Tax Credits for Plug-In Electric Drive Vehicles

Eco-friendly electric vehicles have received another boost in popularity after the federal government introduced tax credits for individuals and businesses opting to purchase plug-in electric drive motor vehicles.  These tax credits offer a direct reduction to the tax liability owed to the federal government. Select states also offer additional rebates to owners of alternative energy vehicles.

Electric Vehicles

Back in 2008, the IRS implemented Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 30D to give tax credits to qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles. IRC 30D states that for vehicles acquired after December 31, 2009, the credit is equal to $2,500, plus $417 for a vehicle that draws propulsion energy from a battery with at least five kilowatt hours of capacity, plus an additional $417 for each kilowatt hour of battery capacity in excess of five kilowatt hours. Credit amounts for a single vehicle are capped at $7,500. This full amount can be claimed until the second quarter after the vehicle’s manufacturer sells its 200,000th qualified vehicle and will also phase out each quarter over a one-year period. Vehicles will not be eligible for a credit if acquired after the phase-out period. For example, Tesla, a popular electric motor vehicle manufacturer, currently has vehicles in its lineup that qualify for tax credits. If a qualifying Tesla vehicle was purchased between 1/1/2019 and 6/30/2019, the owner of the car can receive a credit of at least $3,750; for vehicles purchased 7/1/2019 through 12/31/2019, the owners can receive at least $1,875.

A full list of qualifying vehicle brands, models and conditions can be found on the IRS website.

The state of Pennsylvania also offers an Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Rebate for PA residents. The most recent program guidelines became available on July 1, 2019 and offer rebates of up to $1,500 for new hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and battery electric vehicles, with rebates of up to $1,000 for original equipment manufacturers or certified retrofit natural gas vehicles. The guidelines also offer a $1,000 rebate for propane vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electric motorcycles, although there were slightly higher rebate amounts for the first six months of 2019.

In order to qualify for a rebate on an AFV, a completed rebate application form, available on the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s website, must be filled out and submitted no later than six months after the vehicle’s purchase date. All applications must include the following information: Social Security numbers of the PA resident, a valid PA vehicle registration, and proof of purchase or a copy of signed lease. Any application that is missing information will not be accepted. 

For more information, please contact a member of the Schneider Downs Transportation and Logistics Team listed below to discuss your options and eligibility:

•           Dan Phillips – Shareholder (412) 697-5299

•           Mike Renzelman – Shareholder (614) 586-7203

•           Jim Gilboy – Senior Manager (412) 697-5249

•           Matthew Werner – Senior Manager (412) 697-5403

•           Danielle Miceli – Manager (412)-697-5373

 

You’ve heard our thoughts… We’d like to hear yours

The Schneider Downs Our Thoughts On blog exists to create a dialogue on issues that are important to organizations and individuals. While we enjoy sharing our ideas and insights, we’re especially interested in what you may have to say. If you have a question or a comment about this article – or any article from the Our Thoughts On blog – we hope you’ll share it with us. After all, a dialogue is an exchange of ideas, and we’d like to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

Material discussed is meant for informational purposes only, and it is not to be construed as investment, tax, or legal advice. Please note that individual situations can vary. Therefore, this information should be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice.

© 2024 Schneider Downs. All rights-reserved. All content on this site is property of Schneider Downs unless otherwise noted and should not be used without written permission.

our thoughts on
Tax, Tax Policy BY Kirk Mitchell
Summary of President Biden’s 2025 Revenue Proposals Released in Treasury’s Greenbook
The Impact of the Baltimore Key Bridge Disaster on Supply Chain
The Importance of Certified Business Valuation Professionals
Tax, Tax Impact BY Jared Sofranko
IRS Tax-Exempt and Governmental Entity New Compliance Programs
Tax BY Brianna Lundy
Employee Retention Credit: IRS’s Voluntary Disclosure Program Expiring on March 22, 2024
Pillar Two is Here; Is Your Company Ready?
Register to receive our weekly newsletter with our most recent columns and insights.
Have a question? Ask us!

We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a note, and we’ll respond to you as quickly as possible.

Ask us
contact us
Pittsburgh

This site uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best user experience. Cookies assist in navigation, analyzing traffic and in our marketing efforts as described in our Privacy Policy.

×