
Acquisition Debt
Acquisition debt is a financial obligation taken on during the construction, improvement, or purchase of a primary or secondary residence. If the mortgage amount is more than the cost of the home, plus the costs associated with any substantial improvements, only the debt that is not greater than the cost of the home plus improvements will qualify as home acquisition debt. The IRS considers home acquisition debt to be any mortgage obtained after Oct. 13, 1987 that was used to buy, build, or substantially improve a main or secondary home. The IRS limits the total amount of mortgage debt that can be treated as home acquisition debt. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which passed Congress in December 2017, beginning in 2018, the amount of home acquisition debt (for new loans) that can be deducted decreased, to $750,000 ($375,000 for married couples filing separately).

What Is Acquisition Debt?
Acquisition debt is a financial obligation taken on during the construction, improvement, or purchase of a primary or secondary residence. Thus, a home mortgage loan is an example of acquisition debt.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides certain tax advantages for home acquisition debt. This should not be confused with acquisition financing, which refers to loans used by a business to buy another business.



Acquisition Debt Explained
Taxpayers may be able to deduct the interest paid during the tax year for mortgages that qualify as home acquisition debt. The IRS considers home acquisition debt to be any mortgage obtained after Oct. 13, 1987 that was used to buy, build, or substantially improve a main or secondary home. The mortgage must also be secured by that home as collateral. If the mortgage amount is more than the cost of the home, plus the costs associated with any substantial improvements, only the debt that is not greater than the cost of the home plus improvements will qualify as home acquisition debt.
The IRS limits the total amount of mortgage debt that can be treated as home acquisition debt. The total amount cannot exceed $1 million, or $500,000 if a married couple is filing as separate taxpayers. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which passed Congress in December 2017, beginning in 2018, the amount of home acquisition debt (for new loans) that can be deducted decreased, to $750,000 ($375,000 for married couples filing separately). The IRS considers an improvement to be substantial if it adds value to the home, extends the home's useful life, or adjusts the home to new uses.
Special Considerations
Acquisition debt can pose a risk if the borrower does not generate sufficient funds to cover required debt payments and find themselves underwater on the mortgage. This proved to be the case during the financial crisis that began in 2007. In response, Congress passed the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act to allow homeowners whose lenders had forgiven part of all of their mortgage loans to avoid having to include the forgiven amounts in their income for tax purposes. According to the provision, “taxpayers may exclude from income certain debt forgiven or canceled on their principal residence.” As outlined in the Act, the exclusion applied to "qualified principal residence indebtedness.”
Acquisition Debt and Corporations
Businesses often use acquisition debt as a way to avoid issuing too many additional shares, which would be dilutive to shareholders and do damage to their stock price, and to benefit from favorable tax treatment for debt. Acquisition debt might include bridge (short-term) loans, borrowings available under their existing revolving credit lines, and bonds.
Often companies plan to reduce acquisition debt via a term out, or replace it with longer-term loans and bonds, and using cash flow generation to pay down borrowings. This minimizes the company exposure to floating interest rates by locking in the interest rates. Extended the term of debt obligations also preserves financial flexibility by allowing the company to spread its debt payments over several years.
Related terms:
Accelerated Amortization
Accelerated amortization occurs when a borrower makes extra payments toward their mortgage principal, speeding up the settlement of their debt. read more
Acquisition Financing
Acquisition financing is the capital that is obtained for the purpose of buying another business. read more
Collateral , Types, & Examples
Collateral is an asset that a lender accepts as security for extending a loan. If the borrower defaults, then the lender may seize the collateral. read more
Dilution
Dilution occurs when a company issues new stock which results in a decrease of an existing stockholder's ownership percentage of that company. read more
Financial Crisis
A financial crisis is a situation where the value of assets drop rapidly and is often triggered by a panic or a run on banks. read more
First-Time Homebuyer
A first-time homebuyer is someone who is buying their first home. read more
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act is a tax law that compels US citizens at home and abroad to file annual reports on foreign account holdings. read more
Form 1098: Mortgage Interest Statement
Form 1098 is an IRS form used by taxpayers to report the amount of interest and related expenses paid on a mortgage during the tax year when the amount totals $600 or more. read more
Mortgage Interest Deduction
A mortgage interest deduction allows homeowners to deduct mortgage interest from taxable income. Read who benefits from a mortgage interest deduction. read more
Home Mortgage
A home mortgage is a loan given by a bank, mortgage company or other financial institution for the purchase of a primary or investment residence. read more