diego cervo
diego cervo

Before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law, homeowners were able to take out a home equity line of credit (HELOC) to pay for anything and receive a tax break on the interest. But now, CNBC staffer Darla Mercado explains, homeowners can only deduct the interest on the debt if the money from a HELOC went toward buying, building or substantially improving the home that secured the loan.

However, Mercado notes, there is a loophole: There's no clear way for the Internal Revenue Service to ensure that this is how an owner is using the money.

In theory, you could use your line of credit or your home equity loan to pay your bills or go on vacation and attempt to deduct the interest on your taxes.

"From my knowledge, banks don't verify that you spent it on what you say you spent it on," said Dave Stolz, an accountant and member of the American Institute of CPAs personal financial specialist credential committee.

"There is no box for you to check, which puts the onus on the taxpayer and makes it scarier for the taxpayer," he said.

Read More