2024 EV Tax Credit: Does Your Electric Vehicle Purchase Qualify?

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Understanding federal tax credits is not an easy feat, especially when it comes to ever-evolving laws around tax credits for electric cars. If you own an electric vehicle, or EV, or of thinking of buying one in 2024 there may be an additional bonus you didn’t factor in. It’s called the EV tax credit or electric vehicle tax credit, but how can you find out if you qualify?

Read: What To Do if You Owe Back Taxes to the IRS

What Is the EV or Electric Car Tax Credit?

The EV tax credit is a benefit offered by the government to encourage people to buy electric vehicles. You might think of like a discount that you can get when you file your taxes. This tax credit can help make electric cars more affordable. Here are some key takeaways:

• It would be available to you under the clean vehicle tax credit umbrella offered to you as a taxpayer if you’ve purchased a qualifying electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid vehicle. 
• The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 amended the Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit, now known as the Clean Vehicle Credit which took effect after Aug. 16, 2022, and applies to vehicles placed in service on or after Jan. 1, 2023.
• The IRS regulated the EV tax credit beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, which states that clean vehicle tax credits must be initiated and approved at the time of purchase.
• The amount of the credit will depend on whether the vehicle meets new critical minerals and battery components requirements for vehicles placed in service after Apr. 17, 2023.
• New electric vehicles can qualify for a partial credit of $3,750 or the full $7,500 credit.
• There’s also a chance to get $4,000 for a used EV tax credit, or other qualifying vehicles purchased in 2023.
• These tax credits are nonrefundable and can lower your tax liability, or what you owe in taxes, however, you won’t get refunded for any excess credit amount. 
• In 2024, you can opt to either claim the IRS energy credit online on your federal returns or transfer the credit to an eligible dealership, which could lower the cost of your vehicle. 
• Your modified adjusted gross income, or AGI, must fall beneath certain thresholds, and the vehicle you plan to purchase must also meet several IRS specifications, including price caps, battery capacity, gross vehicle weight rating and manufacturing guidelines.

The EV Tax Credit: How Much You Get and How To Claim It

The amount of the tax credit can vary depending on different factors. Generally, you can either get a partial credit of $3,750 for a new electric vehicle purchase, the full $7,500 credit, a $4,000 for a used EV tax credit, or other qualifying vehicles you’ve purchased.

It’s a one-time credit, meaning you can only get it when you buy a new electric car. Claiming the EV tax credit is usually straightforward. When you file your taxes, you’ll need to fill out Form 8936, the Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit and provide proof that you bought an eligible electric vehicle with a sales receipt or a document from the car dealership.

Recently, due to a rule change last year, you can now either apply for the full $7,500 credit when you file for taxes or apply it as a discount at participating car dealerships. This is a great option to have a chunk taken off at the point of sale if you’re in the market to buy and want to save on some tax paperwork. 

Does Your Car Qualify for the EV Tax Credit?

Whether or not you qualify for the EV tax credit will depend on several factors, including the vehicle’s MSRP, its final assembly location, battery component and critical minerals sourcing, and your modified adjusted gross income. Not everyone who buys an electric car can get the tax credit. There are certain requirements you need to meet. Here are some key points:

• Make and model: Only certain electric vehicles qualify for the tax credit. Not all electric cars are eligible. You need to check if the make and model of the EV you’re interested in are on the approved list.
• Battery capacity: The size of the EV’s battery also matters. Generally, the bigger the battery, the larger the tax credit you can get.
• Income limits: Some people may not qualify for the full tax credit if their income is too high. There’s usually an income limit set by the government.
• New purchase: The tax credit is only available for new electric car purchases, not used ones. However, some Pre-owned vehicles purchased in 2023 or after are eligible for a tax credit of up to $4,000.

Qualifying EVs

Final Take To GO 

If you’re thinking about buying an electric vehicle in 2024, be sure to look into the EV tax credit. It could help you save money on your purchase, especially if you might be in a higher tax bracket and have larger tax liability. Just remember to check if the car you want qualifies for the credit, and make sure you meet all the requirements. With the right information, you can take advantage of this benefit and enjoy the perks of driving an electric car while saving some cash.

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