The federal EV credit ended Sept 30, 2025 — what you can still claim, and what replaced it
| Requirement (2025 purchases) | New EV | Used EV |
|---|
The federal EV tax credit is over: the 2025 budget law terminated the $7,500 new-EV credit, the $4,000 used-EV credit and the commercial-lease workaround for vehicles delivered after September 30, 2025. Two groups still need the math, though — buyers who took delivery in time and are claiming the credit on 2025 returns right now, and shoppers who need an honest map of the state and utility incentives that survive. This tool handles both.
| Rule | New EV ($7,500) | Used EV (up to $4,000) |
|---|---|---|
| Delivered by | September 30, 2025 — delivery date, not order date | |
| Income cap (MAGI) | $150k single / $300k married | $75k / $150k |
| Price cap | $55k cars / $80k trucks & SUVs | $25,000 |
| How claimed | Form 8936 with your 2025 return — or already received as a point-of-sale discount | |
Useful details for filers: the MAGI test uses this year or last year, whichever is lower (a raise in 2025 doesn't kill it if 2024 qualified); point-of-sale transfers already paid you — the return just reconciles, and exceeding the caps means repayment; the credit is nonrefundable when claimed at filing (you need that much tax liability) but the point-of-sale version wasn't.
Yes — terminated for vehicles delivered after September 30, 2025, along with the used-EV and commercial-lease credits. Congressional proposals to revive them exist; current law says gone.
If you transferred it to the dealer at purchase, you already have it (your 2025 return reconciles). Otherwise, file Form 8936 with the 2025 return — you'll need the dealer's time-of-sale report and to pass the income/price caps in the table.
The MAGI test passes if EITHER 2025 or 2024 was under the cap. If both exceeded it and the dealer gave you the point-of-sale discount, you repay it at filing — the surprise catching high earners this season.
No — the commercial-vehicle loophole that passed the credit through lessors ended on the same date. Lease pricing has adjusted accordingly; compare lease vs buy on raw numbers now (see the Lease vs Buy tool).
Colorado leads (up to $3,500+ with stacking), then MA ($3,500), NY ($2,000), plus utility adders. Income caps and MSRP limits apply state-by-state — a 10-minute check of your state energy office beats any national list.
The federal charger credit (30%, up to $1,000, in eligible census tracts) ended June 30, 2026 under the same law — installations before that date can still claim it. Utilities' charger rebates continue regardless.
Yes — every figure computes locally in your browser.
Claim your 2025 purchase correctly this filing season, and shop 2026 EVs on their real economics plus state money — the federal chapter closed, but the spreadsheet still often favors the plug.