Linda McDermond’s Real Estate Blog

 The Department of Environmental Protection is reminding the public that small energy conservation steps taken around the home can add up to significant savings and help consumers stretch their heating budgets.

  DEP Secretary John Hanger said that money-saving tips are available through the state’s “Turn Down, Seal Off, Save Up” initiative.  ”Water heaters consume a large portion of a home’s energy usage, yet the hot water is only used occasionally,” said Hanger. “Turning down the thermostat on your water heater will help to conserve energy and save money. For every 10 degrees you reduce your water heater’s thermostat, you could save up to five percent on your overall energy bill.”

  Adjusting the water heater’s thermostat is only one step in saving energy and money. Once the water is heated, it is typically stored in a tank before it is distributed throughout the house. Non-insulated tanks and pipes allow the hot water to cool before it is used. Applying insulation to the tank and pipes allows the heater to cycle less frequently and keeps water warmer until it is ready for use.

 Installing low-flow faucets and shower heads also will help reduce water usage and generate additional savings.  Hanger added that drafty windows and doors rob homes of warmth. Sealing cracks around windows, doors, electrical outlets, and vents keeps warm air inside and keeps cold air outside. Opening insulated draperies on sunny days will allow sunlight to naturally heat your home. Closing the draperies at night will help retain the heat.

  ”These and other small steps can add up to big savings and provide an increased feeling of security and comfort, even during the coldest winter nights,” said Hanger. “Remember: the less energy you use, the more money you save.”  

For more information on energy savings tips, financial help to pay heating bills, and additional resources for staying warm, visit www.TurnSealSave.org or call 1-866-550-4355.

Source: Department of Environmental Protection

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If you were married or divorced recently, there are a couple of things you’ll want to do to ensure the name on your tax return matches the name registered with the Social Security Administration.

Here are five facts from the IRS for recently married or divorced taxpayers. Following these steps will help avoid problems when you file your tax return.

1. If you took your spouse’s last name or if both spouses hyphenate their last names, you may run into complications if you don’t notify the SSA. When newlyweds file a tax return using their new last names, IRS computers can’t match the new name with their Social Security Number.
2. If you were recently divorced and changed back to your previous last name, you’ll also need to notify the SSA of this name change.
3. Informing the SSA of a name change is a snap; you’ll just need to file a Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card at your local SSA office.
4. Form SS-5 is available on SSA’s Web site at www.socialsecurity.gov, by calling 800-772-1213 or at local offices. It usually takes about two weeks to have the change verified.
5. If you adopted your spouse’s children after getting married, you’ll want to make sure the children have an SSN. Taxpayers must provide an SSN for each dependent claimed on a tax return. For adopted children without SSNs, the parents can apply for an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number – or ATIN – by filing Form W-7A, Application for Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions with the IRS. The ATIN is a temporary number used in place of an SSN on the tax return. The W-7A is available on IRS.gov, or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Links:

• Social Security Administration
• Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card (PDF)
• Form W-7A, Application for Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions (PDF 42K)

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 Pennsylvanians who have recently purchased or leased a hybrid electric vehicle, or are in the market for one, should act quickly to take advantage of a $500 rebate from the commonwealths Hybrid Electric Vehicle Rebate Program while funds are available.

 The rebate program is scheduled to end March 6, but applications will be accepted until early September for eligible new vehicle purchases or leases.

 As time passes, though, there is no guarantee that funds will be available to provide a rebate.  Consumers should be aware that funds may be depleted before the March 6 closing date, but as long as funds are available, rebates will be given for vehicles purchased or leased through March 6.

 Applications may be submitted for up to six months after the date of purchase, but consumers are urged to act quickly while the funds last.

 Vehicles eligible for rebates must have a combined EPA city and highway rating of greater than 55 miles per gallon, with a carbon footprint of fewer than seven tons per year of carbon dioxide.   Flexible fuel and diesel vehicles are not eligible for rebates. 

 Rebate forms, along with additional information about the rebate program, may be obtained at www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Hybrid Vehicle Rebates.   Consumers may also call 1-866-294-3854 or e-mail epafiginfo@state.pa.us for more information.

