Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit
Updated frequently — last updated Oct. Trio, 2008
Vehicles Purchased or Placed in Service
The Energy Policy Act of two thousand five substituted the clean-fuel searing deduction with a tax credit. A tax credit is subtracted directly from the total amount of federal tax owed, thus reducing or even eliminating the taxpayer’s tax obligation. The tax credit for hybrid vehicles applies to vehicles purchased or placed in service on or after January 1, 2006.
The credit is only available to the original purchaser of a fresh, qualifying vehicle. If a qualifying vehicle is leased to a consumer, the leasing company may claim the credit.
These models have been certified for the credit in the following amounts:
† This reflects a decrease in the credit amount as of Oct. 1, 2006, due to the manufacturers meeting quarterly sales of 60,000 qualified hybrid cars — See Quarterly Sales, below.
†† This credit amount does not phase out. The total amount of the altenative fuel vehicle credit would be available for vehicles purchased on or before December 31, 2010.
Qualifed Cars and Credit Amounts
Quarterly Sales
Consumers seeking the credit may want to buy early since the utter credit is only available for a limited time. Taxpayers may claim the utter amount of the allowable credit up to the end of the very first calendar quarter after the quarter in which the manufacturer records its sale of the 60,000th hybrid passenger automobile or light truck or advance lean burn technology motor vehicle. For the 2nd and third calendar quarters after the quarter in which the 60,000th vehicle is sold, taxpayers may claim fifty percent of the credit. For the fourth and fifth calendar quarters, taxpayers may claim twenty five percent of the credit. No credit is permitted after the fifth quarter.
More information on the latest hybrid quarterly sales is available. (No longer available.)
For example, F Company is a manufacturer of hybrid motor vehicles, but not advanced lean burn technology motor vehicles. F Company sells its 60,000th hybrid car on March 31, 2007.
- Ms. Smith buys an F Company hybrid car on June 30, 2007, and claims the total credit.
- Ms. Maple buys an F Company hybrid car on Dec. 31, 2007, and claims fifty percent of the credit.
- Mr. Grey buys an F Company hybrid car on June 30, 2008, and claims twenty five percent of the credit.
- Mr. Green buys an F Company hybrid car on July 1, 2008, and is incapable to claim the credit, because the credit has phased out for F Company vehicles.
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., has submitted quarterly reports indicating that its cumulative sales of qualified vehicles to retail dealiers has reached the 60,000-vehicle limit during the calendar quarter ending June 30, 2006. Effective Oct. 1, 2006, the tax credit amounts for certified Toyota models will be diminished. The models and allowable credits may be found in news releases IR-2006-145, Toyota Hybrids Starts Phaseout on October 1and IR-2006-154, Extra Toyota and Lexus Vehicles Certified for the Energy Tax Credit.
Advanced Lean Burn Technology Vehicles
Purchasers of advanced lean burn technology motor vehicles may claim a credit of $1,300 per vehicle.