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Issue Number: IRS Tax Tip 2010-66
Going Green May Reduce Your Taxes When you invest in energy-efficient products, you may be saving money on both your energy bills and your tax return. The Internal Revenue Service wants you to know about these six energy-related tax credits created or expanded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. 1. Residential Energy Property Credit This tax credit is for homeowners who make qualified energy efficient improvements to their existing homes. This credit is 30 percent of the cost of all qualifying improvements. The maximum credit is $1,500 for improvements placed in service in 2009 and 2010 combined. The credit applies to improvements such as adding insulation, energy efficient exterior windows and energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems. 2. Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit This tax credit will help individual taxpayers pay for qualified residential alternative energy equipment, such as solar hot water heaters, solar electricity equipment and wind turbines installed on or in connection with their home located in the United States and geothermal heat pumps installed on or in connection with their main home located in the United States.The credit, which runs through 2016, is 30 percent of the cost of qualified property. ARRA removes some of the previously imposed annual maximum dollar limits. 3. Plug-in 4. Plug-in Electric Vehicle Credit This is a special tax credit for two types of plug-in vehicles — certain low-speed electric vehicles and two- or three-wheeled vehicles. The amount of the credit is 10 percent of the cost of the vehicle, up to a maximum credit of $2,500 for purchases made after Feb. 17, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2012. 5. Credit for Conversion Kits This credit is equal to 10 percent of the cost of converting a vehicle to a qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle that is placed in service after Feb. 17, 2009. The maximum credit, which runs through 2011, is $4,000. 6. Treatment of Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit as a Personal Credit Allowed Against AMT Starting in 2009, ARRA allows the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit, including the tax credit for purchasing hybrid vehicles, to be applied against the Alternative Minimum Tax. Prior to the new law, the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit could not be used to offset the AMT. This means the credit could not be taken if a taxpayer owed AMT or was reduced for some taxpayers who did not owe AMT. Links: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Information Center
Energy Tax Credits Claim It - January 2010: English | Spanish | ASL Thank you for subscribing to IRS Tax Tips, an IRS e-mail service. For more information on federal taxes please visit IRS.gov. This message was distributed automatically from the IRS Tax Tips mailing list. Please Do Not Reply To This Message. |
Disaster Information:
Special tax relief and assistance is available to taxpayers in the Presidentially-declared Disaster Areas.
Help for Hurricane Victims:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=147085,00.html
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=108362,00.html
Overview
Starting, Operating or Closing a Business
Whether you are a budding entrepreneur, or an established business owner, you will find everything you need to start and manage your business venture.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=110417,00.html
Business Taxes The form of business you operate determines what taxes you must pay and how you pay them.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98966,00.html
Getting Started
Tax Information for Businesses
If you run a small business or are self-employed, the IRS web site offers a wide variety of information to help you.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html
Checklist for Starting a Business
This checklist provides the basic steps you should follow to start a business.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98810,00.html
Business Structures When beginning a business, you must decide what structure to use. Legal and tax considerations enter into this decision.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98359,00.html
Employer ID Numbers (EINs) An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, and is used to identify a business entity. Generally, businesses need an EIN.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98350,00.html
Online Application - Form SS-4, Employer Identification Number (EIN) Apply online for the Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102767,00.html
IRS Forms and Publications
Forms and Publications Need an IRS form or publication?
http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html
Electronic Filing
e-file for Business and Self-Employed Taxpayers The IRS offers several electronic filing options designed specifically for the business filer. There are several ways you may choose to participate in the IRS e-file for Business programs.
http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118520,00.html
Electronic Federal Tax Payments (EFTPS) Businesses and individuals can use the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System to pay all their federal taxes electronically, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, via the phone, personal computer (PC) software or the Internet. Visit the EFTPS web site for all the latest information! Or visit the Department of Treasury’s Financial Management Services web page on EFTPS.
http://www.eftps.gov/
QuickAlerts "More" e-file Benefits for EROs Get on board and be one of the thousands of tax professionals that currently receive information on “up-to-the-minute” e-file events.
http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/providers/article/0,,id=97623,00.html
Employees
Businesses with Employees Information about hiring, recordkeeping, and other topics for business owners with employees.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98862,00.html
Independent Contractors vs. Employees Before you can determine how to treat payments you make for services, you must first know the business relationship that exists between you and the person performing the services.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=99921,00.html
Employment Taxes for Small Business If you have employees, you are responsible for Federal Income Tax Withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes and Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA).
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/content/0,,id=98942,00.html
IRS Withholding Calculator This easy-to-use calculator can help you figure your employees’ Federal Income Tax Withholding so you can withhold the correct amount from their pay.
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96196,00.html
Retirement Plans for Small Businesses Are you looking for information on employee retirement plans in order to provide better service to all your employees?
http://www.irs.gov/retirement/content/0,,id=97203,00.html
Talk With the IRS
Contact My Local Office IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers are your one-stop resource for face-to-face tax help and solutions to tax problems, every business day.
http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html
Taxpayer Advocate Service The Taxpayer Advocate is an independent organization within the IRS. They help taxpayers resolve problems with the IRS and recommend changes that will prevent the problems.
http://www.irs.gov/advocate/index.html
Learning Center
On-Line Classroom View a streaming video of an IRS Small Business Workshop, take an IRS course or complete an online self-directed version of a workshop taught live around the country.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=97726,00.html
Small Business Tax Workshops Throughout the country various non-profit and government organizations offer small business workshops.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=99202,00.html
Resources
Small Business Resources This section offers links to a broad range of resources across federal and state agencies.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/content/0,,id=98864,00.html
Small Business Products Online Ordering Looking for a tool to help you meet your tax requirements? Choose from our free products, developed especially for the Small Business/Self-Employed person, and obtain updated information on existing products.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=101169,00.html
Join the SB/SE Mailing List The Small Business/Self-Employed Division has a free electronic mail service designed to provide tax information for small business owners. Sign-up for the Small Business/Self-Employed mailing list and you will receive information about important upcoming tax dates, what's new on the IRS Web site, recently added tax forms and publications, IRS News Releases and special IRS announcements.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/content/0,,id=154826,00.html
[Note for partners: the URL for the mailing list is subject to change without notice, and should be reviewed monthly for viability.]
Abusive Tax Schemes
Tax Scams - How to Recognize and Avoid Them To help the public recognize and avoid abusive tax schemes, the IRS offers an abundance of educational materials. Participating in illegal schemes to avoid paying taxes can result in imprisonment and fines, as well as the repayment of taxes owed with penalties and interest. Education is the best way to avoid the pitfalls of these "too good to be true" tax scams.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=106788,00.html
Resources for Specific Communities
Industries/Professions Specific tax information for Agriculture, Automotive, Construction, Entertainment, Fishing, Gas Retailers, Manufacturing, Real Estate, Restaurants, Tax Professionals, and other industries.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/industries/index.html
Tax Information for International Businesses This section provides information on international taxes.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/international/index.html
Tax Information for Tax Professionals This section provides information for tax practitioners and other tax professionals.
http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/index.html