 Source: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

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 The 5^th annual Delaware County Environmental Summit will be held 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 at Cusano Environmental Education Center in John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, 8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia.  The topic of the summit is “Being Prepared for Climate Change.” State Rep. Greg Vitali will discuss the state’s agenda to address the issue.  The event is free and open to the public. Registration is requested, and can be made by visiting http://delcoenvironmental.tripod.com or by calling Jaclyn Rhoads at 215-209-9637.   The event is sponsored by Delco’s Concerned Citizens for Environmental Change and PA Sea Grant.

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 Did you know that Pennsylvania next month will ship 2,000 inmates to other states at a cost of more than $45 million per year, and that the state plans to build four new prisons to the tune of $800 million, with an additional $50 million each needed for operating costs?  I have worked to re-examine mandatory minimum sentencing and find alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders, as well as other reforms to reduce overcrowding in Pennsylvania’s prisons and its costs to taxpayers.  If you are interested in improving the prison system, I have been informed the next meeting of the Pennsylvania Chapter of Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants will take place 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, DePaul House, 1039 Price St., Philadelphia.  Guest speakers include Charlie Sullivan, chairman of International CURE, and Rudy Casper of Nigeria, who presents an overview of the status of corrections in the United States and Nigeria.  

You are invited to be a part of ending violence and reducing recidivism

Greg Vitali
State Representative
166th Legislative District

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If you are donating to charities providing earthquake relief in Haiti, you may be able to claim those donations on your 2009 tax return. Here are 10 important facts the Internal Revenue Service wants you to know about this special provision.

1. A new law allows you to claim donations for Haitian relief on your 2009 tax return, which you will be filing this year.
2. The contributions must be made specifically for the relief of victims in areas affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.
3. To be eligible for a deduction on the 2009 tax return, donations must be made after Jan. 11, 2010 and before March 1, 2010.
4. In order to be deductible, contributions must be made to qualified charities and can not be designated for the benefit of specific individuals or families.
5. The new law applies only to cash contributions.
6. Cash contributions made by text message, check, credit card or debit card may be claimed on your federal tax return.
7. You must itemize your deductions in order to claim these donations on your tax return.
8. You have the option of deducting these contributions on either your 2009 or 2010 tax return, but not both.
9. Contributions made to foreign organizations generally are not deductible. You can find out more about organizations helping Haitian earthquake victims from agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development ( www.usaid.gov).
10. Federal law requires that you keep a record of any deductible donations you make. For donations by text message, a telephone bill will meet the record-keeping requirement if it shows the name of the organization receiving your donation, the date of the contribution, and the amount given. For cash contributions made by other means, be sure to keep a bank record, such as a cancelled check or a receipt from the charity. Receipts should show the name of the charity, the date and amount of the contribution.

For more information see IRS Publication 526, Charitable Contributions and Publication 3833 , Disaster Relief: Providing Assistance through Charitable Organizations. To determine if an organization is a qualified charity visit IRS.gov, keyword “Search for Charities”. Note that some organizations, such as churches or governments, may be qualified even though they are not listed on IRS.gov.

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Poverty increased nearly 1 percent in Philadelphia’s suburbs between 2000 and 2008, partly because of two recessions, according to a report being released today.

Poverty in the suburbs reached a rate of 7.4 percent, compared with 24.1 percent within Philadelphia, according to the report by the Brookings Institution.   Citywide poverty increased 1.2 percent between 2000 and 2008, the report showed.   Nationwide, suburban poverty increased by 25 percent during that time frame, nearly five times the rate of urban poverty, according to the report.   By 2008, 13.2 percent of Americans lived below the poverty line, $21,834 for a family of four.

