Do you live in a state without a sales tax? You can still benefit from the new deduction for sales and excise taxes attributable up to $49,500 of a new vehicle’s cost.

American workers can access the Internet, e-mail, instant messaging and other forms of electronic communications from anywhere at anytime. While electronic communication helps people do their jobs, it also leaves a trail. A telephone conversation relies on the memory of two participants, but e-mail and IM discussions can be preserved for years to come. And, given the casual way so many people fire off e-mail these days, that can spell legal trouble for employers.

Q. I plan on retiring at the end of the year. But if I work one month in 2010, will I qualify for IRA deductions?

Q. I use the standard mileage rate to compute my business auto deduction. Can I separately deduct the cost of new tires?

Are you collecting your maximum tax breaks from the massive economic stimulus law passed earlier this year? The IRS has issued a fact sheet touting the tax perks available to small business owners under the new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Here are eight key provisions:

Say you’re contemplating an investment in a new business venture. It’s somewhat risky, given the current economic conditions, but you may want to help a relative or friend get the business off the ground. Unfortunately, if things don’t pan out, the loss would have limited tax value. Strategy: Invest in Section 1244 stock. That way, as long as certain requirements are met, you can write off up to $100,000 if the business fails.

Common situation: You help a low-income parent with his or her living expenses. Under the tax law, you can’t claim a dependency exemption ($3,650 for 2009) for that person unless you provide more than half of his or her annual support. Strategy: Chip in a few more bucks in the second half of the year. If it pushes you over the half-support mark for 2009, you might qualify for an extra exemption.

Have you looked into starting a retirement plan for your small business operation? You’d probably like to help employees salt away some money for the future, but you may have decided most options are too expensive to set up and administer. Strategy: Use a payroll deduction IRA. This is the easiest IRS-approved option available to employers. What’s more, you can set up the program and run it at virtually no cost.

The enhanced Sec. 179 deduction is a tax bonanza for small business owners. You can write off up to $250,000 of new business assets placed in service in tax years beginning in 2009. But remember: The Sec. 179 deduction is limited to the amount of annual taxable income from the business. Strategy: Buy new assets soon and place them in service before Oct. 1. Here's why.

Several readers have asked us about the tax incentives for being energy-conscious under the new economic stimulus law. Strategy: Take action now. If you make energy-saving improvements this year, you can cut your 2009 tax bill in addition to your heating and cooling bills. The new law changes may benefit both individual and business taxpayers.

Web sites don’t last forever. Some changes can be accomplished with simple maintenance, but patching can take you only so far. Here are five signs that it’s time to revamp your site.

Q. This refers to your recent article, Turn nondeductible support into child care credit. Wouldn’t the credit be outweighed by the income tax owed by the relative for watching the children?

The IRS revised its withholding tables to reflect the new Making Work Pay credit. The new credit will result in more take-home pay for more than 120 million American households. But many retirees with pensions won’t qualify for the credit and thus could end up underwithholding for the year. This could reduce an expected tax refund or create an unexpected tax bill.

Q. I’m interested in the new cash-for-clunkers program. Can I qualify if I trade in a passenger car for an SUV?

Q. My company was forced to lay off some employees. Do we have to subsidize COBRA payments for married ex-workers?

With mortgage interest rates at near-record lows, you may be tempted to refinance an existing mortgage. Does it make sense? It depends on your circumstances. Do the math first. Of course, taxes are a critical part of the equation. But also consider how much you’ll save with the lower interest rate and how long you expect to remain in the home.

Are you facing a cash crunch because most of your wealth is tied up in your company? If the current economic slowdown continues, your personal assets could be depleted over time. Strategy: Create an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. This technique enables you to reinvest in a diversified portfolio, retain control of the business and avoid taxes indefinitely—all in one fell swoop.

The new economic stimulus law expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to allow you to take tax breaks for hiring a great variety of workers. Now you can claim the credit for certain unemployed veterans and “disconnected youths.” Strategy: Request certification of those workers by Aug. 17. The IRS just established this as an extended cutoff date for making requests to state agencies.

The so-called “manufacturing deduction” isn’t limited to companies that manufacture products only in the traditional sense. It’s available to a wider range of business operations. Strategy: See whether your company can squeeze through one of the Section 199 loopholes. If you qualify, you are eligible to deduct up to 6% of your qualified production activity income (QPAI) for the year.

Are you thinking about buying a new vehicle for the family? Do we have a deal for you! Trade in your old gas-guzzler for a more fuel-efficient model. Under the new “cash for clunkers” law, you can rake in a tax-free discount worth thousands of dollars on the trade-in.  

As the battle over health care reform in Congress continues, the likelihood that a tax hike will be used to pay for part of the package is growing stronger. Under a plan unveiled by the House Ways & Means chairman, single filers with an AGI of between $280,000 and $400,000, and joint filers with an AGI of between $350,000 and $500,000 would be hit with a 1% surtax.

Are you thinking of donating a boat or a car to charity? Maybe you can’t afford to simply give it away. Strategy: Arrange a “bargain sale.” Unlike a regular charitable donation, you get cash back from the charity plus a write-off based on the difference between the bargain sale price and the property’s fair market value.

SmartMoney.com recently posted an article about “hidden” tax truths. Here’s a condensed and updated version of "10 Things the IRS Won't Tell You":

Q. My two children are my 401(k) beneficiaries. If I retire, should I roll over the 401(k) to an IRA?