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Tax software and clean fuel deduction

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by voltswagon, Oct 21, 2004.

  1. voltswagon

    voltswagon New Member

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    So I got to thinking about filing my taxes in a few months and looked up the IRS instructions for claiming the $2000 clean fuel deduction. It states you should write in "clean fuel" and the amount of $2000 on line 33 of form 1040. I have always used tax software like Turbo Tax or Tax Cut and filed electronically. Did any of you who got your Prius last year use one of these and if so how did they handle this deduction? I hate to think I will have to file a paper copy because of the fact the IRS didn't create a line item for our hybrid auto deduction.
    Thanks!
    Bob
     
  2. ToothYoda

    ToothYoda New Member

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    No problem with Turbo Tax.
     
  3. windsurfdog

    windsurfdog New Member

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    Am I missing something or was the $2000 tax credit mentioned above just for LAST tax year, $1500 for THIS year, $1000 next and $500 the year after next? Wanna make sure I get the most for my 4/04 purchase.
    8)
     
  4. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    Yes, you did miss something. The 2000 DEDUCTION, not credit, was extended for 2004 and 2005. After that, it returns to its regularly scheduled reduction of $500 in 2006, unless congress extends it again.

    And, another add-on congress just recently passed is if you are in a state that does not have income tax, like here in Florida, you can itemize a tax deduction for sales tax for this and next year. But again, the sales tax deduction is only if you itemize.
     
  5. seasalsa

    seasalsa Active Member

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    I used TaxCut last year and there was a line item for the Clean-Burning Fuel Deduction. I will be taking mine this year as well as the Sales Tax Deduction that will be allowed for Washington residents this year.
     
  6. cmympg

    cmympg Who knows? Who cares?

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    I went to an IRS seminar earlier this week - a taxpayer can either take the deduction for state income taxes paid OR sales taxes paid on schedule A. The way I understood it was you can choose whichever is better for you.

    Now, how many of you have been saving all your receipts for 2004 to claim the sales tax deduction? Yep, that's what I expected. Even the IRS spokesperson wondered when the sales tax tables that we used to use years ago would be available for us to use on 2004 returns.

    Sorry for drifting away from the clean fuel deduction.
     
  7. windsurfdog

    windsurfdog New Member

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    Thanks, DanMan! I've obviously been away from this board lately.....sorry for having to have you catch me up. That extra $500 deduction will certainly come in handy. Also, I, too, am a Florida resident. Though I don't have all of my sales tax receipts, I certainly have a big one for the Prius!
    Once again, thanks......
    8)
     
  8. voltswagon

    voltswagon New Member

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    Well I am glad to hear that I won't have a problem using either TurboTax or Taxcut. The news that the deduction had been put back to $2000 was good (of course a tax credit which was in the original bill would have been even better). I doubt that many folks factor the tax break into their purchasing decision for a Prius but it sure is icing on the cake.
    Bob
     
  9. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    The original bill always had it as a deduction for a hybrid. The credit was for electric vehicles, and possibly other zero emissions vehicles.
     
  10. m6scott

    m6scott Junior Member

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    Ok I live in FL but I leased my Prius does that matter on the deduction? Wow Its $2000 I thought it was $1500 for 04 models... :roll:
     
  11. cmympg

    cmympg Who knows? Who cares?

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    m6scott, the law says the reduction in income is for owned vehicles only - leases don't qualify. Sorry.
     
  12. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    Hey all, if you are a TurboTax user, and trying to apply the Clean Fuel deduction, here's a tip.

    Be sure the first checkbox: "does this vehicle use a clean fuel" is checked, or else it won't prompt you for the vehicle model, and won't apply the deduction, and it won't even tell you it thinks your vehicle doesn't apply.
    I was hesitant to check this, since it doesn't use a clean fuel, but is in the clean fuel category. It does then apply the $2000 clean fuel deduction to your adjusted gross income, in the same location an IRA deduction is placed. If I hadn't looked here, I might have lost that deduction I am entitled to.

    TurboTax, if you are listening, that was a poor way of handling it.
     
  13. tag

    tag Senior Member

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    Here's a screenshot:
     
  14. tag

    tag Senior Member

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    Oh, and I agree with Dan; not a good way to handle this situation.
     
  15. karmavore

    karmavore New Member

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    Question: Aside from the three hybrids out there in 2004 (Prius, HCH, Insight), to which vehicles could the $2000 deduction apply? Does it even apply to the HCH?

    Just Curious,
    Brad
     
  16. tag

    tag Senior Member

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    Yes, it applies to the HCH and, in addition to the others, the Escape hybrid.
     
  17. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    Thanks Tag for the screenshot. Was going to do that tonight.
     
  18. prius04

    prius04 New Member

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    Now I've heard in the past that IRS spokespeople often have their facts wrong, but this one is glaring. The tax tables that we "used years ago" are already available for 2004 and have been available for quite some time. Here's a PDF of the tables: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p600.pdf

    And to those who will likely use the sales tax deduction, you can use the tables to estimate your "base" deduction, and then add a major purchase to it. So you are not forced to save all your receipts in order to deduct the a car or boat that you might acquire.
     
  19. chanterelle

    chanterelle Member

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    Just because someone works for the IRS doesn't make them a spokesperson. There are only about 10 spokespersons nationwide for the organization -- in Washington DC and in each of the "Area Offices".

    Everyone else.... possibly knowledgeable, possibly not. YMMV

    Also, I got Taxcut, and it did put the $2,000 deduction in the proper spot on the return. So I think that if you use either Turbo Tax or Taxcut, it will be able to show the proper deduction on your tax return.
     
  20. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    I don't like how turbotax worked with the hybrid deduction (as mentioned above) or the sales tax deduction. it should have set up a worksheet or two, instead it asks for your tax rate, then single field for amount to add for big ticket items.
    I also replaced my central air this summer, so I added an estimate on salestax for that.
    I had to estimate because it had a flat price, and labor is not taxable.