Tax Credits And Deductions

Credits For Energy-Efficient Home Improvements

Energy credits which previously expired for 2008 are back in 2009 with even higher limits under the Recovery Act. The Recovery Act provides a credit of 30 percent of the cost, up to $1,500, for qualified improvements placed in service during 2009 and 2010. Improvements include adding insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors, and energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems to a principal residence. Other improvements such as geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels and small wind energy systems can be made to any home, including vacation and rental homes, and are not subject to the $1,500 limit. To qualify for a credit you must receive and retain a Manufacturer Certification Statement. More information regarding what products qualify as energy efficient is available at www.energystar.gov.

Sales Tax Deduction on New Vehicle Purchases

Sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase of new cars, light trucks, motor homes and motorcycles purchased between February 16, 2009, and December 31, 2009, may be deducted on your 2009 income tax return. The deduction is available to both taxpayers who itemize deductions and who claim the standard deduction and is available with respect to multiple vehicles. The deduction is limited to sales tax paid on the first $49,500 of the purchase price and is phased out for individual and joint filers with modified adjusted gross incomes between $125,000 and $135,000, and $250,000 and $260,000, respectively.

Hybrid Vehicle Credit

A credit is allowed for the purchase (not lease) of a qualifying new hybrid vehicle. The allowable credit ranges from $1,500 to $3,000 and is not phased out for high-income taxpayers or affected by alternative minimum tax. However, the credits are phased out once a manufacturer has sold over 60,000 hybrids in the U.S. The credits have vanished for Toyota, Lexus and Honda hybrids but are still available for Ford, Mercury, Chrysler, GM, Mazda and Nissan vehicles.

Lean-Burn Diesel Vehicle Credit

A credit is also available for the purchase of a new qualifying lean-burn diesel vehicle. The allowable credit ranges from $900 to $1,800 and is not phased out for high-income taxpayers or affected by AMT. The credits are subject to the same phase-out rule as hybrid credits; however, it is not an issue so far, and Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen all offer vehicles that qualify for the credit.

First-Time Home Buyer Credit

The Recovery Act expanded 2008's Housing Act credit for first-time homebuyers. A first-time homebuyer is anyone who has not had an ownership interest in a principal residence within the three years prior to the purchase. The credit is equal to 10 percent of the purchase price and is limited to $8,000 on homes purchased between January 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009. It is phased out for individual and joint filers with modified adjusted gross incomes between $75,000 and $95,000, and $150,000 and $170,000, respectively. The credit can be claimed on your 2009 income tax return, or may be claimed now by filing an amended 2008 income tax return. Remember that unless this benefit is extended by congress, it is only available for home purchases completed by November 30, 2009.

The current economic and tax environments make this an ideal time for parents and grandparents who have the desire and the means to assist their children in making first time home purchases, since interest rates and home prices are at their lowest levels in years. Since, for 2009, taxpayers in the 10 percent and 15 percent tax brackets enjoy a zero percent tax rate on long term capital gains, children who receive stock from parents, sell the shares, and use the proceeds to fund the home purchase will not incur federal income tax liabilities on any gains realized to the extent the child's taxable income does not exceed $67,900 if married and filing jointly, $45,500 if head of household or $33,950 if single. Therefore, if the child's taxable income falls within this range in 2009, you could give them some of your appreciated stock or mutual fund shares held in taxable brokerage accounts which they could sell and apply the proceeds to their home purchase. Any gains will be long-term and free of federal income tax if your ownership period plus the child's is greater than one year. As a result of the annual gift tax exclusion privileges, as long as the gifted stock is worth less than $13,000 ($26,000 if gifted by married taxpayers) the taxable estate of the parents or grandparents making the gift is reduced without any adverse federal gift or estate tax implications. If your child is married, you and your spouse could give the couple $52,000 ($26,000 each) under the gift tax exclusion.

If adult children are in need of additional funds to purchase their first home, you may wish to also consider making a loan to them. If you loan funds to your children, and use the Applicable Federal Rate (AFR) (presently 4.36 percent which is very low based on historical standards), there will be no unintended negative tax consequences, as loans carrying the AFR interest rate will avoid the lender having to consider the complex below market loan rules.

Increased Transit And Vanpool Transportation Fringe Benefits

The Recovery Act increased the monthly exclusion for employer-provided transit and vanpool benefits from $120 to $230 for March 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010. After 2010, the amounts will be adjusted for inflation. If you currently pay more than $120 per month in qualified transportation costs, you may now increase your contribution to a pretax transportation spending account up to $230 per month. If you are not currently taking advantage of this benefit, now is a great time to start.

