[Hugh R]

One problem in the US is the vagueness of the IRS code. They allow you to deduct from the sale price of a vehicle expenses other than routine maintenance. What does that mean? I sold an old car about six months ago for an awful lot of money. I'd owned it 36 years. The owner's manual describes routine mainteance as; oil and filter every 2,500 miles (12 quarts!), spark plugs, rotor condensor and coolant every 10,000 miles, etc. It doesn't say anything about scheduled changing of brake pads, batteries, front end rebuilds, trannie rebuilds, paint, leather, carpet, rubber seals, chrome plating, light bulbs, engine rebuilds, etc. I put 7 batteries in that car over 36 years! Can I write off 7 batteries, or just the last one that was in the car when I sold it? How about three paint jobs, and three engine rebuilds?

Also, you can only write off the actual dollars you put into it. So using a battery as an example, I bought one in 1971 for $22, I still have the receipt. The last battery cost me $105, I have the receipt for that battery as well. Writing off a $22 expense 36 years ago is like taking a $4 deduction in today's dollars.