Whirlpool asks for user feedback on changes to their technical web-site

Taken from the www.servicematters.com web site -

"Over the course of the next few months ServiceMatters.com will continue to undergo further changes and improvements. A number of great plans and ideas lie ahead and we will continue to work hard to maintain core functionality while seeking to make improvements whenever possible.

The truth however, is that nothing is ever possible without the right feedback, from the right source. That is why we would like to invite you to participate in a quick survey to help gather the unique perspective this project so desperately needs. By selecting the "Take The Survey" link below you can lend a hand at making ServiceMatters.com a better web experience from start to finish. We sincerely appreciate the help."

Here is our opportunity to make it known to Whirlpool that access to their technical information needs to remain open to all service providers, warranty and non-warranty alike. Please go to the service matters web-site and take the survey to provide your comments.

By BILL BISCHOFF

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1. Buy a Heavy SUV

While buying a big SUV may not be politically correct, the fact is these vehicles are very useful if you need to haul people and stuff around. They also have a big tax advantage for businesses. Specifically, new and pre-owned "heavy" SUVs used over 50% for business qualify for a first-year Section 179 depreciation write-off of $25,000. You then depreciate the rest of the SUV's cost using the general rules, which include 50% first-year bonus depreciation for new (not used) SUVs. (I'll tell you more about bonus depreciation in Section 3.)

To collect the $25,000 first-year deduction, you must buy an SUV with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) above 6,000 pounds. Only these heavyweights qualify for the privilege. First-year depreciation deductions for lighter SUVs, passenger cars and light trucks are much skimpier. You can usually find a vehicle's GVWR specification on a label on the inside edge of the driver's side door where the hinges meet the frame.

2. Buy Other Equipment, Software and Vehicles

There's a much larger first-year Section 179 depreciation deduction for things that are not SUVs. The write-off - a whopping $250,000 -- is available for the cost of most new and used items of business equipment and software.

That includes computer systems, office furniture, machinery, and (as I said) software that is put to use during tax years beginning in 2009 (which means calendar-year 2009 if your business uses the calendar year for taxes, as most do).

The $250,000 Section 179 deduction privilege is also available for heavy pickups and vans (meaning those with GVWRs above 6,000 pounds) that are not classified as SUVs under the tax law. These include the following:

* Pickups with a cargo area that is at least six feet in interior length. Many pickups with full-size cargo beds will meet this description (but pickups with shorter beds will fail this test and be classified as SUVs).

* Closed load-carrying vehicles with no seating behind the driver's seat and no body section protruding more than 30 inches ahead of the leading edge of the windshield. Delivery vans will qualify.

* Vehicles designed to seat more than nine passengers behind the driver's seat. Shuttle vans and minibuses will qualify.

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