Green tax credits, environmental policy, and how sustainability and climate initiatives show up in the tax code.
My daughter asked me the other day why the birds couldn’t breathe. It took me awhile to figure out that she was talking about what’s going on in the Gulf. We’re going on day 46 of the BP spill. So far, BP has tried robots, drilling a relief well, a contaminant dome, “Top Hat”, “Top…
The controversial “bag tax” in Washington DC appears to be paying off. The DC Office of Tax and Revenue says that the tax has generated about $150,000 in the month of January alone – money that will be directed to the newly created Anacostia River Clean Up Fund. That may be all fine and good…
Taxpayer asks: Can you get money back for purchasing a washer and dryer in 2009 that has the energy star on it? Thanks for the info!!!! Taxgirl says: Unfortunately, no. What you’re probably thinking about are Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credits. Those credits were for the installation of specific products like energy-efficient windows, insulation,…
When Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the electric sports car Tesla Roadster, he had plenty to say. Notably, he complained about the price, which was at the time of filming in the UK, £92,000 (about $150,962.40 US). Lucky for all of you prospective Tesla Roadster buyers, the price has dropped to a mere $109,000. And…
Every summer, my husband and I have the same argument about whether we should get central air. We live in an old Victorian house in Philadelphia; it takes a while during the summer for the house to heat up but when it does, hoo boy, it gets hot. The thing is, it’s not easy to…
I previously blogged that Seattle was contemplating a tax on plastic bags which managed to garner a decent amount of support. Clearly, the initial support wasn’t enough. Seattle voters firmly rejected the measure in a vote this month. The bill, had it passed, would have made Seattle the first city to tax both plastic and…
When you think about sin taxes, you normally think about things that are bad for you such as cigarettes, booze and, if Congress gets its way, soda and sugary drinks. Now, sin taxes are taking on a different slant: taxing things that are bad for the planet. In Seattle, there is a bill pending to…
Cities are getting mighty creative in their efforts to fight rising deficits. No run of the mill income/wage/salary/vocation tax increases here. Philadelphia wants to raise its sales tax; Oakland is taxing marijuana and now DC is considering raising… its gas tax? DC Council Member Tommy Wells (D) has suggested a gas tax hike of 3.5…
Taxpayer asks: Tell me this isn’t true. I got an email today that says that Congress is considering an extra tax on toilet paper. The email says that the Democrats have passed law to tax toilet paper to prevent global warming. I don’t believe in global warming and I think this is a stupid plan…
It’s Fix the Tax Code Friday! This week, I’ve been researching federal energy tax credits for an Earth Day post that I’m writing (yes, I’m aware that Earth Day is long gone – wait for the post, you’ll get it). I’ve been intrigued to see the reactions on both sides of the aisle about tax…