2023 EV tax credits: How to finance your EV charger

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If Super Bowl commercials hint at American interests, EVs took center stage this year with celebrities like Will Ferrell and companies like Netflix touting electric vehicles through partnerships with legacy dealers. But even as interest has surged and TransUnion predicts EVs will reach a 40 percent market share by 2031, driving electric comes with a cost.
Luckily, recent bolstering to EV tax credits can make affording and installing an electric car charger more accessible for a range of drivers. Additionally, many lenders are focusing on green auto loans to offer vehicle financing for those interested in driving toward a better climate.
EV tax credits are federal tax benefits that can lower the overall cost to purchase, own and operate an electric vehicle. Check out Bankrate’s EV credit guide to learn more.
How to use EV tax credit for home chargers
One of the major changes that came with the updated Inflation Reduction Act allows drivers to use the tax credit to help finance a vehicle charger. Its official name is the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit. To claim the credit, EV drivers must file Form 8911 with the IRS.
You don’t get the credit automatically when you purchase an EV charger — you must submit income and state information when you file taxes to benefit. It is also important to remember that the credit is not cash you receive. Instead, the credit is subtracted from the federal taxes you owe the year after you buy the charger.
Liz Najman, leader of policy research at Recurrent Auto, broke down the ins and outs of the updated credit.
The legislation has renewed existing credits for residential chargers through 2032, says Najman. With less of a time crunch for drivers, now could be a good time to consider exploring an electric vehicle for your next set of wheels.
The renewed credit most notably can be used to finance 30 percent or up to $1,000 — whichever is smaller — of the cost to purchase and install home charging.
What’s new Najman says, is that “bidirectional charging equipment, which lets you power your home or appliances with your electric car, is now included.” Equipment that enables bidirectional charging is pricy — $3,895 for the Ford F-150 Lightning, one of the few vehicles that offer this capability.
While a home charger isn’t cheap, this credit does sweeten the deal when it comes to buying and driving electric. But, advises Najman, “not everyone necessarily needs to install fancy equipment to drive an EV.”
“Many drivers with short daily commutes are perfectly satisfied using the 120V cable that comes with the car and can be plugged into a standard outlet,” she adds.
Consider checking out Recurrent’s guide to home charging setup when deciding if a home charger is right for you.
You may qualify for the EV charger credit when you file your taxes in 2023 if you purchased, installed and began using an EV charger at your residence during the most recent tax year.
How does an at-home charger impact your energy bill?
Installing an at-home charger will have an impact on your energy bill, explains Najman, but the exact cost varies based on a number of factors.
The additional cost “depends on your utility plan, what equipment you install, what car you drive, and how much you drive it,” says Najman. But for most drivers the extra cost “is far less than the cost of gasoline to fill the tank of a conventional vehicle, so you will save money.”
Along with that, most utility companies offer programs to help lower the cost of vehicle charging, outlined in Reccurent’s electric bill guide.
Other EV charger incentives and rebates
Outside of nationwide incentives offered through the Inflation Reduction Act, there are other ways to save money on charger installations. Check out state and municipal incentives that can help lower the cost to install a home charger.
Biden’s extended infrastructure law to invest in charger access
Initiatives in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law announced on February 15 reaffirmed President Joe Biden’s administration’s focus on electric vehicle expansion.
“President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $7.5 billion in EV charging, $10 billion in clean transportation, and over $7 billion in EV battery components, critical minerals, and materials,” shared a White House brief following the announcement.
“These flagship programs complement the Inflation Reduction Act’s landmark support for advanced batteries and new and expanded tax credits for purchases of EVs and to support installations of charging infrastructure,” the White House stated.
The programs will work in tandem with “dozens of other federal initiatives designed to drive domestic manufacturing and build a national network of EV charging.”
One especially encouraging update to the incentive helps make EV chargers more accessible for commercial use. The tax credit for commercial entities now can be used for up to $100,000 or 6 percent per unit. This is quite the jump from the previous $30,000 maximum per property.
This big increase, explains Najman, “means that commercial properties will have way more incentive to install fast, reliable chargers.” Ideally, drivers will see more chargers pop up for commercial use over the next few years as companies catch on to the incentive.
Next steps: How to secure the best EV auto loan
The choice to purchase an electric vehicle requires some reflection on need, budget and access to chargers. But as tax incentives have expanded over the recent years, now could be a good time to explore EV options. Many lenders — including Tenet and Parsons Federal Credit Union, for example — cater directly to those looking to finance an EV.
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