Cash For Clunkers

President Obama signed into law a program called the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), which provides a credit for fuel-inefficient vehicles that are traded in for new fuel-efficient vehicles between July 1, 2009 and November 1, 2009. The trade-in vehicle must have been owned and insured for a full year before the trade and have a combined miles per gallon (mpg) rating of 18 or less. The credit, received at the time of the purchase or lease of a new car, is $3,500 for a car getting at least 22 mpg and $4,500 for a car getting at least 26 mpg. At time of print, the future of this program is in question as Congressional sources say funding requisitions are on pace to exceed budget. Watch for further developments.

Strategies For Your Investments

Consider Disposition of a Losing Pass-Through Investment

The economic downturn has caused even historically profitable companies to generate losses. Losses generated from pass-through entities for which a taxpayer does not materially participate, such as partnerships, LLCs and S corporations, are subject to the passive activity rules and are often not deductible. However, unallowed losses can be carried forward to offset future passive income or can be deducted against ordinary income when the investment is disposed. If you are currently invested in a pass-through entity that generates significant nondeductible losses, you may wish to consider disposing of the interest to accelerate the deduction of your accumulated losses. If you wish to preserve an investment position and realize a tax loss without running afoul of the "wash sale" rule, please contact us for options.

Carefully Time Investment Gains And Losses

As you evaluate your investments, consider the impact of selling appreciated securities. The current maximum federal income tax rate on long-term capital gains is 15 percent. It is widely expected that the federal long-term capital gain rate will be increased to 20 percent for 2010 and beyond, so now may be a good time to cash in some long-term winners to benefit from historically low tax rates.

Biting the bullet and selling some loser securities before year-end may also be a good idea. The resulting capital losses will offset gains from other sales this year, including short-term gains from securities owned for one year or less.

Planning And Credits For Higher Education (College Or Beyond) Costs

Expanded Qualifying Educational Expenses For Section 529 Plans

For 2009 and 2010, withdrawals from 529 plans can now be used tax-free for computers and computer technology, including Internet access and related software. Therefore, instead of the equipment purchase being required for attendance (the old burden of proof), the new standard enacted by the Recovery Act simply requires that the equipment be used by the student or their family while enrolled at a qualifying school. The types of purchases that qualify are broad and include computers and most equipment attached to or run by the computer. For instance, a PDA (personal digital assistant) would likely qualify if used for educational purposes, such as a podcast. However, it does not include video games, unless educational in nature.

Options For Section 529 Plan Losses

If your child's 529 plan balance has significantly decreased, you may want to consider postponing withdrawals until later in your child's college career or transferring the 529 plan assets to a younger sibling so that the account has time to recover. This strategy assumes that other funds are available to pay current college tuition and related costs. Section 529 plan withdrawals may be rolled over tax-free within 60 days to another 529 plan for the benefit of a new designated beneficiary who is a member of the family of the old beneficiary. The rollover may result in gift-tax consequences; therefore, contact us before executing such a rollover.

Additionally, if you are the owner of a 529 plan that is worth less than the combined contributions to the account, you now have the opportunity to remove funds from the account without paying a penalty. The transaction results in a loss deductible by the parent or owner of the plan on Schedule A as a miscellaneous itemized deduction subject to the 2 percent floor.

Utilize A Coverdell Education Savings Account To Fund Private School Tuition

Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESA) are tax-favored accounts designated for K–12 and higher education expenses. While plan contributions are not tax-deductible, subsequent distributions of contributions and earnings on contributions for qualified education expenses are exempt from federal income tax. The total allowable annual contribution for each child or beneficiary is limited to $2,000. The contribution limit is phased out for single and joint filers with modified adjusted gross income between $95,000 and $110,000, and $190,000 and $220,000, respectively. If distributions are not for qualified education expenses, the earnings are subject to regular income tax plus a 10 percent penalty.

Parents who are restricted from contributing to an ESA for a child can circumvent the income limitations by making a cash gift to their child who then contributes to the ESA. The contribution is considered a gift to the child. However, due to the low contribution limit for ESA's, the gift should be well under the allowed annual gift-tax exclusion amount ($13,000 for 2009 per donee), which should help avoid gift-tax concerns. Contributions are allowed to both a 529 plan and an ESA for the same child or beneficiary during the same year.

Temporary Expansion Of The Hope Scholarship Credit

The Recovery Act modified and renamed the Hope Credit to the American Opportunity Tax Credit for 2009 and 2010. The maximum credit allowed for the first two years of postsecondary education was increased from $1,800 to $2,500, equal to 100 percent of the first $2,000 of qualifying expenses plus 25 percent of the next $2,000. This credit begins to phase out for single and joint filers with modified adjusted gross income between $80,000 and $90,000, and $160,000 and $180,000, respectively. Additionally, course materials were added to the list of qualified expenses, which previously only included tuition and fees. Course materials include books, supplies and equipment needed for a course of study, whether or not the materials are purchased from the educational institution as a condition of enrollment or attendance.

