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aaCongressional Research Service
    Informing the legislative debate since 1914


February 27, 2024


Clean Vehicle Tax Credits

The federal government currently offers three tax credits
that reduce clean vehicle purchase prices and thus may
increase demand for clean vehicles (e.g., electric vehicles,
plug-in hybrid vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles). Each clean
vehicle credit was created in the Energy Improvement and
Extension Act of 2008 (Division B of P.L. 110-343) and
subsequently modified by P.L. 117-169 (commonly referred
to as the Inflation Reduction Act or IRA). This In Focus
summarizes  each clean vehicle credit and provides a brief
discussion of relevant economic policy considerations.

Clean Vehkle Credit (iRC             30D)
Taxpayers purchasing a qualifying new clean vehicle may
claim a nonrefundable tax credit of up to $7,500 for
vehicles placed in service through the end of 2032. The
maximum   potential credit ($7,500) is the sum of two
amounts: the critical mineral amount ($3,750) and the
battery component amount ($3,750), which went into effect
for vehicles placed in service on or after April 18, 2023.
(For vehicles placed in service in 2023 prior to April 18,
2023, the critical mineral and battery components were not
applicable.)

  To claim the critical mineral portion of the credit, a car's
   battery must have at least a certain threshold percentage
   of its critical minerals that were extracted or processed
   in the United States or in a country with which the
   United States has a free trade agreement, or that were
   recycled in North America. The threshold percentage is
   40%  in 2023, 50% in 2024, 60% in 2025, 70% in 2026,
   and 80%  thereafter. For vehicles placed in service after
   2024, no applicable critical minerals in the vehicle's
   battery may come from a foreign entity of concern.

  To claim the battery component portion of the credit, at
   least a certain percentage of an electric vehicle battery's
   component  parts must be manufactured or assembled in
   North America. The threshold percentage is 50% in
   2023, 60%  in 2024 and 2025, 70% in 2026, 80% in
   2027, 90%  in 2028, and 100% thereafter. In addition,
   vehicles placed in service after 2023 cannot use battery
   components  manufactured or assembled by a foreign
   entity of concern.

In addition to the critical minerals and battery component
requirements, qualifying clean vehicles must meet other
criteria. These additional criteria include a manufacturer's
suggested retail price (MSRP) cap ($80,000 for vans,
SUVs,  and pickup trucks; $55,000 for other vehicles); a
gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 14,000
pounds; and a battery capacity of at least 7 kilowatt hours.
Additionally, all qualified vehicles must undergo final
assembly in North America.


To claim the credit, taxpayers' modified adjusted gross
incomes (MAGIs)  for either the current or previous year
must be at or below certain thresholds: $300,000 for
married couples, $150,000 for single filers, and $225,000
for heads of household. The clean vehicle credit is
nonrefundable, meaning taxpayers may not claim credits in
excess of their tax liabilities.

Starting in 2024, taxpayers may elect to transfer the clean
vehicle credit to the vehicle dealer. The transferred credit
may  exceed the taxpayer's income tax liability, effectively
making  transferred credits fully refundable. Taxpayers who
transfer the credit but later exceed the MAGI limits must
pay back the credit (to the IRS) when filing their taxes.

Credit for Previously Owned Clean
Vehicles (I   RC   §25E)
Taxpayers purchasing a qualifying previously owned clean
vehicle may claim a nonrefundable tax credit equal to 30%
of the vehicle's sales price, up to a maximum credit of
$4,000. This credit is commonly referred to as the used
clean vehicle credit. Qualifying used vehicles must be
acquired before 2033.

The credit can only be claimed once per vehicle, and the
vehicle must satisfy other criteria. The vehicle must be
purchased from a licensed dealer for $25,000 or less, have a
GVWR rating   of less than 14,000 pounds, and have a
battery capacity of at least 7 kilowatt hours. In addition, the
vehicle's model year must be at least two years before the
year of purchase, and the dealer must produce a report of
the transaction for both the buyer and the IRS.

Only taxpayers with MAGIs  at or below $150,000 for
married couples, $75,000 for single filers, and $112,500 for
heads of household in either the current or previous year
qualify for this tax credit. Taxpayers can claim the credit at
most once every three years. Rules for credit transfers under
the used clean vehicle credit are similar to those under the
clean vehicle credit.

Cred   it for Qualified Commrercial Clean
Vehicles (I   RC   §45W)
By purchasing a qualified clean vehicle, businesses and tax-
exempt organizations can qualify for a tax credit of up to
$40,000. For hybrid vehicles, the credit equals the lesser of
the incremental cost of the vehicle (the difference between
its price and the price of a gas- or diesel-powered vehicle of
similar size and use) or 15% of the vehicle's cost basis. For
electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles, the credit equals the
lesser of the incremental cost of the vehicle or 30% of the
vehicle's cost basis. The credit may not exceed $7,500 for
vehicles with a GVWR  of less than 14,000 pounds.


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