Tax Deductions for Your 2005 Hybrid Automobile

Author: Richard A. Chapo

With the recent push by President Bush for alternative fuel
strategies, much confusion has arisen regarding tax incentives
for hybrid vehicles. This article clarifies the issue for you.

Tax Deductions for Your 2005 Hybrid Automobile

People buy hybrid vehicles for different reason. They are good
for the environment. They get much better mileage, which saves
money. There are tax incentives for buying them. With the recent
energy plan put in place by the federal government, there is a
lot of confusion regarding the tax incentives.

Specifically, the question for most people is whether they can
claim a tax deduction or a tax credit when they buy a hybrid.
Here is the breakdown:

The Good - If you purchased a hybrid vehicle in 2005, you can
claim a tax deduction.

The Bad - If you purchased a hybrid vehicle in 2005, you cannot
claim a tax credit.

The Ugly - If you had waited till 2006, you could have claimed a
tax credit.

Tax credits save you a lot more money than tax deductions. Tax
deductions are applied to your gross income like any other
deduction. This helps lower your tax bill, but tax credits are
much more powerful. Tax credits are not taken out of your gross
income. Instead, tax credits are taken out of the exact amount
of tax you owe the government. If you owe the government $10,000
after filling out your tax return and can claim a $2,000 tax
credit, your final tax bill is $8,000.

You are stuck with a tax deduction tax deduction if you
purchased a hybrid in 2005, but at least it is a nice one. The
deduction amount is $2,000 for vehicles certified by the IRS.
They include:

Ford Escape Hybrid: Model Year 2006

Mercury Mariner Hybrid: Model Year 2006

Lexus RX 400h: Model Year 2006

Ford Escape Hybrid: Model Year 2005

Toyota Prius: Model Years 2001 through 2006

Toyota Highlander Hybrid: Model Year 2006

Honda Insight: Model Years 2000 through 2005

Honda Civic Hybrid: Model Years 2003 and 2005

Honda Accord Hybrid: Model Year 2005

To claim this deduction, you must have purchased a NEW hybrid.
If the hybrid was used, you get nothing. Assuming it was new,
the deduction is claimed on line 36 of the 1040 form. Make sure
to write Clean Fuel in the space provided.

About the author:
Richard A. Chapo is with BusinessTaxRecovery.com - providing
information on
<a href="http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com">tax
and taxes</a>.
Visit us to read more
<a href="http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com/articles">tax
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Alternative Fuels: A Look at Wood, Wood and Corn Pellets and Waste Oil

Author: Aldene Fredenburg

With gas and oil prices rising, consumers, particularly in cold
winter climates, are looking at a variety of alternative fuels
for home heating. Wood, a traditional fuel, is regaining
popularity while more modern alternatives, such as wood and corn
pellets and waste oil, are more routinely used.

Wood has been used since the beginning of time as a source of
heat. The fuel was brought inside to heat shelters centuries
ago; open fires in fireplaces were replaced in the eighteenth
century by self-contained stoves, which are still in use today
in a number of designs. Franklin stoves and pot-bellied stoves,
popular for generations, have been augmented by efficient
Scandinavian designs like Jotul stoves. In recent years wood
furnaces, designed to burn longer than stoves without refeeding,
have upped the efficiency of wood burning tremendously.

The type of wood burned varies in different regions based on
availability, but some practices are standard: the wood burned
is generally hardwood rather than softwood; wood is aged (cut
and stacked) for at least a year before burning; and it is well
known that the heating energy available for a particular wood
(measured in BTUs, or British Thermal Units) is greater for more
dense woods than for less dense woods, so the heavier the wood
the more energy it will provide as it burns.
The <a href=http://www.ag.iastate.edu/departments/forestry/ext/Wood%20fo
r%20Fuel.html>Iowa State University Forestry Extension
Service</a> lists a number of woods by weight, listing Osage
Orange at 4792 pounds per cord of wood, and Basswood at 1984
pounds per cord. To find out what woods are available in your
area and to estimate how many cords of wood you will need,
contact your local Extension Service (sometimes listed under
state or county government listings in your phone book).

