Are EV tax credits applied at sale?
In accordance with new IRS regulations, beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits must be initiated and approved at the time of sale. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of the IRS's confirmation that a “time of sale” report was submitted successfully by the dealer. Go to IRS publication 5900 to learn more!
Changes to the EV tax credit in 2024 allow an immediate discount on an EV purchase -- but there are additional requirements that shorten the list of eligible EVs. You can now use your federal EV tax credit at the point of the sale.
New this year, consumers can choose between claiming a nonrefundable credit on their tax returns or transferring the credit to the dealer to lower the price of the car at the point of sale, giving taxpayers more flexibility in how to apply the benefit.
The used EV tax credit will only apply once in the vehicle's lifetime. Subsequent owners will not be eligible. Once a buyer has taken the federal used EV credit, they are not eligible for another credit for three years. The vehicle must be for personal use and "not for resale."
A $7,500 tax credit for new electric vehicles became available as a point-of-sale discount from car dealers in January 2024. Previously, buyers had to wait until filing an annual tax return the year after purchase to claim a financial benefit.
Fewer Tesla EVs now qualify for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, but for those that do, Tesla is now applying the credit at the time of purchase. The automaker's website now says that eligible buyers will have the full $7,500 credit applied when they purchase their vehicles.
If You Claim the Credit on Your Return:
You will not realize any credit until you file a tax return for the preceding year. For example, if you took delivery of an EV eligible for a $7500 tax credit in 2024 and your federal tax for that year was $8500, your total tax would be $1000.
To qualify for the tax credit, your modified adjusted gross income cannot exceed a certain threshold: $150,000 for single filers, $225,000 for heads of households and $300,000 for married couples. You can qualify based on your income for the year you take delivery of the vehicle or the year before.
To claim the credit, file Form 8936, Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit (Including Qualified Two-Wheeled Plug-in Electric Vehicles) with your tax return. You will need to provide your vehicle's VIN.
The credit will be available for eligible buyers as a discount at the dealership when they buy the vehicle. No more waiting for tax season. To qualify, the EV must be manufactured in North America and have an MSRP below $80,000 for an SUV and $55,000 for a sedan, wagon, or hatchback.
How does the EV tax credit work if I don't owe taxes?
The federal electric vehicle tax credit is non-refundable, meaning it can reduce your tax liability for the year you purchase your car, but you won't get the excess as a refund if the credit is worth more than what you owe.
The used EV tax credit will only apply once in the vehicle's lifetime. Subsequent owners will not be eligible. Once a buyer has taken the federal used EV credit, they are not eligible for another credit for three years. The vehicle must be for personal use and "not for resale."
If your tax liability is more than $15K, then yes. Even single people may take more than one EV credit as long as they don't exceed the income limit, their tax liability is greater than the tax credit, they personally use each vehicle, and the car sale is reported to the IRS by the seller.
A refundable tax credit is a credit you can get as a refund even if you don't owe any tax. Tax credits are amounts you subtract from your bottom-line tax due when you file your tax return. Most tax credits can reduce your tax only until it reaches $0.
If you purchased a qualifying plug-in EV or clean vehicle during the required timeframes (either after December 31, 2009, through December 31, 2022, or January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2032), you can claim the respective credit by filling out Form 8936 and attaching it to your Form 1040 when you file your tax ...
Among the vehicles still eligible for the full or partial consumer credit are the Model Y by Tesla, Rivian's R1T pickup truck, Stellantis's Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Ford Motor's F-150 Lightning pickup truck.
A tax credit lowers the amount of money you must pay the IRS. Not to be confused with deductions, tax credits reduce your final tax bill dollar for dollar. That means that if you owe Uncle Sam $5,000, a $2,000 credit would shave $2,000 off your total tax bill and you would only owe $3,000.
2024 Tesla Model Y price with $7,500 EV tax credit: $38,130 for a rear-wheel drive Model Y with an EPA estimated 260 miles of range — Tesla's least expensive Model Y configuration. Tesla states that “eligible customers” receive $7,500 off the purchase price “at time of delivery.” This applies to cash or loan purchases.
EV Make, Model, Year | Tax credit amount | MSRP limit |
---|---|---|
Tesla, Model 3 Performance (2023-2024) | $7,500 | $55,000 |
Tesla, Model X Long Range (2023-2024) | $7,500 | $80,000 |
Tesla, Model Y All-Wheel Drive (2023-2024) | $7,500 | $80,000 |
Tesla, Model Y Performance (2023-2024) | $7,500 | $80,000 |
If you're eligible for $7,500, the dealer credits you for that money as though you'd brought it in as cash. Then the dealer submits documentation to the IRS, and the IRS pays back the dealer that $7,500 — effectively meaning the tax credit is being handled through the dealership.
How do non refundable tax credits work?
A nonrefundable tax credit is a type of state or federal credit that offsets your tax bill dollar for dollar. It's called “nonrefundable” because, once your tax bill has been reduced to zero, any leftover credit is forfeited. The government won't “refund”—pay out—that remainder to you.
Starting in 2024, the EV tax credit will essentially convert into a point-of-sale rebate. The tax credit applies to 30 percent of the cost of a used EV, up to $4,000, on a vehicle with a maximum MSRP of $25,000, weighing no more than 14,000 lbs.
SINGLE | Modified AGI over $150,000 |
---|---|
MARRIED (Filing Jointly) | Modified AGI over $300,000 |
HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD | Modified AGI over $225,000 |
ALL OTHER FILERS | Modified AGI over $150,000 |
This tax credit has a much lower income cap: $150,000 for a household, $75,000 for a single person. Again, that's adjusted gross income, meaning an individual's salary may be higher than that and the person could still qualify. There's a lower price cap too: Vehicles must cost less than $25,000.
There are a few requirements for those applying for an EV tax credit: 1. You can only use this credit once every three years, but it's a new program, so everyone will be eligible January 1, 2023!
References
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