Tax Watch

Tax watch

Congress has gotten in the habit of attaching expiration dates to tax credits and deductions. This year: take advantage of the sales-tax deduction, which is due to expire Dec. 31. Sales tax paid on big-ticket items, like cars and boats, can be deducted in addition to a standard IRS deduction. If you’re buying a hybrid vehicle, though, you could get a bigger tax break by waiting until January, because you could be eligible for tax credits of up to $3,400, depending on the vehicle’s fuel efficiency.