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IRS Announces 2010 Air Transportation Tax Rates
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the 2010 inflation adjustments to the excise taxes on air transportation.
Excise taxes apply to the domestic segments of taxable air transportation and to the use of international air facilities. The Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act, Part II, signed into law on Dec. 16, 2009, extends these excise taxes to air transportation that begins or is paid for no later than March 31, 2010.
These excise taxes are adjusted annually for inflation:
For 2010, the excise tax on the domestic segment of taxable air transportation is $3.70, up from $3.60 in 2009.
The excise tax for 2010 for international flights that begin or end in the United States is unchanged at $16.10.
The tax on use of international air facilities also applies at a reduced rate to departures of interstate flights that begin or end in Alaska or Hawaii. For 2010, the international air facilities tax on these flights is $8.10, up from $8.00 in 2009.
Further details on the excise taxes on air transportation can be found in Form 720, Quarterly Excise Tax Return, and its instructions.
2010 Mileage Rates
[Stacie says: If you had any doubt that we are in the midst of a recession, this announcement of the 2010 mileage rates should clear that up for you.]
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2010 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2010, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:
50 cents per mile for business miles driven
16.5 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations
The new rates for business, medical and moving purposes are slightly lower than last year’s. The mileage rates for 2010 reflect generally lower transportation costs compared to a year ago.
The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs as determined by the same study. Independent contractor Runzheimer International conducted the study.
A taxpayer may not use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after using any depreciation method under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) or after claiming a Section 179 deduction for that vehicle. In addition, the business standard mileage rate cannot be used for any vehicle used for hire or for more than four vehicles used simultaneously.
Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates.
Revenue Procedure 2009-54 contains additional details regarding the standard mileage rates.
Stacie's Tax Stuff 