Wood pellets are manufactured from recycled wood waste and are
considered a very safe, clean-burning, and economical
alternative to fuel oil and to traditional wood burning. Special
stove designs have been created especially to burn wood pellets;
inserts are also available to adapt existing fireplaces and
furnaces for this fuel. The Pellet Fuels Institute offers a
<a href=http://www.pelletheat.org/3/residential/fuelAvailability.cfm">lis
t of manufacturers</a> of pellet fuel in every region of the
U.S., along with advice on how to buy and use wood pellets. Corn
pellets are manufactured from dried corn and used the same way
as wood pellets. Either or both can be found at a variety of
outlets including nurseries, garden suppliers, and fireplace and
stove dealerships. Shop around to compare prices and other
information on wood and corn pellets.

Some homeowners are substituting Waste oil for number 2 fuel oil
in specially designed furnaces; others are successfully
converting their conventional furnaces for its use. Waste oil is
actually used vegetable oil collected from restaurants and
filtered before use. Biodiesel is a manufactured oil consisting
of a mixture of fuel oil and oil manufactured from vegetable
sources; B20 is 20 percent vegetable-based oil and 80 percent
conventional diesel oil; B100 is all vegetable oil. B20 is more
readily available and can be used in conventional oil furnaces
without adaptation; B100 requires some adaptations (for
instance, natural rubber in the furnace will need to be replaced
with manmade substances, as the vegetable oil degrades rubber
over time). One problem with using waste oil is that below
certain temperatures it stops flowing; so the fuel needs to be
kept warm; biodiesel contains an additive which keeps the oil
liquid at low temperatures.

Any time fire is present in a home, as in a wood stove,
fireplace, or furnace, the fire hazard has to be considered and
prevented. Additionally, wood burning in particular builds up
creosote, a sticky, flammable substance which coats stovepipes
and chimneys and can cause chimney fires and even burn down a
house. Wood and corn pellets and waste oil are considered
relatively clean-burning, but still require attention and
maintenance.

Choosing an alternative fuel can be not only safe and
economical, but a good deal for the environment; many of these
fuels are produced locally, cutting way down on transportation
costs, and many of them burn more cleanly than fuel oil, having
a more positive impact on the environment. Add to that the fact
that relying on alternative fuels cuts down on reliance on
foreign oil, and it becomes clear that opting for one of these
fuels is a great idea.

About the author:
Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern
New Hampshire. She has written numerous articles for the
Internet and for local and regional publications. She can be
reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com.

