4/7     I paid $18,650 in interest last year on my parent's mortgage for
        their home.  My name is not on the title of the house or the
        mortgage.  Is there any way I can deduct the mortgage payments
        off my large software engineering tax return, or are my parents
        the only ones who can deduct this?  Yes, I am too lazy to see
        a tax advisor.  Thanks.
        \_ see a tax accountant.  Spending couple hours could save you
           thousands of dollars.
           \_ eh, nevermind, I guess.  I called the IRS help line (no
              hold time, can you imagine that) and they said I suck
              (I can't deduct).  I don't believe making my parents
              dependents helps either.
              \_ so how much of that can you write off as "Gift"?
              \_ No hold time calling IRS?  Unbelievable!
                 \_ My parents are not a charitable organization.
                    With respect to my parents, I can give each up to $10K in
                    gifts that counts as tax-free income for them, and for
                    which I do not have to pay an extra "gift tax".  I cannot
                    deduct any of this 10K, because they are not a
                    charitable organization.
                    \_ If I'm married and both my parents are alive, does it
                       mean I and my wife together can give $40K a year total
                       to my parents without paying gift tax?
                       \_ http://ftp.fedworld.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p950.pdf
                          Or go to irs.gov, Forms and Pubs, Search, "gift"
                          The web site is really fast these days.