Fed extends new-auto tax break to states without auto sales tax
While we wait for the Cash-for-Clunkers bill to come out on the other side of Congress, there's already incentives available from the government that you can take advantage of when purchasing a new car. The main one is deducting the fees and taxes paid on a new car in next year's tax returns. Previously this tax deduction was available only in states that used a sales tax, but the U.S. Treasury announced this week that it would be extended to states without a sales tax like Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon.
Since buyers in those states won't pay sales tax, they'll be able to deduct "other fees or taxes imposed by the state or local government that are based on the vehicle's sales price or as a per unit fee." That amount may not equal what buyers in other states can deduct, but at least it's something and they already don't have to pay sales tax on a new car.
To qualify, the vehicle must be purchased after Feb. 16, 2009 and before Jan. 1, 2010. The deduction also only applies to taxes and fees paid on up to $49,500 of the vehicle's purchase price, but it does apply to cars, trucks, motorhomes and motorcycles.
[Source: U.S. Treasury | Image: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images]
PRESS RELEASE
Treasury Announces Additional Tax Deductions for New Auto Purchases
New Auto Purchase Tax Deduction Available in States Without Sales Tax
WASHINGTON --The Department of Treasury today announced that a tax deduction for the purchase of new motor vehicles is available in states that do not have a state sales tax. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, taxpayers who buy a new motor vehicle this year are entitled to deduct state or local sales or excise taxes paid on the purchase. The Treasury Department has determined that purchases made in states without a sales tax–such as Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon–can also qualify for the deduction.
"Building on the Recovery Act, the Treasury Department is taking steps to make sure every American, in every state qualifies for a tax deduction when purchasing a new car," said Deputy Secretary Neal Wolin. "This tax deduction not only increases support for the auto industry as it seeks to rebuild, but also puts money back into the pockets of hardworking Americans."
Taxpayers who purchase a new motor vehicle in states that do not impose state sales or excise taxes are entitled to deduct other fees or taxes imposed by the state or local government that are based on the vehicle's sales price or as a per unit fee. According to the IRS and Treasury, the intent of the provision is that these other fees or taxes could qualify for purposes of the special tax deduction.
To qualify for the deduction, the vehicle must be purchased after Feb. 16, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2010. The special deduction is available regardless of whether taxpayers itemize deductions on their returns. Taxpayers can claim this special deduction only on their 2009 tax returns next year.
The deduction is limited to the fees or taxes paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of a qualified new car, light truck, motor home, or motorcycle.
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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sea Urchin 11:30AM (6/12/2009)
Make it stop, make it stop.
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Avinash machado 11:38AM (6/12/2009)
I thought you had run out of words to say.
Justin 2:14PM (6/12/2009)
I like this. I love what Obama is doing even though I'm not a leftist extremist.
What Obama is doing is going to create the crash and burn of the American Auto Industry, and that is real change.
The same way robotic arms replaced useless union workers on the assembly line, the same way Ohio lost a lot of manufacturing job to the medical industry. Thats real change.
In my opinion, what Obama is doing doesn't necessary hurt the unions immediately, but it virtually guarantees their gradual disappearance in the auto industry.
Saxxon 6:47PM (6/12/2009)
Makes sense.
This is the same administration that gave tax breaks to people who didn't pay taxes in the first place!
The same ones who want ILLEGAL ALIENS to be covered under the socialized tax plan, paid for by LEGAL TAX-PAYING AMERICANS!
To say it is a "tax break" is a lie. The money will come from somewhere. Most likely from increases in other taxes. Or from taxes created from our increasing debt owed to China through sold Treasury bonds.
This administration is putting normal people like me and you in the poor house, so that we MUST depend on them for everything, therefore justifying their existence. While destroying the things that make this country great in the process.
You fools who voted for this moron should be ashamed to call yourself "Americans".
Yeah that's right, I said it!
Blake Luttrell 11:38AM (6/12/2009)
A gold doubloon to any man who can name the vehicle being looked at in the photograph!
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Who 'Dis? Who 'Dat? 11:40AM (6/12/2009)
the Chevy SSR come to mind for me.
Blake Luttrell 11:43AM (6/12/2009)
AYE! The doubloon is yours!
Rocketboy 12:40PM (6/12/2009)
Can he get a tax deduction on the prize?
Cougs 2:50PM (6/12/2009)
$0.50 to anyone who can tell me where that guy got his shirt...
BoxerFanatic 12:26PM (6/12/2009)
Great.
More tax money distributed to people not paying taxes.
Re-distribution of wealth by the government was one of the big points for which the revolutionary war was fought to get away from.
It is against the inception of the government to do so, and extremely immoral to seize from one to pay another, under the force of law.
When are people going to realize that?
Taxes are to fund the legitimate, and LIMITED functions of the government. To protect the freedoms of the citizenry. It is not intended to be an issue of management of the citizenry's money.
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Bubba 12:50PM (6/12/2009)
"More tax money distributed to people not paying taxes."
Yes, because people who live in states without a sales tax do not pay any taxes at all. Those bastards.
DayShifter 12:59PM (6/12/2009)
Question for you, just to make sure you're reading!!! We've all made mistakes.
States the don't have a sales tax, what are the people writing off on their taxes???
Read again, think about it..... and then see if your redistribution political babble applies.
Cougs 1:37PM (6/12/2009)
Boxer is right, the is redistribution, just done through "give backs" rather than entitlement programs.
These "tax credits" are ridiculous - they are monies that should not have been appropriated in the first place and even if they are "given back" they create a situation where the Federal Government takes more than it needs to function; think about it, where are they getting the money to run this program? If the federal government wanted to stimulate anything...they would just decrease taxes and, in turn, decrease the number of useless and ineffective programs they have.
Obviously, a certain level of taxation needs to occur for national defense...but really that is it. Any other taxes should be on a state by state basis, and the level of complexity and loophole-age of the Federal Tax Code should be removed altogether.
Frank 2:07PM (6/12/2009)
While I can't speak for other states, Delaware, although it doesn't have a sales tax on common goods, does have a "first time" registration fee based on the value of your car. So if you move to DE and register your car you pay it's book value the very first time you register it, I think it's up to 1.5% of it's value (I left 9 years ago so my memory may be faulty or it may have since changed). With a new car, you pay the percentage of the purchase price. So yes there are other fees that you must pay that you can get this credit for. I would suspect that other states have similar "fees" on cars. So it's not a tax credit for people who don't pay taxes.
Howie 12:30PM (6/12/2009)
So does TEXAS qualify for this?
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Steve 12:42PM (6/12/2009)
Chevy still has some unsold SSR's sitting on their lots? Damn!
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DayShifter 1:04PM (6/12/2009)
LOL!! I'm sure it's used.... I like the SSR, it's just butt ugly with the top up.
DayShifter 1:02PM (6/12/2009)
Hummmm.... Not sure, Chuck Norris hasn't organized a presidential press conference to address this. :-)
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DayShifter 1:05PM (6/12/2009)
That was for Howie
Frank 2:01PM (6/12/2009)
"While we wait for the Cash-for-Clunkers bill to come out on the other side of Congress..."
I guess that would be the ahem, backside of Congress.
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