How to Write Off Sales Taxes
Determine your eligibility to itemize deductions on Schedule A. The deduction for your sales tax payments is only available if you are eligible to itemize. To make this determination, add up all of your expenses that are eligible to be itemized, including your sales taxes. If the total amount is greater than the standard deduction amount for your filing status, then you can itemize on Schedule A and claim the sales tax deduction. If not, then you can still itemize but are probably better off claiming the standard deduction where you cannot deduct the sales tax.
Gather all receipts for your purchases this year. If you decide to calculate the actual sales taxes you paid during the year, then you must have a receipt for each purchase. Add the sales tax payments from each receipt.
Calculate your deduction using the optional sales tax tables. At the end of the instructions to the Schedule A attachment you will find sales tax tables for each state. Find your state and determine the allowable sales tax deduction for your range of income. Compare this amount to the actual total you calculate in Step 2. Since you can calculate your deduction using either method, choose the one that gives you the larger deduction.
Report your sales tax deduction on Schedule A. In the section entitled "Taxes You Paid" be sure to check the box indicating your choice to deduct state sales tax instead of state income tax and enter the amount of your deduction.
TurboTax can help you with determining your eligibility, calculating the deduction and reporting it on all the correct forms.
Things You'll Need
- Schedule A
- Form 1040
Tips
- If you receive any sales tax refunds during the year, be sure to reduce your deductible sales tax payments if not using the optional sales tax tables to calculate your deduction.
- The IRS allows you to deduct the sales tax you pay when you lease a car even though it's not ordinarily considered a purchase.
