatch. You have a few options. First, you can respond to the IRS notice by sending them a copy of the 1098 form showing both your names, along with proof that you made the payments (bank statements or canceled checks). Include a brief explanation letter stating that while your son's SSN is in the TIN box, you made 100% of the payments and are therefore entitled to the deduction. Another approach is to contact the original mortgage company. Even though they sold your loan, they were still responsible for issuing the 1098 for the period they serviced your mortgage. Their customer service should have a tax department that can issue a corrected 1098 with your SSN in the TIN box, or at least provide a letter confirming you made the payments. Don't panic about this notice - it's an automated flag in the IRS system that happens frequently with co-borrowers. You have valid documentation to support your deduction.

I went through almost the exact same nightmare last year with my mortgage interest deduction. After weeks of stress and getting nowhere with the IRS, I tried this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me sort everything out. It analyzes tax documents and generates custom response letters to the IRS. I uploaded my 1098, mortgage statements, and the IRS notice, and it created a perfectly formatted response that explained my situation - that I was entitled to the deduction despite the SSN mismatch. The letter included all the right tax code references too. The IRS accepted it without any further questions! So much easier than trying to figure out what to say on my own. I think it would work great for your co-ownership situation since it handles exactly these kinds of document mismatches. The analysis also helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed to include with my response.

Just wanted to follow up and say I used taxr.ai after seeing this recommendation and it was a game-changer! My situation was slightly different (rental property 1098 form with wrong TIN) but the service generated the perfect response letter with all the right tax code citations. The IRS accepted my explanation without any issues and closed the case. The analysis also showed me exactly which supporting documents I needed to include. Saved me so much stress and probably hundreds in accountant fees. The document scanning is impressively accurate - it caught details in my mortgage paperwork that I completely missed.

If you're still having trouble getting through to the IRS after sending in your documentation, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation with a mortgage interest mismatch and needed to speak directly with an IRS agent to resolve it. I tried calling the IRS for WEEKS with no luck - always got the "due to high call volume" message and disconnected. Claimyr basically holds your place in line with the IRS and calls you back when they have an agent on the line. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was skeptical at first but desperate after wasting hours trying to get through. They got me connected to an IRS agent in about 45 minutes while I just went about my day. The agent was able to note my account about the 1098 situation and gave me specific instructions on what documentation to send. Saved me countless hours of frustration.

I need to publicly eat my words about Claimyr! After posting my skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to the IRS about a similar tax notice, so I decided to try it anyway. I'm genuinely shocked - they got me through to an IRS representative in about 37 minutes when I had tried calling for three days straight without success. The agent was able to resolve my mortgage interest deduction issue directly over the phone since I had all my documents ready. The system works exactly as advertised - you enter your number, they call you back when they have an IRS agent on the line. I was able to do other work while waiting instead of listening to hold music for hours. Definitely not a scam like I initially thought. Sometimes being wrong feels pretty good!

Something similar happened to me and my brother with our shared vacation property. What worked for us was having the original mortgage company issue what's called a "lender's letter" or "statement of interest paid." It's basically a formal letter from the lender stating that while the 1098 was issued with one SSN, both parties are legally responsible for the debt and you paid X amount. Lenders deal with this situation all the time and most have a standard process for it. Even though they sold your mortgage, they're still required to maintain tax records for prior years. Just ask specifically for their tax department or mortgage interest verification department. They should be able to generate this document for you even if your loan was sold.

I work in a tax office and see this issue frequently. The IRS actually has specific guidelines for this exact situation in Publication 936. Since you're both legal owners but you paid 100% of the interest, you're entitled to deduct 100% of the interest regardless of whose SSN is on the 1098. When you respond to the IRS, make sure to cite "IRS Publication 936" which states that the person who pays the mortgage interest can claim the deduction. Include bank statements showing the mortgage payments coming from your account. Pro tip: If your son files electronically, the IRS computer may automatically try to assign the mortgage interest deduction to him based on the 1098. Make sure he doesn't claim it since he didn't actually pay it!

I had a very similar issue last year with my daughter when we co-purchased her first home. The mortgage company put her SSN as the primary on the 1098 even though I was making all the payments while she got established in her career. What ultimately resolved it for me was calling the IRS directly (took forever to get through) and speaking with a representative who walked me through exactly what documentation they needed. They told me to send: 1. Copy of the 1098 form showing both names 2. Bank statements proving I made the mortgage payments 3. A simple letter explaining the co-ownership situation and that I paid 100% of the interest 4. Copy of the deed showing both our names The key thing the IRS rep told me was to reference IRC Section 163(h)(3) in my response letter, which covers mortgage interest deductions for jointly liable parties. She said this helps their review process go faster since they know exactly which tax code applies. The whole thing was resolved within about 6 weeks of sending in the documentation. Don't stress too much - this is more common than you'd think and the IRS has seen it many times before. Just make sure you have clear documentation showing you made the payments and you should be fine.