Q: Does Georgia require drivers to turn on their lights when it is raining and visibility is really low?
—Pavittar Safir, Roswell
A: State law requires every vehicle on public roads to display lights, including headlights, when it is raining and when there isn’t sufficient visibility to see people and vehicles at least 500 feet ahead. Drivers also are required to turn on their lights from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunset, according to the state’s driver’s manual.
Q: My tax preparer indicated my $8,000 first-time home buyer rebate program was only good for this year. Can it go back and cover the two years before?
—Liz Pecor, Temple
A: The tax credit of up to $8,000 authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is available for qualified first-time home buyers who purchase a principal residence on or after Jan. 1, 2009 and before Dec. 1, 2009. The credit does not have to be paid back unless the home stops being the taxpayer’s main residence within a three-year period following the purchase, according to the IRS. The credit is claimed on 2008 or 2009 returns, depending on when the home was purchased. Those who purchased a home between April 2008 and January 2009 were eligible for a tax credit up to $7,500 that works as a no-interest loan and is repaid in 15 annual installments beginning with the 2010 income tax year.
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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