Joined: 28 Jan 2006Posts: 555Location: Wallingford
mork the delayer wrote:
Shouldn't there be a tax deduction for bicycle expenses? There's one for freakin' hybrid cars.
I agree with you, the problem is that it's fairly easy to prove that you have purchased a hybrid (and assuming that you purchased a hybrid, you drive it). It is far more difficult to prove that you ride your bike as an alternative to driving a car. Finding a way to inexpensively and reliably Verify that people are riding their bikes/public transportation/feet/razrs instead of driving a car is probably the biggest obstacle between where we are now and some kind of tax break for us.
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the dreaded ben
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:43 am
Grumpy GreebJoined: 20 Aug 2005Posts: 5329Location: flavor country
Stanglor wrote:
mork the delayer wrote:
Shouldn't there be a tax deduction for bicycle expenses? There's one for freakin' hybrid cars.
I agree with you, the problem is that it's fairly easy to prove that you have purchased a hybrid (and assuming that you purchased a hybrid, you drive it). It is far more difficult to prove that you ride your bike as an alternative to driving a car. Finding a way to inexpensively and reliably Verify that people are riding their bikes/public transportation/feet/razrs instead of driving a car is probably the biggest obstacle between where we are now and some kind of tax break for us.
funny, it's pretty easy to figure out if you don't own a fucking car.
lantius
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:45 am
1337Joined: 22 Jul 2005Posts: 6705Location: right over
interestingly though, you can get a deduction for carpooling. if you carpool to work then any compensation you get for repairs/gas/depreciation to cover the expenses of carpooling to work is tax-free. many employers make that a part of their benefits package to encourage carpooling.
why shouldn't that apply to bicycles as well?
adpowers
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:55 am
Joined: 04 Apr 2006Posts: 164Location: U-District
Or better yet, stop giving tax breaks for every possible good thing someone could do (cause you'll always miss something), and just start taxing the bad behavior more (aka, internalizing costs).
Stanglor
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:05 am
Joined: 28 Jan 2006Posts: 555Location: Wallingford
the dreaded ben wrote:
Stanglor wrote:
mork the delayer wrote:
Shouldn't there be a tax deduction for bicycle expenses? There's one for freakin' hybrid cars.
I agree with you, the problem is that it's fairly easy to prove that you have purchased a hybrid (and assuming that you purchased a hybrid, you drive it). It is far more difficult to prove that you ride your bike as an alternative to driving a car. Finding a way to inexpensively and reliably Verify that people are riding their bikes/public transportation/feet/razrs instead of driving a car is probably the biggest obstacle between where we are now and some kind of tax break for us.
funny, it's pretty easy to figure out if you don't own a fucking car.
I'm down with that solution, but how many voters in our car addicted culture do you think would be interested in this? I'm guessing not many.
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derrickito
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:09 am
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what about people who live in Bi-autic households (bicycle+auto)?
the dreaded ben
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:09 am
Grumpy GreebJoined: 20 Aug 2005Posts: 5329Location: flavor country
derrickito wrote:
what about people who live in Bi-autic households (bicycle+auto)?
well, i guess your swimming in shit creek.
but at least it's a start. at least it gives people a tiny impetus to sell their cars.
Finn
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 3:30 pm
AlabamaJoined: 15 Sep 2006Posts: 303Location: Central District
The average household around here spends something like 20% of their income on their car. Cost of average year on a bike vs. average year in a car beats the hell out of any tax break I've ever heard of.
But what if employers got a tax break for buying their employees' bus passes? Or, what if transit offered a longer-term (quarterly of annual), lower-price bus pass. $60 per month per head seems tough on car free families. Extending the period and reducing the rates would reward consistant transit users.
TrikerTrev
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 5:39 pm
Joined: 23 Oct 2006Posts: 2303Location: FOCO, MOFO!!!
my company gives free (yep...FREE) bus passes for the entire year if you so need, which is pretty sweet for bussers, even if ya don't use it all the time.
but for bikers i get a meager 10 bucks a month...and I have to report my miles. Assholes!
3dw
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:19 am
Joined: 29 Aug 2006Posts: 34
TrikerTrev wrote:
my company gives free (yep...FREE) bus passes for the entire year if you so need, which is pretty sweet for bussers, even if ya don't use it all the time.
but for bikers i get a meager 10 bucks a month...and I have to report my miles. Assholes!
I got you beat, I get $21 a month if I ride 4 out of 5 days on average. Or bus, carpool, or walk 4 out of 5. Not much, but hey it's free money! I think I get a free taxi ride if I get sick at work and can't ride home, I'm not sure of the details on that one though.
zuvembi
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:49 am
Joined: 24 Jul 2005Posts: 942Location: Little Addis Ababa
3dw wrote:
TrikerTrev wrote:
my company gives free (yep...FREE) bus passes for the entire year if you so need, which is pretty sweet for bussers, even if ya don't use it all the time.
but for bikers i get a meager 10 bucks a month...and I have to report my miles. Assholes!
I got you beat, I get $21 a month if I ride 4 out of 5 days on average. Or bus, carpool, or walk 4 out of 5. Not much, but hey it's free money! I think I get a free taxi ride if I get sick at work and can't ride home, I'm not sure of the details on that one though.
That's almost the same as my work. $25 a month for 60% bike/walk/carpool commute or a free bus pass. Plus the taxi ride thing.
It's not loads, but it does help pay for wear and tear on tires/chains/cassettes/etc.
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Aaron
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 10:14 pm
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 4645
adpowers wrote:
Or better yet, stop giving tax breaks for every possible good thing someone could do (cause you'll always miss something), and just start taxing the bad behavior more (aka, internalizing costs).
Stop making sense!
Good point Andrew! I just make my employees ride to work.
You can now actually be reimbursed for riding your bicycle to work.
As of Jan. 1, employers can offer up to $20 per month to employees who regularly commute by bicycle to offset the cost of buying, repairing, improving or storing their bicycles.
Bicyclists can receive the $20 in cash reimbursements, vouchers redeemable at bicycle shops or parking locations, or as a pre-tax deduction program. It depends on what your employer wants to do.
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DJStroky
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:34 pm
Joined: 25 May 2007Posts: 356Location: Downtown Tacoma
You can now actually be reimbursed for riding your bicycle to work.
As of Jan. 1, employers can offer up to $20 per month to employees who regularly commute by bicycle to offset the cost of buying, repairing, improving or storing their bicycles.
Bicyclists can receive the $20 in cash reimbursements, vouchers redeemable at bicycle shops or parking locations, or as a pre-tax deduction program. It depends on what your employer wants to do.
It also says: "those who use a transit pass benefit cannot apply for this". Bummer.
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daywalkerJoined: 09 Nov 2007Posts: 6108Location: Hatertown
Aaron wrote:
adpowers wrote:
Or better yet, stop giving tax breaks for every possible good thing someone could do (cause you'll always miss something), and just start taxing the bad behavior more (aka, internalizing costs).
Stop making sense!
Good point Andrew! I just make my employees ride to work.
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