Understanding the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit for Buying an Electric Vehicle
Electric vehicles (EVs) have become increasingly popular. According to Kelley Blue Book estimates, the EV share of the vehicle market in the U.S. was 7.6% in 2023, up from 5.9% in 2022. To incentivize the purchase of EVs, there’s a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for eligible vehicles.
The tax break for EVs and fuel cell vehicles is called the Clean Vehicle Tax Credit. The current version of the credit was created under the Inflation Reduction Act. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions.
Which vehicles qualify for the credit?
To qualify for the full $7,500, there are several requirements. For example:
- The vehicle must be a new plug-in electric or fuel cell vehicle.
- It must have a battery capacity of at least seven kilowatt hours.
- It must meet critical mineral and battery component requirements for vehicles placed in service on or after April 18, 2023. (If the vehicle meets only one of the two requirements, the buyer is eligible for a $3,750 credit.)
- The vehicle must undergo final assembly in North America and have a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 14,000 pounds.
- It must be purchased for personal use […]