Interest Tax Shield

Interest tax shield

The reduction in income taxes that results from the tax-deductibility of interest payments.

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Interest Tax Shield

A reduction in tax liability coming from the ability to deduct interest payments from one's taxable income. For example, a mortgage provides an interest tax shield for a property buyer because interest on mortgages is generally deductible. An interest tax shield may encourage a company to finance a project through debt because dividends paid on stock issues are never deductible.