Shopping can be so taxing. Or not, since starting this year con-
sumers can begin deducting sales taxes on their federal income-tax returns. The only hitch is you’ll have to choose between taking this new deduction and deducting your state income tax. If you live in one of the nine states without income taxes — Alaska, Florida, ­Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming — it’s a no-brainer. If not, do the math and compare.

You can add up the sales tax on the receipts you saved or consult new sales tax-deduction tables (Publication 600) at www.irs.gov. If you use the tables, you can top off those amounts with taxes for big-ticket items, such as cars or boats. Questions? Ask your accountant.
— TRACY STATON