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Happy to pay $900 Fed tax

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by bwilson4web, May 15, 2017.

  1. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    My tax accountant was slow this year. I just got my forms.

    I am thrilled to pay just under $900 Federal because we got the full $4,500 Prime credit and $1,000 home charger tax credit and left nothing on the table.

    The EV tax credit is 'non-refundable' which means it only reduces what you pay, no part of it shows up in a refund check. It can bring you to zero IF YOU OWE.

    Alabama will refund just under $700. Out of pocket, $200. <GRINS>

    Bob Wilson
     
    #1 bwilson4web, May 15, 2017
    Last edited: May 15, 2017
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  2. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    South Carolina gave a $1199 non-refundable tax credit that can be transferred up to 5 years. Only thing is, the credit expired 12/31/2016 for up to the 2016 tax year. I got mine all for the 2016 tax year. I got refunds for both federal and state because of the tax credits. Basically got my money back that was withheld throughout the year.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
  3. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Curious, a refund with a tax credit?

    My understanding is the credit can bring it to zero but not a refund. I could be wrong as this is NOT my area of expertise. I would ask @Patrick Wong who is my subject matter expert.

    Bob Wilson
     
  4. Prius from Dad

    Prius from Dad Senior Member

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    I'm not an expert either, but my understanding is that it will reduce your tax liability. Meaning that if you have a liability of 5000, which would be reduced to 500 and you paid in 4000, refund would be 3500.
     
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  5. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    If you want to break even and not get a tax refund when you know you have the tax credit coming, you can raise your exemptions throughout the year and not get a refund. When you have a non-refundable tax credit, the amount of your credit is what your tax liability is for that your up to the full amount of the credit if your liability goes up to the full credit amount. You won't getting a check for the remaining amount of your tax credit if say your liability for the year is only $3500 for federal. You would only get a tax credit for $3500. If you tax liability is at or above $4500, then your tax liability will be covered up to $4500. Whatever you have withdrawn from your check throughout the year that would have gone to your tax liability would be refunded back to you as your tax refund.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    bob, did you get a credit on the i-3?
     
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  7. Pdog808

    Pdog808 Active Member

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    Haven't seen a tax refund ever since I got married (marriage tax anyone?).

    Hoping to see one this year :)
     
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  8. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    The 2017 Prius Prime and the L2 charger and wiring upgrade to the house. More accurately, this is what is on our forms. You really don't get the benefit unless you go enough years to avoid an audit and change to your filing.

    Let me explain my understanding:
    • Owe > tax_credit = Own - tax_credit :: what you pay ($900 in my case)
    • Owe < tax_credit = $0 :: the tax credit zeros what you owe
    • (Refund > 0 ) & tax_credit = Refund :: the tax credit is non-refundable
    This is my understanding:
    tax liability (refund) tax credit pay (refund)
    1 $6500 $5500 $6500 - $5500 = $1000 paid
    2 $4500 $5500 $4500 -$4500 ($1000 does not count) = $0 paid
    3 $(1000) $5500 $(1000) the tax credit is non-refundable and can not be sent to tax payer


    Bob Wilson
     
    #8 bwilson4web, May 15, 2017
    Last edited: May 15, 2017
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    gotcha, but wasn't there also a credit on the i-3, or can you only take one car?
     
  10. Prius from Dad

    Prius from Dad Senior Member

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    My understanding is, it's not deducted from your total tax after all deductions. It's deducted from what you owe before you take your deductions. It ends up being part of your deductions.
     
  11. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    My understanding is a 'deduction' reduces your gross income so you'll fall into a smaller tax bracket. Deductions are used to calculate the adjust gross income (i.e., the amount used for the tax calculation.)

    In contrast, a tax credit is used to reduce the amount paid from the owed taxed.

    A deduction reduces amount used to calculate the tax rate and taxes owned. So the medical deduction must be a significant part of the gross income before it is subtracted (along with the other deductions) to reduce the adjusted gross income that calculates the tax rate and the subsequent taxes owed.

    In contrast, a non-refundable credit is applied AFTER this calculation of the taxes owed and directly reduce the taxes which can be paid down to zero. There are refundable tax credits (i.e., the earned income tax credit) that is paid to the tax filer.

    One thing, the tax instructions and forms are not written to be as clear and easily understood as they could be.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #11 bwilson4web, May 15, 2017
    Last edited: May 15, 2017
  12. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    That's what I understand. Got to be careful not to lower your taxable income to the point to where it reduces your tax liability below $4500.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
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  13. Prius from Dad

    Prius from Dad Senior Member

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    Like I said, I'm not an expert. :(
     
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  14. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    That's fine. That's why we give each other info to get each of us educated.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
  15. Kramah313

    Kramah313 Active Member

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    I thought he bought the I-3 used, isn't it only on new ones?
     
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  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    good point, thank you.
     
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  17. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    And when the BMW i3-REx was down for repairs, I bought a new, 2017 Prius Prime. It is the Prius Prime that gave the $4,500 tax credit. Another $1,000 tax credit came from the home charger.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #17 bwilson4web, May 15, 2017
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  18. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Are you talking about estimated tax withholding from your paycheck? My understanding has been that this has nothing to do with these non-refundable tax credits. Lowering withholding by raising paycheck exemptions has no impact on the final tax bill, provided you don't mess up and get into under-withholding penalty territory.

    Or am I misreading something?
     
  19. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    Your tax liability at the end of the year will have to be covered by either from your withholdings during the year or your anticipated tax credit you will get at the end of the year because of your purchase of a qualified vehicle for your tax credit. If you plan on getting your tax credit to cover $4500 of your tax liability, it isn't necessary to have that $4500 taken out of your checks throughout the year. If you do have it taken out throughout the year, you will get it right back at the end of the year because $4500 of your tax liability is already going too be covered by your tax credit you will get at the time you file for this year's taxes. You will get the credits either way. Just depends if you want Uncle Sam to hold on to your own money that you will get back at the end of the year throughout the year or if you rather keep that money now.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
    #19 dalcon95, May 15, 2017
    Last edited: May 15, 2017
  20. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    If you don't trust the government in giving you the tax credit by the end of the year and want to make sure you are covered for your tax liability anyway, just leave your withholdings alone and get your refund at the end of the year when you know for sure you have the tax credit. I ended up getting a refund of my withholdings at the end of the year because throughout the year I wasn't anticipating in buying my Prime last year which would have given me my tax credit for last year. But I did buy one in December and got $4500 of my withholdings back as a refund. I had a month to make adjustments and to make sure that I had my tax liability for the year was at least $4500 to get the full credit applied to my tax liability. Which I was able to do so.

    #1 in Easley,SC