Updated April 17, 2023 at 10:27 AM ET
Click here to read NPR's 2024 guide to this tax credit. The following story describes how the credit worked in 2023.
The federal tax credits for electric vehicles, which have been a cause of confusion for automakers and car shoppers alike for months, just went through another big change.
It's all because of battery sourcing requirements that are kicking in.
The new rules, which were announced last month, require a certain percentage of battery minerals and components be sourced from North America or a U.S. trade partner. They are meant to incentivize U.S.-based production and were a part of the massive climate bill that revamped the tax credit for electric cars.
The IRS on Monday released an updated list of cars that will qualify under the new battery guidelines on FuelEconomy.gov. It went into effect on Tuesday. And — par for the course for these ever-shifting rules — the list got changed again on Wednesday, with some vehicles added back in.
Overall, General Motors and other U.S. automakers stand to benefit the most from the revamped rules.
Several of the most popular models — like the Tesla Model Y and Chevy Bolt — still get the full $7,500.
But a half a dozen models now get a $3,750 credit instead, and the Nissan Leaf as well as several plug-in hybrids lose the credit altogether.
Here's what to know.
Fewer vehicles are eligible for $7,500
The $7,500 tax credit is actually two separate credits, worth $3,750 each. Before April 18 every qualifying vehicle got both credits, but now vehicles can qualify for neither, one, or both.
The IRS says the following vehicles are still eligible for both tax credits, worth $7,500:
The upcoming Chevy Blazer and Chevy Equinox EVs will also be eligible for both credits.
Volkswagen did not appear to be eligible for the credit when the IRS published the initial list Monday, but it was added to the IRS site on Wednesday.
These vehicles are now eligible for a single tax credit, worth $3,750:
Additionally Rivian, which produces the R1T electric truck and R1S SUV, says it has submitted updated documentation stating it qualifies for a single tax credit, worth $3,750, and expects the IRS website to reflect its eligibility "pending future updates.)
And these vehicles that were recently eligible will no longer receive any tax credit after April 18:
So, if you're in the market for a Model Y or Ford Lightning, nothing is changing. You can still get the entire $7,500 credit.
But if you had your eye on a Mustang Mach-E, or you were waiting on a Tesla Model 3 RWD, getting that vehicle delivered on Monday instead of Tuesday could have meant $3,750 more in tax savings. (Note that the IRS says the vehicle needs to be delivered to the taxpayer, not just ordered, on or before the 17th.)
So wait, why is the tax credit changing yet again?
Last year's climate law, championed by the Biden administration, not only overhauled the tax credit for electric cars; it also added a number of restrictions designed to shore up U.S. supply chains.
In short, the idea was that car companies that wanted to take advantage of the tax credit would need to meet complicated rules meant to boost U.S-based production.
Those rules covered not only the manufacturing of the car, but also the sourcing of the materials that go into the batteries of the vehicles.
One of the $3,750 credits focuses on the raw materials inside batteries: a certain percentage of critical minerals, like lithium, graphite and cobalt, need to be mined or processed in the U.S. or a trade partner.
The other $3,750 credit is about battery manufacturing: a certain percentage of the battery components, like anodes, cathodes and electrolytes, need to be manufactured or assembled in North America.
Determining the specific guidelines for each, however, was so complicated that Treasury effectively delayed this aspect of the climate bill from going into effect while they worked it out.
The IRS finally came up with the rules late last month, hence the change in which cars will be eligible for the tax credit.
Unsurprisingly, foreign automakers have lost the most in this domestic-manufacturing push. Hyundai and Kia lost access to the tax credit earlier because they don't yet build their EVs in North America. Now Nissan can't benefit from the tax credit either, because their batteries don't have enough domestic or partner-country content.
Vehicles from five American automakers are still eligible: Tesla (the dominant EV automaker), Ford, GM, Stellantis and Rivian. Volkswagen is the only foreign automaker still qualifying for a credit.
But beware: being 'eligible' doesn't guarantee a tax credit
In order to get a tax credit, other requirements still apply. Vehicles must meet battery size and vehicle weight requirements and, more significantly, meet these two requirements:
Features can push up the sticker price and assembly locations can vary, so for any individual car, a buyer has to check that those assembly requirements and price limits are met.
And if you want an electric car, check your income as well.
It's not just the car that needs to qualify: there's an income cap for buyers. It's based on "modified adjusted gross income" — your income after certain deductions (like retirement contributions). It's generally line 11 on your 1040 form, but if you have foreign income or income from Guam or Puerto Rico, you'll need to add those back in.
The caps for new vehicles are:
You qualify if you earned less than the cap in either the current tax year or the previous year, so a single year of high income won't disqualify you.
Start thinking about next year's taxes
This year, you also need to make sure your tax liability is big enough that you can actually use the credit. It doesn't roll over. If you qualify for a $7,500 credit but only owe $3,000, your tax bill would be reduced to zero (and you'd be refunded any money withheld from your paychecks) but the extra $4,500 goes poof; it doesn't get paid out to you.
Next year, in 2024, this will change. You'll be able to receive the tax credit as an immediate discount on the price. So as long as you qualify, you'll get the benefit — regardless of the size of your tax bill.
What about used vehicles?
There is a lower tax credit for used electric vehicles, and it's not changing.
Here's what you need to know. There is an income cap, and like with new cars, it's based on modified adjusted gross income (line 11 on your 1040, unless you have foreign income or income from a territory to adjust for). And like with new vehicles, you qualify if you are under the income cap in either the current or the previous year. The income caps for used vehicles are:
For used vehicles, the list of requirements isn't too long:
The last might be the biggest challenge. According to Cox Automotive, prices for used EVs are coming down, but the average listing price last quarter was still $43,400.
But if you find a qualifying vehicle, you can get a tax credit worth 30% percent of the sale price, up to a cap of $4,000.
Want to lease? That's easy.
Leased vehicles qualify for a separate $7,500 tax credit with no restrictions on price, income or where the car was built.
There's one wrinkle: A tax credit for a leased vehicle goes to the leasing company, not directly to the driver, so make sure that your contract actually passes the discount along to you.
The tax credits will continue to change
These rules are still in flux in many ways, including:
Long story short: If you want to buy an EV in the future, you will have to confirm at the time you purchase the vehicle whether it qualifies.
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