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Cash for Golf Carts
Updated 5 months ago
Source: http://volokh.com/
At least one group of needy Americans is getting timely government assistance during this recession – golf cart purchasers:
We thought cash for clunkers was the ultimate waste of taxpayer money, but as usual we were too optimistic. Thanks to the federal tax credit to buy high-mileage cars that was part of President Obama’s stimulus plan, Uncle Sam is now paying Americans to buy that great necessity of modern life, the golf cart.
The federal credit provides from $4,200 ...
- 39 comments on this story
Showing 36 relevant reactions out of 39.
My State (Idaho) recently began street licensing of what used to be off-road type vehicles only. ATVs, UTVs, Golf Carts etc, call all be licensed for on-street use.
People in my town who lived near the golf course have long kept their golf cart in their garage and drove it to the golf course. Now the police are cracking down on them and requiring them to register it and get liability insurance
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I could add the mounts to a smart car or a Mini Cooper, too. Yet they would remain street legal cars. Just as these electric vehicles will.
ChrisTS – how hard do you think it would be to add the mounts?
Nick
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by GlockednLoaded: Your government at work. And we need more taxes? http://bit.ly/1FrVi4. WTF?…
The Volokh Conspiracy » Blog Archive » Cash for Golf Carts: He is referencing the “Humanity and Pets Partnered T.. http://bit.ly/vrGkR
So, the ‘golfcarts’ in question are not golfcarts? Just electric carts that look like golfcarts and/or are made by companies that make golfcarts?
So much for that red herring.
Ilya-
I apologize for the PATRIOT Act remark. That was out of line.
I’m confused about your distinction between rebate and credit. Your linked article only refers to a credit; maybe you mean a refundable credit. Economically, they’re indistinguishable.
On the merits: Really, so what? The law says it has to be a street-legal vehicle. If a state says it’s
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Sandy MacHoots:
I had to blink a couple of times.We’re subsidizing the transportation of people who live in golf course condos so they can get to their tees?And borrowing money to do it?It staggers the imagination.
The carts that qualify don’t have the mounts to carry golf clubs.The are more car like. So this money won’t get used in that way.
Cardinal: For instance, my parents own a golf cart at their condo in Palm Springs — a condo in a golf community, but a mile or so from the first tee of the course.
I had to blink a couple of times. We’re subsidizing the transportation of people who live in golf course condos so they can get to their tees?
And borrowing money to do it? It staggers the imagination.
I own 2 golf carts that I drive around town in South Carolina. I use it to pick up my daughter at school instead of sitting in line with a car running and pumping out fumes. Most of the carts that qualify start at a price closer to $12,000. Standard cart don’t qualify for the tax brake. This site will help you learn more about golf carts.
troll_dc2: If the HAPPY bill gets enacted, this country, given its budget problems, will go to the dogs.
APPLAUSE!
Free golf carts - thanks Uncle Sam! http://bit.ly/1FrVi4
If the HAPPY bill gets enacted, this country, given its budget problems, will go to the dogs.
HAPPY? Now that is embarrassing. (Although, $3,500 per year for any/all vet expenses isn’t much.)
The Volokh Conspiracy » Blog Archive » Cash for Golf Carts http://tinyurl.com/ykgnbhx
troll_dc2: Ilya, have you see this proposed legislation? If cash for golf carts is bad, how about an INTENTIONAL deduction for pet owners? And the sponsor is an allegedly conservative Republican!
He is referencing the “Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act“, H. R. 3501, “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for pet care expenses
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The Volokh Conspiracy » Blog Archive » Cash for Golf Carts: The Volokh Conspiracy » Blog Archive » Cash for Golf.. http://bit.ly/3cW1nQ
The problem is that more detailed tax regulation often create more potential loopholes and unintended consequences.
But Congress doesn’t even try!
The problem is structural — Congress is geared towards passing new laws, not carefully monitoring and tweaking the ones they have passed. Fixing this is a one or two-liner, no more.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Steve, golf. golf said: The Volokh Conspiracy » Blog Archive » Cash for Golf Carts: The federal credit provides from $4200 to $5500 for .. http://bit.ly/2yeGOl [...]
