IRS Special Edition
Tax Tip 2009-09
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. This tax break is part of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009.
Taxpayers in states that do not have
state sales taxes may be entitled to deduct other fees or taxes imposed
by the state or local
government.
Here are nine important facts the IRS
wants you to know about the
deduction.
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. The deduction may not
be taken on 2008 tax returns.
8.
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.
9. 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.
For more information on this and other key tax provisions of
the Recovery Act visit the official IRS Website at
IRS.gov.