$100 Billion - The estimated revenue to be generated over the next 10 years by an Obama administration plan to increase taxes on earnings by U.S. companies from non-U.S. business ventures. (Source: Protect America’s Competitive Edge)

Tax Cheats Get Creative! Wackiest Tax Deductions:
1. Toilet paper from a home office worker
2. Dog food as a home-security expense
3. $2,000 gynecologist bill as “repairs and maintenance” (Source: Bankrate.com)

54%—The percent of homeowners who said their house is worth more than they owe, a decrease of seven percentage points since December. (Source: Rasmussen Reports)

69% The percentage of people who consider greedy corporate executives a major problem for the United States. (Source: Fox News Poll)

57% The percentage of people who are willing to pay higher taxes to fund health care coverage for every American. (Source: CBS News Poll)

121,000—The number of United Auto Workers who could face deep cuts in wages and health care benefits if Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp. declare bankruptcy. (Source: Wall Street Journal)

57%—The percent of Americans who say that taxpayers shouldn’t pay more than 25% of their income for taxes. (Source: Rasmussen Reports)

54%—The percent of investors who think that the proposal from China’s top government banker and a United Nations panel for a new global currency is designed to reduce the economic power of the United States (Source: Rasmussen Reports)

25% of the world’s companies, and 40% in the United States, plan to freeze salaries this year, but employees in South America and India can look forward to robust rises, a global survey shows on Tuesday. (Source: Reuters)

$300 Rebate: High-efficiency natural gas furnace or boiler
• Furnace must have a 90% Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating or greater.
• Boiler must have an 85% AFUE rating or greater.
• Furnace or boiler must be ENERGY STAR qualified.

$50 Rebate: Residential high-efficiency natural gas water heater
• Water heater must have an Energy Factor (EF) of 0.62 or greater.
• Water heater must be ENERGY STAR qualified.

This rebate is great incentive along with the federal tax credits for consumers and builders. We can receive tax credits at 30% of the cost, up to $1,500 in 2009 & 2010 for existing homes. The PECO rebates are valid until the end of 2009. If PECO isn’t your utility company, ask yours if they have a similar rebate program.

Unfortunately, my equipment is fairly new and efficient, so this won’t help me. I did shut off the pilot light to my gas fireplace this weekend to save some on my gas bill. It’s still around 40 degrees at night, but not fireplace-worthy frigid.

View the full article here.