TAX DEDUCTION FOR VEHICLES

Where can I get information on the sales tax deduction on vehicles? I purchased a car and heard that I get a tax write off.

Igor

Igor, you have come to the right place. I can give you that information.Taxpayers who buy new motor vehicles this year may be entitled to a special tax deduction for the sales or excise taxes on those purchases when they file their 2009 federal tax returns next year. I say "may" because if your income is too high the law phases out the deduction. See item 8 below.

Here are the facts.

1. State and local sales and excise taxes paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of each qualifying vehicle are deductible.

2. Qualified motor vehicles generally include new cars, light trucks, motor homes and motorcycles.

3. To qualify for the deduction, the new cars, light trucks and motorcycles must weigh 8,500 pounds or less. Motor homes are not subject to the weight limit.

4. Purchases must occur after Feb. 16, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2010.

5. Taxpayers who purchase new motor vehicles in states that do not have state sales taxes may be entitled to deduct other fees or taxes assessed on the purchase of those vehicles. Fees or taxes that qualify must be based on the vehicles’ sales price or as a per unit fee. These states include Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon.

6. Taxpayers who purchase qualified motor vehicles may claim the deduction when they file their 2009 tax return in 2010.

7. This deduction can be taken regardless of whether the buyers itemize their deductions or choose the standard deduction.Taxpayers who do not itemize will add this additional amount to the standard deduction on their 2009 tax return.

8. The amount of the deduction is phased out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is between $125,000 and $135,000 for individual filers and between $250,000 and $260,000 for joint filers.

SOCIAL SECURITY HITS POTHOLE

For the first time since the 1980s, Social Security will have to pay out more in benefits than it will take in. The program is projected to run a $10 billion deficit in 2010 and a $9 billion deficit in 2011, but the funding gap will not affect payments to beneficiaries because the program has run a surplus in the past.

Increases in benefit applications during the recession have caused the deficits: Applications for retirement benefits have jumped 23% from the previous year, with disability claims up about 20%.

NEW FDIC DEPOSIT INSURANCE LIMITS

I know FDIC Insurance raised from $100,000 to $250,000. When will this end? My neighbor says the end of this year.

Roy

Roy, on May 20, 2009, the temporary increase of standard FDIC deposit insurance from $100,000 to $250,000 per account ownership type was extended through December 31, 2013.

Contact your bank for more information.

It is a pleasure serving you.

Larry Kopsa CPA

INTERESTING INFO FROM THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

(The Washington Times) - Within 10 years, for the first time in the history of mankind, the number of people in the world age 65 and older will be greater than the number of people age 5 and younger, according to a new U.S. Census Bureau report.

OPINION: 'States That Soak the Rich, Lose the Rich'

(Wall Street Journal) -- In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Arthur Laffer and Stephen Moore, co-authors of "Rich States, Poor States," write that "with states facing nearly $100 billion in combined budget deficits this year, we're seeing more governors than ever proposing" to "soak the rich." According to the opinion piece, lawmakers in several want to raise income tax rates on the top 1% or 2% or 5% of their citizens. The governor of Illinois "wants a 50% increase in the income tax rate on the wealthy because this is the 'fair' way to close his state's gaping deficit." The problems, the authors note, is that soaking the rich "never works because people, investment capital and businesses are mobile: They can leave tax-unfriendly states and move to tax-friendly states."

The op-ed notes that "research from Richard Vedder of Ohio University ... found that from 1998 to 2007, more than 1,100 people every day including Sundays and holidays moved from the nine highest income-tax states such as California, New Jersey, New York and Ohio and relocated mostly to the nine tax-haven states with no income tax, including Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire and Texas."

Over these same years, "the no-income tax states created 89% more jobs and had 32% faster personal income growth than their high-tax counterparts," the authors write. The authors state that, "We believe there are three unintended consequences from states raising tax rates on the rich. First, some rich residents sell their homes and leave the state; second, those who stay in the state report less taxable income on their tax returns; and third, some rich people choose not to locate in a high-tax state." Read more at <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124260067214828295.html>

ENERGY POSTINGS

'Slippery Slope: EPA Moves Forward On New Rules To Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions'

(New York Times) -- NYTimes.com reports, "Unwilling to wait for Congress to act, the Obama administration announced this week that it was moving forward on new rules to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from hundreds of power plants and large industrial facilities." Obama "has authorized the EPA to begin moving toward regulation, which could goad lawmakers into reaching an agreement." The EPA's move is "significant, because under the Clean Air Act, any facility emitting more than 250 tons per year of a regulated pollutant must meet federal requirements." Bloomberg notes that "under the proposal ... the EPA said it won't target small sources despite the way the Clean Air Act is written because doing so would lead to 'absurd results.'" Senate Republicans last week "failed to block EPA from regulating greenhouse gases from stationary sources during a debate over legislation that funds the agency." Bryan Brendle, energy and resources policy director for the National Association of Manufacturers, said, "The proposed EPA regulation of large industrial sources is a 'slippery slope' that may 'discourage a lot of investment' in the U.S." See the story at <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/science/earth/01epa.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=%2b%22National+Association+of+Manufacturers%22&st=nyt>