Your government at work. And we need more taxes? http://bit.ly/1FrVi4. WTF?
Ilya, have you see this proposed legislation? If cash for golf carts is bad, how about an INTENTIONAL deduction for pet owners? And the sponsor is an allegedly conservative Republican!
[...] Cash for Golf Carts: “ [...]
Oren,
Some tweaking of the tax law might be helpful.
The problem is that more detailed tax regulation often create more potential loopholes and unintended consequences.
Ditto Oren.
Maybe not 60 mph, but why not 40 or 50?
The SC island we usually visit in the summer is increasingly a place where folks do all their driving in the carts. The fact that they cannot go as fast as regular cars is a safety bonus.
I always wonder in cases like these — why can’t Congress quickly (and likely unanimously) pass a one-line bill restricting the benefit with some appropriate criterion that excludes golf carts? Must be capable of 60mph, must weight XXX lbs, must be sealed to the outside, must be capable of traveling on the interstate, must have a range of XXX miles — it can’t be that hard to ... See all content
Mithras said,
(And man, where were you when the USA PATRIOT Act was introduced? We could have use your freedom-lovingness then.)
I mean really Ilya where were you when the Alien and Sedition Acts were passed???
Don’t you realize that your failure to comment on every stupid government action in the past means you can’t comment on any current stupid government
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[...] Read it. The golf-cart boom has followed an IRS ruling that golf carts qualify for the electric-car credit as long as they are also road worthy. These qualifying golf carts are essentially the same as normal golf carts save for adding some safety features, such as side and rearview mirrors and three-point seat belts. They typically can go 15 to 25 miles per hour. [...]
Not housing assistance, not more food programs or money to medicare, just golf carts. Golf carts. No wonder the health care public option was vote down in congress…
So, if it had been a tax cut for the manufacturer, rather than a tax credit for the purchaser, would you have been as worried about a power grab in a time of crisis?
As a matter of fact, yes. I oppose narrowly targeted tax cuts as well as similar rebates and tax credits. They are economically identical. This case, however, is a tax rebate, which is even worse than a credit.
(And man
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[...] original post here: The Volokh Conspiracy » Blog Archive » Cash for Golf Carts Share and [...]
Bruce Hayden: This must be popular in Sun City, Arizona, where driving a car is sometimes problematic with all the golf carts.
My mother lives there and it isn’t a problem. I prefer the gas powered golf carts over electric for street driving, especially at night.
Golf Cart Man is referring to his offer in which you can buy the cart for $8,000, get a $5,300 tax credit off your 2009 income tax, lease it back for $100 a month for 27 months, at which point Golf Cart Man will buy back the cart for $2,000. “This means you own a free Golf Cart or made $2,000 cash doing absolutely nothing!!!” You can’t blame a guy for exploiting loopholes that Congress ... See all content
So, if it had been a tax cut for the manufacturer, rather than a tax credit for the purchaser, would you have been as worried about a power grab in a time of crisis?
(And man, where were you when the USA PATRIOT Act was introduced? We could have use your freedom-lovingness then.)
Cardinal: Why is this a “waste of taxpayer money?”Electric golf carts really do cut down on car pollution and the negative exernalities that pollution causes.For instance, my parents own a golf cart at their condo in Palm Springs — a condo in a golf community, but a mile or so from the first tee of the course.When they want to play golf, they don’t drive their car to the course, they ride their cart ... See all content
Why is this a “waste of taxpayer money?” Electric golf carts really do cut down on car pollution and the negative exernalities that pollution causes. For instance, my parents own a golf cart at their condo in Palm Springs — a condo in a golf community, but a mile or so from the first tee of the course. When they want to play golf, they don’t drive their car to the course, they ... See all content
This must be popular in Sun City, Arizona, where driving a car is sometimes problematic with all the golf carts.
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