Hybrid vehicle purchase Incentives in California

Author: M. Rahman

Hybrid vehicle purchase Incentives in California

State Hybrid HOV: On Jan. 1, 2005, CA will allow hybrid electric
vehicles that get at least 45mpg and have SULEV emissions
ratings to use high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes without regard
to the number of passengers in the vehicle. As of 8/10, this
incentive is now in operation. Current eligible vehicles include
the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight and Honda Civic hybrid. Vehicles
must have special decals in order to use HOV lanes. Note: A
total of 75,000 decals are available and will be granted on a
"first come-first served" basis. For more information go to
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm San Jose Free
Hybrid Parking: Free parking at downtown San Jose public parking
facilities and on-street meters throughout the City for
Clean-Fuel Vehicles purchased in San Jose. Began 1/1/03.
Eligibility-- Contact-- Jason Burton (408) 794-1427,
jason.burton@ci.sj.ca.us. Los Angeles Hybrid Free Parking --
Gas-electric hybrid cars can park at parking meters for free,
but can still be ticketed for exceeding the time allotment for
metered spaces. The ran through a 6 month trial period from
October 2004-March 2005. The LA City Council recently voted an
extension of the incentive through May 2005 while the LA
Department of Transportation prepares an evaluation. Police
Officers have been trained to recognize hybrid cars. If you own
a Zero Emission Vehicle or Super Low Emission Vehicle as defined
by the California Air Resources Board, you may purchase a
California Clean Air Vehicle Decal from the California
Department of Motor Vehicles. Once you have purchased and
affixed the decal to your vehicle per DMV instructions, you can
park without depositing coins at metered parking spaces
(however, you remain subject to the posted time limit
restrictions) throughout the city. To find out how to obtain a
California Clean Air Vehicle Decal, go to:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/decal.htm According to a representative
at the LA Department of Transporation, four hybrid vehicles were
identified as eligible to receive the free metered parking
privileges during the pilot program: Toyota Prius, Honda Civic
Hybrid, Honda Insight and Ford Escape Hybrid. For more
information e-mail the LA Department of Transportation at
ladot@dot.lacity.org. Insurance Discount for Hybrids (private):
Los Angeles-based Farmers Insurance company is offering a 5
percent discount on auto insurance to California customers
driving hybrid-electric models. The discount, effective October
1, 2005, is for all customers who own a hybrid or
alternative-fuel vehicle. All new business customers will
receive the discount as of the new business date, and existing
customers will receive the discount upon renewal. Hybrid Tax
Credit (bill): AB 838 would provide purchasers of hybrid
vehicles a credit against net tax in an amount equal to a
specified percentage of the amount paid as vehicle license fee
(VLF) during the taxable year. The percentage of the credit
would depend on emissions ratings. ZEV autos would receive 100
percent of the credit, PZEVs 90 percent, ATPZEVs 85 percent, and
SULEVs 80 percent. ULEVs would also qualify if the vehicle
obtained an EPA-raded 75 mpg or above (75 percent of the credit)
or between 33 and 75 mpg (between 33 percent and 74 percent,
accordingly). The bill was not passed in the 2005 legislative
session. Hybrid Internet Sales (bill): AB 1223 would allow
direct sales of hybrid vehicles from manufacturers to customers
without having to go through a dealer. This bill failed to pass
the Transportation Committee on 5/2/05. Santa Barbara County
Incentives for Hybrids: Incentive funding ($1000) for up to ten
(10) hybrid vehicles is available for Santa Barbara Air
Pollution Control District residents. Funding currently
depleted. Contact--Irene Salazar ISalazar@energy.state.ca.us.
Responsible agency--California Energy Commission. Program ended
March 30, 2004 and is no longer in effect.

About the author:
Mr. Rahman is a freelance writer. He writes about automobiles
mainly about hybrid cars and electric vehicles. You can find his
writing on his website at: http://www.whybuyhybrid.com

Wood Boilers: An Improvement on the Traditional Wood Stove

Author: Aldene Fredenburg

Wood boilers take the idea of the traditional wood stove and improve on it, solving some problems inherent in wood burning and making wood a clean, safe, and efficient source of heat.
Wood stoves have been used for centuries; a very famous American, Benjamin Franklin, invented the Franklin stove in the 1700s as a safe alternative to fireplaces, which were dangerous
- likely to catch the mainly wooden homes standard back then on fire - and not particularly efficient. The stove provided radiant heat in a relatively safe manner compared to the open fires of fireplaces.
While wood stoves were supplanted by central heating decades ago in urban and suburban environments, in the country many people continue to heat their homes, as well as cook their meals, partly or entirely with wood. But problems remain in the use of wood as a fuel; while a properly maintained and operated wood stove is relatively safe, the build-up of creosote in stove pipes and chimneys can still result in dangerous fires.
Another problem is time. In an era when at least one person in the family spent the majority of the time at home, feeding a hungry wood stove was not a big problem; now, however, with adults working outside the home at least forty hours a week, if not more, having a fire go out means coming home to a cold house and, in extremely cold weather, dealing with the possibility of frozen and burst pipes. Also, walking away from a house with an active fire burning in the wood stove doesn't necessarily inspire a lot of peace of mind.
Enter the wood boiler. Designed to burn cleanly, with a minimum of creosote build-up, a boiler can be loaded with enough wood to burn for hours without having to replenish the wood supply. The boiler, which can be located inside or outside the home, heats water which can be used in hot water heating systems and, combined with a hot water storage system, can be stored for long periods of time (from seven to ten days) between firings.
Some boilers are constructed to be used with a variety of fuels, including wood, oil, and gas, offering a lot of flexibility to the homeowner, particularly with the fluctuations in the availability and pricing of different fuels. Other boilers are designed to burn corn or wood pellets, two more fuels which are increasing in popularity as alternatives to traditional fuel oil or natural gas.
With more consumers waking up to the problems inherent in heating with oil and natural gas, people are looking with renewed interest at alternative sources of fuel for heating their homes; and more and more are choosing wood boilers as a safe, sensible, and moneysaving solution.
About the author:
Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire and frequently contributes to Tips and Topics. She has published numerous articles in local and regional publications on a wide range of topics, including business, education, the arts, and local events. Her feature articles include an interview with independent documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and a featur