'Sen. Johanns: Senate Climate Change Bill Is Left Of Obama, Pelosi'

(Sen. Johanns release) – In a news release, Senator Mike Johanns this week made the following statement regarding the climate change legislation introduced Sept. 30 by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA): "This bill is an assault on agriculture. It is to the left of Speaker Pelosi and to the left of the President. It will lead to higher taxes, higher energy costs, a tighter squeeze on disposable income, more lost jobs and lower standards of living. For agriculture, the costs are real and the benefits are theoretical -- our country's heartland is in the crosshairs of this national energy tax." The bill proposes reductions of 20% below 2005 levels by 2020, compared to the (House-passed bill) Waxman-Markey reductions of 17% and the President’s proposed reductions of 14% in the same period.

'Manufacturers Voice Concern Regarding Latest Global Warming Bill'

(NAM release) -- The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Vice President Keith McCoy this week issued the following statement on climate change legislation introduced by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA): "While the legislation omits many key details, the NAM is concerned that the current draft of the Boxer-Kerry climate change bill introduced (Wednesday) will increase costs for manufacturers and consumers ... while resulting in little benefit to the environment." A recent NAM analysis "showed the (House-passed climate bill) would result in up to 2.4 million lost jobs, higher energy prices for businesses and consumers, and cumulative GDP losses of up to $3.1 trillion over an 18-year period." See the full release at <http://www.nam.org/NewsFromtheNAM.aspx?DID=%7bDAA0484A-3637-4F17-B416-566C5CF6DEFF%7d>

'Kerry convinced climate bill has a shot'

(The Hill) -- TheHill.com reports Democrat Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) said he is "convinced" that the Senate's climate change bill "has a shot to pass." The Hill notes that Kerry, a coauthor of the Senate climate bill, and other supporters of the bill have "framed the need for the legislation as a national security issue." http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/60869-kerry-convinced-climate-bill-has-a-shot-in-the-senate

'Senate global warming bill leaves out ag wishes'

(Des Moines Register) -- The Des Moines Register reports that the Senate's version of the climate bill "lacks many of the provisions sought by farm groups." The story notes that "the House bill has already been under attack from farm organizations because of the potential impact on fuel and fertilizer." See more at <http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090930/BUSINESS01/90930045/1030>

IF YOU ARE HIRING YOU MIGHT WANT TO WAIT FOR A NEW TAX CREDIT

Lawmakers and economists like the idea of a tax credit for new job creation. A proposal to give a tax credit to companies for hiring is getting support from U.S. lawmakers, as well as former Labor Secretary Robert Reich and Nobel Prize-winning economist Edmund Phelps.

Economists in the Obama administration have been researching the idea for several weeks, but the White House has not formally announced a plan. "There's a lot of traction for this kind of idea," said Rep. Eric Cantor, the Republican whip. "If the White House will take the lead on this, I'm fairly positive it would be welcomed in a bipartisan fashion."

The New York Times

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HOUSING - NOT PRETTY

Ongoing flood of foreclosures seen as threat to recovery

Home-foreclosure filings exceed 6,600 per day, the Center for Responsible Lending reports, and there have been nearly 2 million already this year. More than 6 million families could face foreclosure over the next three years, Michael Barr, the Treasury Department's assistant secretary for financial institutions, said last month. The flood of foreclosures could wash out any economic recovery, Barr warned. CNBC/Reuters (10/8)

Banks, regulators work to prevent wave of option-ARM mortgage defaults: Obama administration officials and bankers are working to stave off an expected wave of defaults on pay-option adjustable-rate mortgages, banking sources said. A large number of these so-called option-ARMs mortgages will reset and call for higher payments soon, but a vast number of borrowers already can't meet their payments. The administration wants lenders to forgive some of the principal on these loans, but banks would like to see another solution. The Wall Street Journal (10/7)

Wachovia computer bug has limited mortgage modifications: A problem with computer software is preventing Wells Fargo unit Wachovia from modifying the majority of its distressed-mortgage holders under the Obama administration's $75 billion foreclosure-prevention plan, according to Michael Heid, co-president of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Wachovia has been able to process modifications for only 2% of its mortgage holders during a trial period. Wachovia will begin processing a larger number of loan modifications under the administration's program in the next couple of weeks, Heid said. The Wall Street Journal (10/8)

REVERSE MORTGAGE INFORMATION

Recently I published a question on reverse mortgages. Here is some additional information that was just published.

