Tax Q&A;: Motor Home Deduction

Q: We purchased a 26-foot Class C motor home this year. The salesman told us the interest on our loan would be deductible just as if it were a second home. Other people say this is not so. Can you clarify this?

A: IRS rules state that a personal residence generally includes a house, condominium, mobile home, boat or house trailer that contains sleeping space, toilet and cooking facilities. The loan must be secured by the motor home for you to be able to deduct the interest as a personal residence. If you have multiple homes that qualify as residences, you may claim only two in any year, although each year you may change which two you use for your deductions.

--JAMES C. COUNTS II, Hemet

For more information on taxes and to see other questions and answers in this series, go to The Times’ Web site at https://www.latimes.com/taxes. To find a CPA, visit the California Society of CPAs at https://www.calcpa.org.