Roadtrek Site Updated

[wincrasher]

They have their site updated with the new tech options listed.

Just for fun, I optioned out a CS Adventurous with all the tech. Got it up to $177K!

Roadtrek

[Nomad32]

Man, I hope RT is actively working behind the scenes to bring those prices down!

[wincrasher]

In other news, Chinese vans are on the way!

[gerrym51]

Originally Posted by Nomad32

Man, I hope RT is actively working behind the scenes to bring those prices down!

why would they do that. Not going to happen.if you want stuff you gotta pay

[Nomad32]

Originally Posted by gerrym51

why would they do that. Not going to happen.if you want stuff you gotta pay

The question is, how many people are willing to pay those prices?

[obgraham]

I would say that in this instance, RT has decided to play for the customers who don't care a hoot about the price.

[wincrasher]

Look out Airstream, they want your customers!

[tbirdman]

I priced out a Zion and it came to 103K with most of the options. Figuring 15% discount and the 30% tax credit for solar ($3.5K) it comes in about $10K more than a Travato with solar.

If only the bathroom was larger I might consider it.

Can you get more than 15% or is that about it?

[wincrasher]

I think that tax credit is only 30% on the value of the solar, not the whole vehicle - so around $1000 that you get back next year?

[tbirdman]

It's 30% which is on the system and not just the solar. Imho

[tbirdman]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

I think that tax credit is only 30% on the value of the solar, not the whole vehicle - so around $1000 that you get back next year?

Based on this IRS ruling solar panels, batteries, inverters would be deductible. You have to reduce the tax credit by the amount you would recharge the system using the generator/shore power. I would claim 100% being charged by the solar panels and the generator/shore power are for emergency backup. I don't think the Voltrek would be deductible.

[wincrasher]

Saw this posted:

"Never trust the promoter of a product that espouses tax incentives. Always go to the source, IRS. If you look at the form 5695 for tax year 2012, Residential Energy Credit, it specifically states it must be on your principal residence or main home of which you can only have one of. Also these rules are for US citizens filing US Federal Income Tax returns. Unless you are full timing in your Escape within the US, you would not qualify. Also note a residence must have a bath and kitchen, possible elimination of some Escape models.
As a retired special enforcement agent with IRS for 38 years, I saw this all the time, the seller tells you you can claim a tax deduction/credit if you buy their product. They take your money and walk away. Then a year later when IRS disallows the deduction and possibly other items on your return, you are left holding the bag, so to speak."

There was also a post somewhere where it said all this expires in 2016.

And there is the issue on the battery value being dual purpose eliminates part of the deduction - so the deduction is reduced for the percentage of shore power or grid charging with elimination at 25%.

[BobB]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

Saw this posted:

"Never trust the promoter of a product that espouses tax incentives. Always go to the source, IRS. If you look at the form 5695 for tax year 2012, Residential Energy Credit, it specifically states it must be on your principal residence or main home of which you can only have one of.

As always, check with your accountant or tax preparer, but.......

At Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit | Department of Energy is a summary of the Energy Act of 2005 which was extended by The Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 and then enhanced by The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It does end Dec 31, 2016, but I did read somewhere on IRS that after that for the following year, you can still get 10% tax credit.

For Solar Electric Property "..The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence."

Other types of alternative energy sources also fit this with the exception of Fuel Cell properties, where the home served by the system must be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

Wincrasher is correct that a "residence" must have sleeping, kitchen and toilet facilities.

While a home mortgage interest deduction can include an RV, because it fits the IRS definition of "residence", are they using the same definition of "residence" in the Energy Tax Credit?

Has anyone filed for this and had it accepted by IRS or does anyone know of a ruling by IRS on this?

[wincrasher]

There are just so many limitations and qualifiers on this thing. Here is the document for your own reading and amusement:

Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits

It's actually a pretty complicated deduction/credit. If I read this right, there are annual limits and carry-overs too.

[BobB]

Followup

If you look at the Form 5695 for 2014 (the latest), in the instructions it states:

"Who Can Take the Credits
You may be able to take the credits if you made energy saving improvements to your home located in the United States in 2014.
Home. A home is where you lived in 2014 and can include a house, houseboat, mobile home, cooperative apartment, condominium, and a manufactured home that conforms to Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards."

and

"Qualified solar electric property costs. Qualified solar electric property costs are costs for property that uses solar energy to generate electricity for use in your home located in the United States. No costs relating to a solar panel or other property installed as a roof (or portion thereof) will fail to qualify solely because the property constitutes a structural component of the structure on which it is installed. The home does not have to be your main home."

As always check with your accountant or tax preparer......

[BobB]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

It's actually a pretty complicated deduction/credit. If I read this right, there are annual limits and carry-overs too.

Agree wholeheartedly. It's why I have an accountant :roll eyes:

I don't think I would trust running this through Turbo-Tax.

[mumkin]

As an accountant in my first life... working in a small public accounting firm... they use the procedure of "if in doubt, take the deduction.. and let the IRS decide." The worst thing that will happen is you have to pay the bit of tax that you saved... nothing illegal about not being able to understand their gobbedlygook... which is intentionally written to be obscure and open to interpretation. Sort of like religious texts. Lots of RVers are taking it and it is sticking... so I will take it and if they disallow it, no biggie... I will just pay it. The reality is that they are so understaffed that they don't look all that carefully at most of us. (cause we don't era that much anyway)

[BobB]

Originally Posted by mumkin

"if in doubt, take the deduction.. and let the IRS decide."

Better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.

[tbirdman]

So as I understand it, the solar and the batteries are eligible for the tax credit. Would the Volt Start be eligible? We know there's an inverter in the system. Need to figure how to break that out to get credit.

[wincrasher]

No. It would be considered as part of the generator, which is not deductible.