2009 Auto Sales Tax Deduction

FACT SHEET: AUTO SALES AND EXCISE TAX DEDUCTION

President Obama signed “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” into law on February 17, 2009. The law includes a new consumer tax deduction for State and local sales and excise taxes paid to purchase a motor vehicle during 2009.

• Provides consumers a new tax deduction on their 2009 Federal income taxes for “qualified motor vehicle taxes.”
• Qualified motor vehicle taxes include any State or local sales or excise tax imposed on the purchase of a qualified motor vehicle.
• Qualified motor vehicles include passenger automobiles or light trucks with a weight rating of not more than 8,500 pounds.
• Applies to NEW vehicles only.
• Deduction allowed for non-itemizers.
• Limitation on Vehicle Price: limited to the tax on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of a qualified motor vehicle.
• Income Limitation: Phased out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income between $125,000 and $135,000 ($250,000 and $260,000 in the case of a joint return).
• Effective Date: Purchases on or after February 17, 2009, and before January 1, 2010.