The 7 Critical Keys To Success

Author: Anna Johnson

Having studied successful people in all walks of life -- in business, sport, the arts, science, politics, and other fields
-- it seems clear to me that successful people share a very similar mindset.
In fact, this "success mindset" has 7 critical elements or keys that virtually propel such people to achieving the loftiest of goals.
It follows that if YOU absorb and harness these 7 key qualities, you too will accomplish success in your endeavour.
And fortunately, these success factors aren't secret or exclusive -- they are latent qualities you already have within.
You just need to harness them in pursuit of your current goal!
So what are these 7 critical keys to achieving success?
Let's discuss each one in turn.
1. Commitment
Commitment is about deciding exactly what you want and being willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it.
Being committed is more than being "motivated" or even "determined." While motivation and determination indicate a willingness to succeed, commitment is stronger: it allows for no alternative.
If you are committed to achieving something -- you MUST achieve it, no matter what!
2. An Open Mind
Now, being committed to a goal is all very well. But what if your goal is, to put it bluntly, unrealistic? Or what if your strategy for achieving that goal is flawed?
What if you lack key information, skills, talents, contacts or other resources that are essential for achieving the success you desire?
Let's take the issue of unrealistic goals first.
Contrary to what some self-help gurus seem to suggest, there are some goals that are out of your reach, no matter how much you may "commit" yourself to achieving them.
I, for example, am simply never going to be a champion swimmer.
I simply don't have the physique, the talent, or the years of training under my belt. Being open-minded, I can see and accept this fact.
Likewise, having an open mind allows YOU to distinguish between what is worth committing yourself to and what isn't.
Open-mindedness also helps you find the best strategy for achieving your goal.
In your quest to succeed, you're almost certain to make mistakes... or, as I like to regard them, "valuable learning experiences"!
This is not only fine -- it's invaluable.
As long as you do, in fact, learn from your mistakes. And better yet -- you learn from other people's mistakes (a much less stressful and less costly way to learn!).
So while being committed without being open-minded is akin to "backing the wrong horse" -- having an open mind and being willing to learn almost guarantees that you'll find the best possible strategy for achieving your goal.
3. Persistence
Success doesn't come easy.
Okay, it depends on how you define "success" and "easy" but from what I've experienced and observed, it takes a lot -- in some cases mammoth -- patience, endurance, resilience, courage... in short, persistence, to achieve anything worthwhile.
You're going to make mistakes. You're bound to suffer setbacks.
You will confront challenges...
But to succeed, you need to get right up after you've been kicked to the ground.
That's persistence.
4. Flexibility
On the other hand... just as being committed without being open-minded is a recipe for failure, so too is being persistent without being flexible.
This is called being "stubborn" or "pig-headed".
What good is it if we "persist" in making the same mistakes over and over?
No good at all.
That's why you need to be flexible -- to adjust your plans when circumstances change.
To take advantage of unexpected opportunities.
To account for unforeseen hazards.
5. Faith
You might think that commitment, having an open mind, persistence, and flexibility are enough to succeed. But I've found that three remaining factors are essential for maintaining that commitment, open-mindedness, persistence and flexibility!
Not to mention helping us enjoy the day-to-day journey towards accomplishing our goals!
The first of these is faith.
In many cases, it takes days, months, sometimes years of chipping away at the old block before you have a work of art to show off.
In other words, you may be working day and night on something, without seeing or experiencing any "evidence" that you're making progress.
How do you keep going when it feels like you're making absolutely no headway?
The answer is: faith!
Faith that with commitment, having an open mind, persistence and flexibility, you will succeed!
6. Thankfulness
Chances are that simply by being on the path that you're now on
-- even having the opportunity to read this article right now -- you have more opportunities than most people in the world.
There is much to be thankful for.
And what a great frame of mind it is to appreciate each day, each hour, each minute, each moment you have on this Earth!
Being thankful is also great for "opportunistic" reasons. By being thankful for the resources and opportunities you have, you're more likely to value and get the most out of them.
And you'll also be able to cope with difficulties more easily.
After all, you're still better off than most people, right?
7. Passion
Finally, the seventh critical key to success: passion!
When you're passionate about what you do, you enjoy the journey
-- you enjoy the training, the practice, the research, the seemingly tedious and difficult tasks, in short, the "work"
involved in achieving your goal.
And when you enjoy the journey... you keep going!
In fact, when you're passionate about what you do, you don't see difficulties as difficulties... you see them as challenges in a fun and rewarding "game".
And when you're passionate about what you do, you also do all those little, teeny-weeny things that make all the difference between big-time success... and mediocre success... or failure.
Simply put, passion is the fuel that not only keeps your motor running, but keeps it running at its absolute peak.
Commitment, an open mind, persistence, flexibility, faith, thankfulness and passion - these are the 7 critical keys to success!
Now you might think these are a little abstract -- not practical attributes or resources (things like practice, or contacts, or
money) that are necessary to accomplish your goal.
But if you think about it, the more practical or material attributes and resources all become available to you once you have the 7 critical success keys.
Think about it a little...
And then focus on developing these 7 critical keys to success.
You'll achieve your goals much faster and more enjoyably than you ever thought possible!
About the author:
Anna Johnson is the creator of the inspiring 1 minute movie: A Bit Of Inspiration. Enjoy the movie and get inspired! Then claim your free A Bit Of Inspiration screensaver - your daily reminder of the power you have within.

