Phil Marti wrote:

- quote -

More realistically, it is a partial trade-off for the lack
of a state income tax.

MTW

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hawks5999[at]gmail.com writes:

- quote -

No. That's not sales tax.

- quote -

It's the price you pay for living in a blue state.

Phil Marti
Clarksburg, MD

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hawks5999 wrote:

- quote -

Did you add local taxes to the table amounts? Local rates,
including RTA, etc., can be over 2% in the Puget Sound area.
Here's a link that might help:

http://dor.wa.gov/content/GIS/salestaxratelookup.aspx

Nevertheless, I share your conclusion that the table rates
are on the low side.

MTW

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hawks5999 wrote:

- quote -

You DO have the option of using actual receipts versus the
adjusted Pub 600 amount, so why not do that?

The table amounts only reflect the "General Sales Tax Rate"
for your state, and should be adjusted upward for additional
County and City sales tax amounts. That might bring them
closer to your actual receipts.

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Thanks all for the input. I figured it was just wishful
thinking.... The just knocks ~$300 off my deduction for the
year. I have to say that the IRS Pub. 600 tables are really
quite low, at least in light of my actuals vs. their table.

Thanks again.

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hawks5999[at]gmail.com wrote:

- quote -

You are hereby applauded on your meticulous record keeping.
No, not facetious, I really mean that.

HOW some ever; the new deduction is for state SALES
taxes, and NOT gasoline taxes. Also, most states, at least
the ones down South I'm familiar with, do not add sales tax
on top of gas prices. If any do, I'm sure someone up nawth
or out west will let us know.

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA
Thu, 6 Jan 2005

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hawks5999[at]gmail.com wrote:

- quote -

Probably not deductible for a couple of reasons:

First, only "general" sales taxes (applying to a broad range
of goods) are deductible. The gas tax in WA is not "general"
in nature. Rather, it is a specific tax applicable only to
gasoline.

Second, the tax is not "separately stated." Rather, it is
simply bundled into the price per gallon at the pump.

The same limitations would apply to WA state liquor taxes.
You do, in fact, pay retail sales tax on beer and wine in
some cases. But, other than that, the substantial state
liquor taxes are simply built into the price.

MTW

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hawks5999[at]gmail.com wrote:

- quote -

You pay 28 cents/gallon regardless of the base price/gallon
of the gas, therefore the tax does not meet the definition
of a sales/use tax. No deduction. Besides the amount of
tax is not separately stated on your receipt.

WA does not charge sales tax on gasoline purchases, only an
excise tax. The excise tax is similar to the liquor tax paid
on booze (although you pay sales tax in addition on that).

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Is the amount of state taxes paid on gasoline deductible in
light of the new laws relating to deducting state/local
sales tax when filing federal income tax? I live in
Washington and pay 28 cents/gallon... and much to my wife's
chagrin I have every receipt from every gas purchase from
the last year showing total gallons. Heck, I have 99% of all
receipts for every dollar we've spent for the last 5 years.
Looks like that habbit may finally pay off!

Thanks.
hawks5999

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