Tax Incentives for Car Buyers

You probably thought that with “cash forCivic GX.  This car runs only on compressed
clunkers” done and gone, there was no longernatural gas.  There are other deductions for
any incentive from the federal government toother vehicles.  To get the information on all the
buy a new car.  In reality, however, there are stilldeductions and how they apply to each vehicle,
a number of incentives for new car purchases onvisit fueleconomy.gov.  Please note that the tax
the books.incentives for hybrid purchase are tax credits,
You can get tax deductions and dollar for dollarwhich means that they are a dollar for dollar
tax credits on all kinds of vehicle purchases.  It isreduction of your taxes.
uncertain whether or not most of these taxElectric powered vehicles have the best tax
deductions and tax credits will be extended intoincentives.  You can deduct 10% of the total
upcoming tax years, so if you are consideringpurchase price of an electric car from your taxes.
getting a new vehicle at all, it might be best toIf you are buying a new car in 2009, it might be a
make that purchase in 2009.good idea to donate your old one.  There are
You can thank the American Recovery andmany charities that will accept your old car as a
Reinvestment Act of 2009 for most all of thesedonation.  Just get a receipt, and be sure that
special provisions for new car purchases in thethe charity has a non-profit status so you can
year 2009.claim a charitable donation against the value of
There is a New Car Purchase Deduction availableyour old car.
for taxpayers who buy cars in 2009.  Under thisIf you are able to work on your old car and wish
new deduction, you can deduct excise taxes andto convert it to an electric vehicle, the federal
local and state sales taxes on a new car purchasegovernment will help you out with a 10% tax
of up to $49,500.credit against the purchase price of your
There are several deductions available toconversion kit.  You can also claim this credit,
taxpayers who purchase hybrid or fuel alternativeadditionally, even if you have filed a tax credit on
vehicles in 2009.  The biggest of thesea hybrid purchase.
deductions is $4000 for folks who buy a Honda