Starting next year, people who want to buy a new or used electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle will be able to get U.S. income tax credits at the time of purchase
DETROIT — Starting next year, people who want to buy a new or used electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle will be able to get U.S. government income tax credits at the time of purchase.
Eligible buyers, including those that bought an EV or hybrid this year, have had to wait until they filed their federal income tax returns to actually get the benefits.
The Treasury Department says the near-instant credits of $7,500 for an eligible new vehicle and $4,000 for a qualifying used vehicle should lower purchasing costs for consumers and help car dealers by boosting EV sales.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, which included the credits, buyers can transfer the credits to dealers, which can apply them at the point of sale starting Jan. 1.
Plus, the government says people can get the full credits from dealers regardless of how much they owe in federal taxes.
The vehicles have to qualify under guidelines spelled out in the law, and buyers' incomes have to fall below limits.
Dealers have to hold state or local licenses in order to offer the credits, and they must register on an Internal Revenue Service website. After dealers turn in the sales paperwork, dealers can expect to get payments from the government within about 72 hours, officials said.
To be eligible, electric vehicles or plug-ins have to be manufactured in North America. SUVs, vans and trucks can’t have a sticker price greater than $80,000, while cars can’t sticker for more than $55,000.
Used electric vehicles can't have a sale price of more than $25,000.
There also are income limits for buyers set up to stop
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