Last week the RDTC Tax Help Blog posted a new entry explaining the tax advantages of going “green” in 2010. As you can see from the text below, there are plenty of credits and tax breaks for both individuals and businesses that make energy efficient purchases. You can find a snippet of the original entry below, or checkout the full text at RDTC.com.
Driving Green
Unfortunately many taxpayers are under the impression that all of the tax incentives for buying a hybrid vehicle have expired. However, this is not true. There are plenty of popular vehicles that qualify for the tax credit. A few 2010 Ford Hybrids qualify for a couple of credits, including the Fusion, which can qualify for a credit of up to $3,400. Additionally, electric vehicles such as the Chevy Volt offer the best credits. If you decide to buy an electric vehicle in 2010 then you can claim a credit of up to $7,500.
Conscious Commuting
If you live close enough to your work to be able to ride your bicycle back and forth every day, then you might be eligible for tax-free reimbursement from your employer (if they participate in the program). New legislation allows employers to give employees up to $20 a month for riding a bike to work. Additionally, employers can reimburse up to $230 per month of an employee’s public transportation expenses. Be sure to talk to your employer or human resource department to see if they offer conscious commuting reimbursements.
Solar Savings
Homeowners and businesses have been able to take tax credits for installing solar panels for a while now, but many taxpayers are resistant due to the high expense. However, the prices of solar upgrades have gone down drastically over the past few years. Additionally, even less expensive solar products – such as solar powered water heathers – will qualify for a tax credit of up to 30% of the purchase price. This credit can even be claimed against the AMT.