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A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, members share their advice about things you can still do to save on 2009 taxes.

Question: As we near the end of 2009, is there anything I should be doing right now to lower my taxes?  I’d also like to know about stimulus offers before they expire.

Reply #1: There are a lot of purchases for which you can get a tax credit.  You’ve probably heard about the first home credit, which has just been extended through April of 2010.  If you are able to close on your first home by the end of the year, you can deduct 10% of the purchase price, up to $8,000, if your adjusted gross income is less than $75,000 ($150,000 married).  If you buy a new car (not used), you can deduct sales and excise taxes for a car or truck up to $49,500, even if you don’t itemize your taxes. Deduction phases out if your adjusted gross income is more than $125,000 ($250,000 married.)

Reply #2: Go green to save green! You can get tax credits at 30% of the cost up to $1500 for some energy-efficient windows and doors, insulation, water heaters, metal and asphalt roofs, and heating/cooling systems. The deal is good for 2009 and 2010 if you are remodeling a home (not building a new one). Plus, you can get the 30% credit with NO upper limit for both existing and new home construction when you buy solar panels, solar water heaters, and other energy-efficient items. The site I use for tax credits and rebate offers is energystar.gov.  You can also find out more about how these tax breaks might affect you by going to the Turbo Tax website turbotax.com and click on the Tax Calculators and Tips tab. There you will find the Featured Tax Guide that outlines the specifics.  Also, depending on where you live you can get rebates for buying energy-saving products. Here in New Jersey there are deals for buying air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers and clothes washers.

Reply 3: Don’t forget to deduct medical expenses.  If they exceeded 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, you can deduct the excess.  Health insurance premiums, medical, dental, and prescription drugs are all eligible.

Find out what others had to say about tips to save on 2009 taxes on Boomerater.com.