Can you still claim an EV tax credit in 2026?

The federal EV purchase credits are no longer a safe line item for a 2026 vehicle acquisition. The IRS says the new, previously owned, and qualified commercial clean vehicle credits are unavailable for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. A binding contract and payment on or before that date can matter for an older transaction; taking possession is the IRS's "placed in service" point. 12

State, utility, and local programs may still change the math. The DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center says availability varies, changes regularly, and can require checking nearby ZIP codes. The federal residential charger credit is a separate home-installation program, so public-only drivers should leave that line out of their baseline. 345

Before signing, ask the dealer to identify every advertised discount: manufacturer, state, utility, local, or lease-related. If the EV only fits after an unverified incentive, compare the same down payment and monthly cost with a hybrid or gas vehicle.