Special Tax Break Available for New Car Purchases This Year
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that taxpayers who buy a new passenger vehicle this year may be entitled to deduct state and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase on their 2009 tax returns next year.
“For those thinking about buying a new car this year, this deduction may give them a little more drive to make their purchase this year,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “This deduction enables taxpayers to buy now and get cash back later on their tax returns.”
The deduction is limited to the state and local sales and excise 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.
IRS also alerted taxpayers that the vehicle must be purchased after Feb. 16, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2010, to qualify for the deduction.
The special deduction is available regardless of whether a taxpayer itemizes deductions on their return. The IRS reminded taxpayers the deduction may not be taken on 2008 tax returns.
What the legislation does:
Entitles taxpayers, who purchase a new vehicle this year, the ability to deduct state and local sales and excise taxes paid on t he purchase.
What Taxes are Deductible?
- State Motor Vehicle Sales
- Local Motor Vehicle Sales
- Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes
What Customers Qualify for the Deduction?
Individual customers with a modified adjusted gross income of less that $125,000 or joint-filers making less than $250,000 a year in 2009 would qualify for the deduction.
Deduction is “ above-the-line” meaning it can be taken advantage of by itemizers and non-itemizers
Effective Date:
Vehicles must be purchased on February 17, 2009 through December 31, 2009
Vehicle Qualifications:
- Any new vehicle not more than 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight
- New vehicle of any model year
- Tax break only applies on $49,500 of the vehicle price
