It might be patriotic to pay taxes, as Vice President Joe Biden has suggested. But for many, it's just plain stupid to pay more in federal income taxes than you owe.
And you might just owe less than you think, according to a quick survey of area tax experts. Like those perfect berries hidden under leaves and thorns, perfect deductions can be found in the thicket of Internal Revenue Service regulations if only you know where to look for them.
For example, said Dick Walsh, a certified public accountant from Topsfield, there are new deductions available this year. (These are not to be confused with potential deductions in the stimulus bill, which won't take effect until you do your 2009 taxes next year.)
Up to $1,000 for joint filers ($500 for single filers) is available for homeowners who do not itemize, Walsh said. Some homeowners, particularly the elderly, get to the end of their mortgage payments and find themselves shelling out mainly on the principal with little to deduct for interest payments. Thus, it's no longer profitable to go to the bother of itemizing.
But now, thanks to a new law, they can feel young again by getting a little bit back from Uncle Sam without itemizing.
In addition, Walsh said, everyone can expect up to $13 a week extra in their paycheck thanks to the stimulus. "You can buy a coffee at Dunkin' Donuts," he suggests.
Carlos Farias of DDS Tax Service in Peabody has spotted a new benefit for people who use cars for their businesses. "If you are a sole proprietor," he said, "and, say, you do a pizza delivery service, under Schedule A you can deduct 60 percent of the cost of a car."
That's a car purchased in 2008.
Even better, it's gotten easy to be green. The government will give a credit, Farias said — that means actual money back — for energy-saving additions to your house. Solar panels are an example.
"That's a good thing that a lot of people don't know about," he said.
Accountant Sarah Willwerth-Dyer of Anthony and Dodge in Hamilton has also uncovered a credit for first-time homebuyers. "If you bought between April 1, 2008, and Jan. 1, 2009, you get a credit. ... The credit is $7,500."
It's a fair sum, but wouldn't you know it — there's a catch.
"It's really a tax deferral that you pay back over 15 years," Dyer said. "Interest-free." The interest-free part makes it well worthwhile, however, because with the likely rate of inflation you'll be paying back less and less than you borrowed in real dollars as the years go by.
"I think it's a pretty good deal," Dyer said. "It helps the first-time homebuyer save a lot of money."
Scott Sagan, a CPA at Sagan and Co. in Swampscott, has a list of favorite deductions. Deductions exist for those paying tuition and education expenses — and a credit up to $250 is available for teachers who buy their own educational materials, including books and papers.
"Most teachers do," he said.
He also reminds people who drive their own cars at work that if the per-mile payment fails to reach the federal standard, they are entitled to deduct the remaining cost.
Some of the best tips for not overpaying your income tax are the most obvious ones. And they bear repeating. "Keep good records," said Bob Parks of Liberty Tax Service in Danvers. "The IRS requires that you have some kind of receipt."
In other words, if you put a penny in the poor box at church — ask for that "thank you" in writing.
Check out these savings
For homeowners: Up to $1,000 for joint filers ($500 for single filers) if you don't itemize
For first-time home buyers: A $7,500 credit for those who bought between April 1, 2008, and Jan. 1, 2009. This is actually a tax deferral you pay back interest-free over 15 years.
For business owners: Sole proprietors who use their cars on the job can deduct 60 percent of the cost of a car if they bought it last year.
For teachers: A credit up to $250 for those who buy their own educational materials
For the green-conscious: The government offers tax credits for energy-saving home improvements such as solar panels.
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