GETTING OFF EASY? Consumer advocates have complained that U.S. mortgage lenders are getting off easy in a deal to settle federal complaints that they wrongfully foreclosed on many homeowners.

TAXPAYER SUBSIDY: Now it turns out the deal is even sweeter for the lenders than it appears: Taxpayers will subsidize them for the money they're ponying up.

IT'S DEDUCTIBLE: The Internal Revenue Service regards the lenders' compensation to homeowners as a cost incurred in the course of doing business: Result: It's fully tax-deductible.