Submitted By: Jean
Answered: March 25, 2016 12:12 pm

I bought a new car. Can I deduct the sales tax?

It depends. First, you must itemize to do so. Then, you must choose to deduct state and local sales tax rather than state and local income taxes. If you make this choice, you can add the sales tax on the car to the amount of sales tax that the IRS allows for your household size and income.

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Tax Glossary

Itemized deductions

Items, such as interest, state and local income and sales taxes, charitable contributions, and medical deductions, claimed on Schedule A of Form 1040. Itemized deductions are subtracted from adjusted gross income to arrive at taxable income. The amount of itemized deductions is also subject to a reduction when adjusted gross income exceeds certain limits.

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