New Tax Break Sought for Hybrids

The state Senate on Wednesday approved a measure authored and sponsored by deputy majority leader Dean Skelos, R-Rockville Centre, to once again eliminate the state's 4 percent portion of the sales tax, effective Oct. 1, for new or used gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles. The tax break also would apply to conventional vehicles, beginning with 2008 models, that achieve federally certified highway fuel economy of at least 35 miles per gallon, the paper reported.

At the list price of $22,795 with freight, the state portion of the Prius' sales tax is $911, the paper reported.

Proponents of the bill have turned their attention to the Assembly, where an identical bill sponsored by Assemb. Steven C. Engelbright, D-Setauket, awaits committee approval, passage by the full Assembly and Gov. Eliot Spitzer's signature. "I think it has a good chance of passage," Engelbright said Thursday, according to the paper.
-New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants