Interesting People mailing list archives
more on Tax breaks for SUV's
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 13:33:06 -0500
Begin forwarded message: From: Joe Touch <touch () ISI EDU> Date: February 20, 2006 12:34:48 PM EST To: alberti () sanction net Cc: dave () farber net Subject: Re: [IP] Tax breaks for SUV's The loophole that non-commercial vehicles are being purchased using commercial tax credits is what's cute. But they want to eat their cake and have it - they want tax breaks based on weight, but I suspect many would be disgruntled if they got enforcement on weight limits. The larger question about the alternate-fuel credit: How much fuel - oil in particular - is used in creating and or/recycling hybrid car batteries? You're absolutely right about gas guzzlers - driving a reasonably efficient sedan (mine is large, 8 cylinders, and gets 30mpg highway) is as efficient as driving a large hybrid SUV on the highway, and pollutes less (in terms of battery waste). FYI: many large-hybrid owners in CA were very disappointed about not being able to drive solo in the carpool lane. They thought "hybrid" meant environmentally-friendly, so they would get a permission sticker (required). Turns out they need to get 45mpg (EPA rated) to qualify; of hybrids listed at Edmunds.com, only the Prius, Civic, and Insight qualify. None of the SUVs, and not even the midsize Accord are efficient enough. Hybrids do not get better mileage at sustained highway speeds; if you want to take advantage of their impact on the environment, you'd put them in with the stop-and-go non-HOV lanes ;-) Joe Robert Alberti wrote:
I don't think the point was that the tax break is a cute trick: I thinkthe point was to illustrate that the government pays lip service to alternative-fueled vehicles ($3,150 credit) but actually continues to encourage gas-guzzlers ($25,000 deduction). On Sun, 2006-02-19 at 08:52 -0500, Dave Farber wrote:-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [IP] Tax breaks for SUV's Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2006 23:34:12 -0800 From: Joe Touch <touch () ISI EDU> To: dave () farber net References: <43F7D17F.3010203 () farber net> Dave,The deduction for work vehicles is a cute trick but known for a long time.What would happen to these owners of commercial-weight vehicles if theycouldn't use them in their own residential areas? http://www.ci.manhattan-beach.ca.us/municode/Title_14/48/020.html Joe Dave Farber wrote:-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Tax breaks for SUV's Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2006 20:49:29 -0500 (EST) From: EEkid () aol com To: dave () farber net"Federal tax rules that took effect last month allow a credit of up to$3,150for anyone buying a hybrid car. The credit is the same regardless of taxbracket.However, owners of small businesses who buy a Hummer, Ford Excursion orotherSUV weighing more than 3 tons get a deduction of up to $25,000 — dependingon tax bracket — if they use the vehicle exclusively for work.The benefits don't stop there. Once they subtract the $25,000 from thecostof their 3-ton SUV, small business owners can deduct the depreciation onthe remaining amount. Someone who bought a $60,000 SUV, for example, can claim the remaining $35,000 over six years."_http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060218/ap_on_bi_ge/ suvs_tax_breaks;_ylt=Ai9OXKlDwlVWUrnoqpmDDZIDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl_(http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060218/ap_on_bi_ge/ suvs_tax_breaks;_ylt=Ai9OXKlDwlVWUrnoqpmDDZIDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl) ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as touch () isi edu To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ipArchives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/ interesting-people/------------------------------------- You are subscribed as ip () sanction net To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ipArchives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/ interesting-people/
------------------------------------- You are subscribed as lists-ip () insecure org To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
Current thread:
- more on Tax breaks for SUV's David Farber (Feb 20)