Some Benefits Of Hybrid Automobiles

Author: Gregg Hall

Ever since the automobile was invented, automobile engineers have been devising better vehicles to save fuel and increase the efficiency of the automobile. Majority of the cars run on petrol while some cars and heavy vehicles run on diesel. The cost of fuel is increasing everyday and the internal combustion engine is a big source of environmental pollution.
The rising fuel costs and concerns regarding environment made the engineers to think for economic and safer alternative and that is how they have come up with the idea of hybrid automobiles. There are a number of benefits of hybrid automobiles. A hybrid car is an automobile that runs on gasoline and an electric motor. Hybrid automobiles saves on cost of fuel because they are fuel efficient and consume less fuel as compared to non hybrid automobiles.
The hybrid cars have a dual mode and the electric motor powered by batteries take over once the car is in speed. The energy generated from braking and deceleration is used to charge the batteries. Thereby the hybrid cars are able to provide better fuel efficiency. Moreover, the engine of hybrid cars is shut immediately when the car is stopped. The biggest advantage of hybrid cars is in reducing the environmental pollution because of reduced emission of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases into the atmosphere. Some automobile manufacturers like Toyota, Ford and Honda have already introduced hybrid automobiles in the market.
There are two types of hybrid cars- series hybrid cars and parallel hybrid cars. A Series hybrid automobile has an electric motor run by batteries. It also has a gas engine but it does not power the vehicle on its own. The batteries are charged by a generator, which is powered by a gas engine. The electric motor remains on all the time and the gas engine can be put on and off when desired. Such hybrid automobiles provide better mileage in the cities.
A Parallel hybrid has a gas engine and batteries for electric motor. Both the gas engine and electric motor can be used to power the vehicle and turn the transmission. The electric motor is used to boost the power whenever required to increase the speed of the vehicle. Parallel hybrid cars are good for highway driving.
Hybrid automobiles have some unique features that provide many benefits. Lightweight materials used in the hybrid automobile save energy in propelling the car. Aerodynamic shape of the vehicle increases its energy efficiency. Tires of hybrid cars are made of stiffer material and filled with higher pressure.
These help to provide better grip and reduce friction thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the automobile.
Regenerative braking is used to transfer energy from the electric motor to the battery when brakes are applied.
In short, hybrid automobiles are the future of automobiles and you should consider a hybrid car to save money and discharge your responsibility towards providing a greener and cleaner environment.
About the author:
Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. Get patented car care products from http://www.stopwaxing.com