For the purposes of the report, the suburbs include the following counties: New Castle in Delaware; Cecil in Maryland; Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem in South Jersey; and Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery in Pennsylvania.   David Elesh, a principal investigator for Temple University’s Metropolitan Philadelphia Indicators Project, called the suburban poverty increase modest and not unexpected.   “The surprise is it isn’t more,” he said, because of two economic recessions between 2000 and 2008.   The notion of suburban poverty is still difficult for some people to understand, since suburbs seem to be green oases away from urban troubles, said Sharon Ward, executive director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center.   But, Ward said, “There are certain centers in every county with concentrations of poverty - Norristown, Bensalem, Coatesville, and Chester.”

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 1/20/10

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Got Kids? They may have an impact on your tax situation. Listed below are the top 10 things the IRS wants you to consider if you have children.

1. Dependents In most cases, a child can be claimed as a dependent in the year they were born. For more information see IRS Publication 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information.
2. Child Tax Credit You may be able to take this credit on your tax return for each of your children under age 17. If you do not benefit from the full amount of the Child Tax Credit, you may be eligible for the Additional Child Tax Credit. The Additional Child Tax Credit is a refundable credit and may give you a refund even if you do not owe any tax. For more information see IRS Publication 972, Child Tax Credit.
3. Child and Dependent Care Credit You may be able to claim the credit if you pay someone to care for your child under age 13 so that you can work or look for work. For more information see IRS Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses.
4. Earned Income Tax Credit The EITC is a benefit for certain people who work and have earned income from wages, self-employment or farming. EITC reduces the amount of tax you owe and may also give you a refund. For more information see IRS Publication 596, Earned Income Credit.
5. Adoption Credit You may be able to take a tax credit for qualifying expenses paid to adopt an eligible child. For more information see the instructions for IRS Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses.
6. Children with Earned Income If your child has income earned from working they may be required to file a tax return. For more information see IRS Publication 501.
7. Children with Investment Income Under certain circumstances a child’s investment income may be taxed at the parent’s tax rate. For more information see IRS Publication 929, Tax Rules for Children and Dependents.
8. Coverdell Education Savings Account This savings account is used to pay qualified educational expenses at an eligible educational institution. Contributions are not deductible, however, qualified distributions generally are tax-free. For more information see IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education.
9. Higher Education Credits Education tax credits can help offset the costs of education. The American Opportunity and the Lifetime Learning Credit are education credits that reduce your federal income tax dollar-for-dollar, unlike a deduction, which reduces your taxable income.  For more information see IRS Publication 970.
10. Student Loan Interest You may be able to deduct interest you pay on a qualified student loan. The deduction is claimed as an adjustment to income so you do not need to itemize your deductions. For more information see IRS Publication 970.

The forms and publications on these topics can be found on IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

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 The Department of Health will provide free nicotine patches starting Monday, Jan. 25 to help Pennsylvanians who are trying to quit tobacco. Kits will be offered while supplies last through the PA Free Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

 The Nicotine Replacement Therapy, or NRT, kits were paid for by funding from a legal settlement with the tobacco industry. No taxpayer funds were used.

 Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, as well as a significant contributor to health care costs. Research by the federal Centers for Disease Control found nearly one of every five deaths nationwide is related to smoking — a staggering 440,000 preventable deaths each year.

 The NRT kit promotion is in conjunction with Determined to Quit week, Jan. 24 to 30. The week is intended to raise awareness about the many resources available to help residents quit smoking.

 Individuals interested in receiving a free NRT kit must call the PA Free Quitline. Quit coaches will ask whether callers have any medical conditions that would rule out the safe use of nicotine patches. The kit includes a four-week supply of nicotine patches as well as other information to help make the quit attempt successful. Those who qualify must be willing to enroll in the Quitline coaching program and set an actual quit date.

 There is no cost for the phone support, which can range from three to five coaching sessions.

 Additional information and support is offered through www.determinedtoquit.com. The Web site provides guidance in developing a quit plan, a quit companion and calculator, and video blogs of Pennsylvanians sharing their own stories about quitting tobacco. Those quitting can also engage family and friends.

 Last year, as part of Determined To Quit Week, the Department of Health provided more than 2,200 free NRT kits to Quitline callers. This is the NRT program’s second year.

 For more information about the state’s cessation resources, call the PA Free Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). 

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