Deductions & credits

There may be two things to enter about the new car---car loan interest and sales tax.

 

CAR LOAN INTEREST

Go to Federal>Deductions and Credits>Cars and Other Things You Own>Car Loan Interest

The amount will go on Schedule 1a and end up on Form 1040 on line 13b

 

SALES TAX

You can enter the sales tax you paid for the car you purchased in 2025 by going to Federal>Deductions and Credits>Estimates and Other Taxes Paid> Sales Tax.  You will be asked if you paid sales tax on a major purchase, and you will be able to enter the sales tax you paid for your new vehicle. 

 

Sales tax is an itemized deduction.  Unless you have enough other itemized deductions to exceed your standard deduction the sales tax will have no effect on your tax due or refund.

 

“Major purchases” that you can enter for the sales tax deduction include:

Motor Vehicles (cars, trucks, motor homes, RV’s, sport utility vehicles and off-road vehicles

Aircraft or boats

Mobile homes

Manufactured housing

Building materials for major home improvements

You cannot deduct: furniture, jewelry, home electronics such as TV’s or computers

 

 

As for the hot water heater----certain kinds of hot water heaters may qualify for an energy credit.  

Go to Federal>Deductions and Credits>Your Home>Home Energy Credits

 

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**