Offset Account Basics
Offset account basics
How an offset account could save you big bucks on your mortgage
This edition of Flaming Finance is all about offset accounts. Offset accounts are a very simple way to help you reduce your interest payments, save on tax and help pay off your mortgage years ahead of schedule.
What is an offset loan?
With an offset loan (also called an offset account, interest offset account, mortgage offset account or offset home loan) you take out a home loan and open a linked savings or transaction account. The balance in the savings account is then ‘offset’ daily against the home loan.
How an offset loan works
With an offset loan, instead of receiving interest on your savings account each month, the account balance is offset against your home loan, reducing the amount of interest you pay over the life of the loan.
While you might receive between 2 - 2.5% interest on money in a savings account, most mortgage interest rates are charging you between 3.75% - 4.2%. This shows that it makes sense to SAVE the interest you are paying on your mortgage rather than accumulate interest from a savings account.
For example, if you have $20,000 in your offset account and $400,000 owing on your mortgage, the interest on your home loan is calculated on $380,000 instead of $400,000.
While your repayments remain the same, you’re paying less interest, which means you will be paying off more of the principal. If you can maintain a significant savings balance you can potentially pay off your mortgage years earlier than with another type of loan.
For home owners, another potential benefit is that the Australian Taxation Office does not always consider an offset account to be an interest-earning vehicle, which means you may not have to pay tax on any interest earned on your savings. You should seek advice from an accountant or financial planner on the tax implications of an offset account.
Getting maximum benefit from an offset loan
Your mortgage interest is calculated daily so you might want to get your salary paid into an offset account, immediately reducing the interest payable on your home loan. You can still access the money in your offset account online or with an ATM card, but because every dollar is saving you interest, it makes sense to keep the offset account balance as high as possible.
Another tactic is to use a credit card to cover monthly expenses so you can maintain the maximum amount in your offset account. At the end of the month, simply pay off your credit card with the money in your offset account. The danger is if you’re not a disciplined spender you may end up incurring interest charges and cancelling out the savings benefit.
QUICK FACTS
An offset account is identical to any other savings account with a bank card and online access, so you can withdraw your money at any time
In most cases the offset is tax free (but do consult your tax accountant)
Most offset accounts are offered with variable rate loans, however some lenders offer offset accounts on fixed rate loans, too.
The upshot? Many borrowers could benefit from having an offset account. It’s worth talking to your broker to find out more about the best option for your circumstances.