American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

New deduction for sales taxes on a new car purchase

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides that for vehicles purchased on or after February 17, 2009 and before January 1, 2010 you can deduct, as an itemized deduction or as an addition to the standard deduction, sales taxes on the purchase of a qualifying new vehicle -- on the first $49,500 of the purchase price. Qualifying vehicles include the following.

  • A passenger car, light truck, or motorcycle the gross vehicle weight rating of which is not more than 8,500 pounds.
  • A motorhome.