My 'Ad-valorem' tax we have here in GA that is paid when we buy our tags was about 25% cheaper than I thought it should be. The tag clerk said it had to do with the car being a Hybrid.

Sales tax was normal but I should get a break when I do my taxes next month from buying a car period during the qualifying period of 2009.

 

yes, buying a car in 2009 will get you a sales tax deduction up to $49,500 of the price of the car

 

The dealers here in the Phoenix area are dealing on the 450h.

 

All I can say is smug alert see http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/103216/

 

In an other thread someone mentioned greencars web site and I found this article:

<http://www.greencar.com/articles/will-hybrid-car-really-pay-off.php>

 

You guys have a link to this info? Please and thanks.

 

Here is the IRS info on the tax break.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/...205863,00.html

I hope I can make the deadline.

 

Thanks very much. I hope I can make it too. I was promised I will get the car by the end of December but I left 4 voice mails and the saleman didn't even call me back yet. Very upset right now. On the last message, I told him that if I don't hear from him by the end of the week, I'm not going to take the car.

 

Well, if my RX does not come in by year end, I will be talking to my dealer about how they're going to make up the tax break loss. I would recommend doing the same. Good luck.

 

Keep in mind that the tax break also depends on your income:

"The amount of the deduction is phased out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is between $125,000 and $135,000 for individual filers and between $250,000 and $260,000 for joint filers."

 

Your dealer should be willing and able to complete the paperwork before year's end even if the car won't be physically there.

 

I bought the 450h because I liked the LED lights and 19" wheels. Additionally the 'Hybrid Snow' mode has better performance in deep snow, the gas model reportedly has trouble with shifting torque to the rear wheels consistently (there is a thread on this forum that talks about this, sorry I can't find it right now).

I find it interesting that people will spend $7K extra for custom wheels and a special trim package and no comment is made, but $7K for a hybrid doesn't make sense somehow.

The way I look at the 450h is that it is the RX with the highest level of trim. Really don't care about making my money back in gas savings.

A more important question is residual value. So far the hybrids seem to be doing very well at trade in time. That should translate into some of that $7K premium coming back.

And I'd rather send money to the Japanese for the hybrid than send oil dollars to people who hate us. Of course I'm talking about those evil Canadians, America's #1 oil supplier.

Either vehicle is a fine choice, I'm really enjoying the 450h.

 

Didn't know about that one -- MANY THANKS!

 

So the sales tax is deductable rather you itemize or not? In the pass, it was either the sales tax deduction or itemize, one cannot do both.

 

If the dealer doesn't have the VIN yet because the car has not been manufactured yet, then how can a sales slip be generated to show that the selling year was 2009 even though delivery and final agreement wouldn't be finalized until 2010?

Sounds as if I'll miss out - unless the same deduction will apply for 2010