Coordination With College Savings Plans

A taxpayer may claim both an income exclusion for 529 plans and Education Savings Accounting (ESA) distributions for the same student in the same year. However, the qualifying expenses cannot be used for both. When determining the excludable amount for 529 plans and ESA distributions, qualifying expenses must be reduced by tax-free education benefits (i.e., scholarships and employer-provided education assistance) plus the amount of the qualifying expenses taken into the account in computing the education credit.

Coordination With Deduction For Qualified Tuition And Expenses

An above-the-line deduction of up to $4,000 for qualified tuition and expenses and education credits cannot be claimed in the same tax year for the same student. Choosing whether to claim a deduction or credit depends on various factors, including the amount of the eligible expenses, the taxpayer's level of AGI and marginal tax bracket, and the type of credit claimed.

Consider Utilizing IRA Funds

A taxpayer may distribute funds from a Roth IRA to pay for qualified higher-education expenses for various family members without incurring a 10 percent early-withdrawal penalty. Qualified higher education expenses are defined in the same manner as under Section 529 plans (see page 4). Also, the earnings from a Roth IRA may also be taken as a tax-free distribution if the account has been open at least five years and the taxpayer is age 59½ or older.

Similar to the Roth IRA, a taxpayer may distribute funds from a traditional IRA to pay for qualified higher-education expenses for various family members without incurring the 10 percent early-withdrawal penalty. Unlike a Roth IRA, the portion of distributions from a traditional IRA allocable to contributions originally deducted are taxable.

Planning For Retirement

Roth IRA Conversions In 2009 With Increasing Benefits In 2010

Taxpayers with traditional IRAs that have taken a major beating during the stock market downturn may want to consider converting from a traditional to a Roth IRA. Since a Roth conversion is treated as a taxable liquidation of the traditional IRA followed by a nondeductible contribution to the Roth IRA, the tax hit from converting would be much less than it was prior to the downturn. Post-conversion, all income and gains accumulate tax-free. Therefore, it may be advantageous to incur the tax liability now rather than later.

To be eligible for a Roth conversion in 2009, your adjusted gross income cannot exceed $100,000. However, for one year only in 2010, this income limitation is eliminated and the tax due will be spread over a two-year period, leaving you with a tax-free nest. Taxpayers who have made annual contributions to nondeductible traditional IRAs consisting of various equities may find that the conversion is very enticing since it may be nearly tax-free. This is a result of the recent lack of equity appreciation in many retirement accounts due to a depressed stock market and because the principal or original nondeductible contributions are distributed tax-free.

Taking Distributions Before Required Minimum Distributions

In recent times, many taxpayers were committed to contributing as much money into retirement accounts as possible to save on current years' taxes and receive a deferral of income on earnings. However, with an aging population, tax planning has changed gears and is now primarily focused on the best ways to withdraw money from retirement accounts. Taxpayers between the ages of 59½ and 70½, the age when tax-free retirement withdrawals are permitted and the age when minimum retirement plan distributions are not mandatory, should consider making distributions from their retirement accounts earlier than 70½ if their tax bracket is relatively low. With individuals losing jobs, investment portfolios at ten-year lows, and higher tax rates expected, this strategy may be prudent. Additionally, taxpayers who have reached the required minimum distribution (RMD) age may also want to consider this option for tax year 2009, even though the RMD rule has been waived for the same year.

Miscellaneous Planning Opportunities

Charitable Gifts Of Securities

Taxpayers who wish to make gifts to charities may consider selling loser stocks, giving away the resulting cash and then claiming the capital loss and the charitable deduction on their returns. Alternatively, taxpayers may consider giving away appreciated stock, avoiding the tax on capital gains while deducting the fair market value of the stock contributed.

Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)

The AMT, initially enacted to ensure that high-income taxpayers pay their fair share, continues to ensnare more middle-income taxpayers each year. The AMT is complex and can wipe out a number of tax-planning steps intended to reduce regular income tax. Taxpayers subject to the AMT should consult with us in an effort to develop strategies to minimize the impact of the AMT.

This article is for general information and does not include full legal analysis of the matters presented. It should not be construed or relied upon as legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The description of the results of any specific case or transaction contained herein does not mean or suggest that similar results can or could be obtained in any other matter. Each legal matter should be considered to be unique and subject to varying results. The invitation to contact the authors or attorneys in our firm is not a solicitation to provide professional services and should not be construed as a statement as to any availability to perform legal services in any jurisdiction in which such attorney is not permitted to practice.

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