The popularity of reverse mortgages -- once seen as a resource for seniors despite their high fees -- is declining. The National Consumer Law Center released a report Tuesday highlighting potential problems posed by "aggressive reverse mortgage lenders who target the home equity of vulnerable seniors." With aggressive marketing, 115,000 reverse mortgages were issued last year, up from a few thousand in 2000. Forbes (10/6) , Bloomberg

Larry Kopsa CPA

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"We learn by example
and by direct experience
because there are real limits
to the adequacy of verbal instruction."
--Malcolm Gladwell

OBAMA ADVISER SAYS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORCE US TO SAVE

Obama adviser backs automatic savings programs

Austan Goolsbee, a member of the Council of Economic Advisers and the chief economist for the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board, says he believes automatic savings programs are more effective than tax credits when it comes to getting people to save for retirement. "A lot of people have a hard time actually going down and saying, 'Take money out of my paycheck and put it in the bank,' ... but if you default them into a savings program ... you automatically have money put into a 401(k)," he said. "The evidence suggests that for a lot of people that's way more effective than even giving them big tax credits to encourage them to do it because people are too busy." The Washington Post

2009 RECOVERY TAX INCENTIVES FOR INDIVIDUALS

I wanted to make sure that you did not miss the individual tax incentives that were in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Act provides tax incentives for first-time homebuyers, people purchasing new cars, those interested in making their homes more energy efficient, and parents and students paying for college.

Here are six things the IRS wants you to know about ARRA tax incentives for individuals:

1. First-Time Homebuyer Credit Taxpayers who haven’t owned a principal residence during the past three years prior to the purchase date of a home before Dec. 1 of this year may be eligible to receive a credit of up to $8,000 on an original or amended 2008 tax return. They can also wait and claim the credit on their 2009 return.

2. New Vehicle Purchase Incentive Qualifying taxpayers can deduct the state and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase of new cars, light trucks, motor homes and motorcycles. The deduction per vehicle is limited to the tax on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of each qualifying vehicle and phases out for taxpayers at higher income levels.

3. Making Work Pay and Withholding The Making Work Pay Credit lowered employees’ tax withholding rates this year and has already put more money into the pockets of wage earners. Self-employed individuals will have an opportunity to claim this credit when they file their 2009 return. Taxpayers who fall into any of the following groups should review their tax withholding rates to ensure enough tax is currently being withheld: multiple job holders, families in which both spouses work, workers who can be claimed as dependents by other taxpayers, workers without a valid social security number, some social security recipients who work and pensioners. Failure to adjust your withholding in these situations could result in potentially smaller refunds or in limited instances may cause you to owe tax rather than receive a refund next year.

4. Tax Credit for First Four Years of College The American Opportunity Credit can help parents and students pay part of the cost of the first four years of college. The new credit modifies the existing Hope Credit for tax years 2009 and 2010, making it available to a broader range of taxpayers. Eligible taxpayers may qualify for the maximum annual credit of $2,500 per student.

5. Certain Computer Technology Purchases Allowed for 529 Plans ARRA adds computer technology to the list of college expenses that can be paid for by a qualified tuition program, commonly referred to as a 529 plan. For 2009 and 2010, the law expands the definition of qualified higher education expenses to include expenses for computer technology and equipment or Internet access and related services.

6. Energy-Efficient Home Improvements The credit for nonbusiness energy-efficient improvements is increased for homeowners who make qualified improvements to existing homes. Qualifying improvements include the addition of insulation, energy-efficient exterior windows and energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems.

For more information on this and other key tax provisions of the Recovery Act, visit the official IRS Website at IRS.gov/Recovery.

COST TO RAISE A CHILD?

Wondering how much it actually costs to raise your children? Find out by using this calculator from WalletPop.

Cost to raise a child

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Edmund Burke had it right when he said,
"All that's necessary for evil to triumph
is for good men to do nothing."

COMMENTS ON CASH FOR CLUNKERS

I received the following comments from one of our regular blog readers. I thought you might be interested in his thoughts.

"Larry, always enjoy your blog and the good business tips.

Was surprised at the piece on the clunker program. I do not think that entire math was carried out.

If 700,000 cars were sold and they were driven 12,000 miles per year, they save about 320 gallons of gas per year. Did this give the drivers additional funds to spend in the economy which could go on for several years? 560 million for the economy?

Did the sales of the 700,000 clunkers allow for auto parts suppliers to move inventory, perhaps pay down debt or invest in expansion? Did the sales of the 700,000 clunkers cause recall of unemployed workers, removing them from unemployment payments? Were auto taxes paid on the new autos? I assume that auto dealers were able to move some inventory, perhaps pay down debt.

On the down side, I think that 3 of the top sellers during the program were foreign cars. I do not know what the US content of those cars might be. Just some rambling thoughts."