Archive for December, 2009
Seven Facts about the New Sales Tax Deduction for Vehicle Purchases
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
With only two days left in this decade, now may be a great time to take one last look at buying a new car. Although you do not want to rush into anything, the IRS’ tax deduction for vehicle purchases is a great way to save a lot of money on your new vehicle.
This is directly from the IRS website:
Taxpayers who buy a new car or several other types of motor vehicles this year may be entitled to a special tax deduction when they file their 2009 federal tax returns next year. The tax break is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Here are seven things you should know about this new deduction:
State and local sales taxes paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of qualifying vehicles are deductible.
Qualified motor vehicles generally include new (not used) cars, light trucks, motor homes and motorcycles.
Purchases must occur after Feb. 16, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2010.
This deduction can be taken regardless of whether or not you itemize other deductions on your tax return.
Taxpayers will claim this deduction when filing their 2009 federal income tax return next year.
The amount of the deduction is phased out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is between $125,000 and $135,000 for individual filers and between $250,000 and $260,000 for joint filers.
The deduction may not be taken on 2008 tax returns.
Consumers who are considering buying a new car may find that this tax incentive means there may have never been a better time to buy.
For more information about the sales and excise tax deduction for motor vehicle purchases visit the official IRS web site at IRS.gov.
Tags: Auto, automotive, car buying, car sales, car savings, Ewald, new cars, new vehicle purchase, tax deduction
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Happy Holidays from Ewald’s Automotive Advantage
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Tags: Auto, automotive, cars, happy holidays, Happy New Year, Merry Christmas
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What makes a good discount program?
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
Discounts come in all shapes and sizes, from the annoying coupon books we are quick to through away to an inside tip on an exclusive deal we just can’t pass up. Whether in our houses or our businesses, we are always looking for just the right discount. But what is it that separates a good discount from those that end up in the garbage?
The first thing to realize with any discount program is that companies give you discounts because they want a chance to earn your business. The question is: what will make you keep coming back as a customer? Will it be the high quality of the product, the great customer service or the fact that you keep getting a discount? Understanding what you want from a company is important. Nine times out of ten we say we want the best price, but I will gladly pay for a great shopping experience.
With that in mind, consider what level of purchase decision you are making. If the discount is for a deal on lunch then there is most likely not too much thought given to the purchase process. However, in my line of work, I am helping people find a vehicle they will likely spend the next four or five years driving on a daily basis. This is a major decision in which the purchase process can be very lengthy and educational. For these major decisions, make sure you work with a company that will walk you through the process so that you are comfortable with your decision.
When it comes to our companies, considering the same thing can be major assistance to our employees. What can you do to assist your employees with major purchase decisions? HR Managers that I work with often comment that knowing they had someone to call was a great relief. All of their employees were going to have to buy a car at some point anyways so at least they knew they could pick up the phone and I would take care of any problems that would arise. Even though we offered discounts to their employees, this was the greatest benefit to them. Considering how you can similarly assist your employees can go a long way.
In our homes and in our businesses we will constantly be solicited to join discount programs. Sifting through the deals to find programs that provide real value is the key. Doing so allows us to not only save money, but also breath a sigh of relief!
Tags: Auto, automotive, Automotive Advantage, benefits, car, coupons, discount, Employee benefits, Ewald
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You got in an accident, now what?
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
Wisconsin’s winter roads can be brutal at best. It seems they take pride in destroying your car at any cost. We always hope to be the one driving by the car in the ditch but every now and again, we are nose deep in snow, concrete and earth. Before this happens to you, it is important to have a plan.
The first thing you have to know is what to do immediately after the crash. First of all, make sure everyone including you is okay. Regardless of the severity make sure you call the police, without a report it may be hard to file an insurance claim. If there are other cars involved, get their insurance information as soon as possible and be prepared to share yours. If you do not have a camera on your cell phone, then it is a good idea to carry a disposable camera in your car. Pictures of any accident scene will greatly help in insurance claims.
Once things wrap up on the scene of the accident, it will be important to know where you want to get your car towed. Most often people will choose the closest repair shop but this may not always be the best answer. A good repair shop will give you a free estimate in order to earn your business, they will accept all insurances and all technicians will be ASE certified. It may also be good to look for a shop that offers onsite rental cars or shuttles and services all makes and models. By doing your research ahead of time and finding your repair shop before any accident, you could save yourself a major headache down the line.
As soon as you are able, make sure to call your insurance company. It is important to know the phone number that you should call to file a claim and your policy number. From there try to provide them as much information as possible.
This last step is important: relax. They are called accidents for a reason and they happen to just about everyone. Take a few minutes to mentally process what happened and then let it slip away from your mind. If you’ve followed these steps, then you’ll be back on the road in no time.
Tags: accident, body repair, car, insurance, repair shop, vehicle, winter, Wisconsin
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Get your car ready with the winter works package!
Friday, December 11th, 2009
Get your car ready for winter with this great coupon. You’ll have everything you need to hit the roads with confidence.
Tags: car care, inspection, oil change, radiator, tires, winter
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Help support Toys-for-Tots!
Thursday, December 10th, 2009
Tags: charity, Ewald Automotive Group, happy holidays, Milwaukee, Toys-for-Tots
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Tis’ the season
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
It is that time of year again! Can you believe the holidays are upon us? Time to get together with the family, give to your favorite charity and share your holiday spirit! That being said, it is also the time to start planning for 2010 to make sure that your company has goals to achieve and plan in place to have a profitable and successful year ahead.
For business owners and human resources managers, a large consideration when planning for 2010 should be your employee benefits. Many companies have gone through open enrollment periods in the past few months making sure that their core benefits are in place for another year. Now that the majority of those projects are completed, it is a great time to review what you are offering your employees on the voluntary options. If your company had less than a stellar year in 2009, maybe adding a few employee “perks” wouldn’t hurt as you go into next year. The holiday season is a great time to find additional benefits or perks that thank your employees for their dedicated service to your company.
In addition, this time of year is also a great time to remind employees of all the benefits you offer them currently. Undoubtedly, you have worked hard to offer the best benefits and perks possible, so make sure you remind them to take advantage of these programs. Consider allowing benefit or perk providers the opportunity to talk to your employees about what they can do to assist them. Invite them to your offices for a lunch ‘n learn or an employee meeting for a face-to-face interaction. I do this often and employees always enjoy finding out about ways to save that they did not know were available to them.
Celebrate your employees and what your company has accomplished in 2009 by offering your associates the best benefits and perks possible. Be sure to remind them how they can take advantage of those programs.
Merry Christmas and may you and your company have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!
Tags: business owners, Employee benefits, Human Resources, managers, open enrollment
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