EV Tax Credit 2026: Federal Status & Which EVs Qualified
If you're searching for the 2026 federal EV tax credit, here's the short version: it's over. The bigger question — which EVs had qualified, what the rules were, and what incentives are still left — is below.
Verified May 2026.
The federal EV tax credit ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025.
The One Big Beautiful Bill (signed July 4, 2025) terminated §30D (the $7,500 new-EV credit), §25E (the $4,000 used-EV credit), and §45W (the commercial/lease credit). No new EV purchase or lease in 2026 qualifies for a federal credit. See the IRS Clean Vehicle Tax Credits page for the official notice.
What “EV tax credit 2026” actually means now
The credit you've read about for years — up to $7,500 off a qualifying new EV — came from Section 30D of the tax code. It applied only to vehicles acquired on or before September 30, 2025. The IRS treats “acquired” as a binding written contract plus a payment (a non-refundable deposit or trade-in counts) made by that date; if both happened in time, you can still take delivery later in 2026 and claim the credit on the corresponding year's return using Form 8936. Anyone shopping fresh in 2026 gets nothing from the federal government on a new or used EV.
That makes the eligible-vehicle list below a reference, not a live shopping menu. It still matters if you locked in a purchase before the deadline, and it's the clearest record of which 2026-model-year EVs had met the federal requirements. To check a specific pre-sunset purchase against the income and MSRP caps, run it through the EV tax credit calculator.
2026 eligibility matrix: the models people actually ask about
Seven model lines account for most “does it qualify” searches. Here is where each one stood against the two tests that decided the credit — the MSRP cap for its EPA class, and the buyer's modified AGI — and what the specific trim on each row would have earned before the sunset. On a 2026 purchase the federal column is $0for every row; the only money still moving is state money, which is what the “calculate net cost” links load.
| Model (trim) | MSRP | MSRP cap | Income cap (MAGI) | Credit before sunset | Run the numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Ioniq 5Eligible once US production started at Hyundai's Georgia Metaplant — Korea-built early cars failed the assembly test. | $42,500 | $80,000Under by $37,500 | $150k single$225k HoH · $300k joint | $7,500 | Calculate net cost →Cost vs gas → |
| Kia EV6Same E-GMP platform as the Ioniq 5, and eligible for the same reason: US assembly in West Point, Georgia. | $42,600 | $80,000Under by $37,400 | $150k single$225k HoH · $300k joint | $7,500 | Calculate net cost →Cost vs gas → |
| Chevy Equinox EVThe widest margin under a cap of anything here — no realistic option list gets it near $80,000. | $34,995 | $80,000Under by $45,005 | $150k single$225k HoH · $300k joint | $7,500 | Calculate net cost →Cost vs gas → |
| Tesla Model YEPA classes the Model Y as an SUV, so it was measured against the $80,000 cap rather than the $55,000 car cap. | $44,990 | $80,000Under by $35,010 | $150k single$225k HoH · $300k joint | $7,500 | Calculate net cost →Cost vs gas → |
| Ford F-150 Lightning ERThe Extended Range truck cleared the truck cap, but not by much: a loaded build could option its way over the line. | $77,495 | $80,000Under by $2,505 | $150k single$225k HoH · $300k joint | $7,500 | Calculate net cost →Cost vs gas → |
| Rivian R1T MaxTwo separate problems: the R1T model line met only the critical-minerals half, and this trim is priced over the truck cap anyway. The $71,700 Dual Standard was the R1T that fit. | $89,900 | $80,000Over by $9,900 | $150k single$225k HoH · $300k joint | $0MSRP over the cap | Calculate net cost →Cost vs gas → |
| Tesla Cybertruck LR RWDNo Cybertruck row exists in the §30D reference this page is built from, and Tesla's certification moved by trim and build date — the rear-drive truck sits under the truck cap on price, while the top Cyberbeast trim is priced above it. Check a specific VIN against fueleconomy.gov rather than assuming either way. | $69,990 | $80,000Under by $10,010 | $150k single$225k HoH · $300k joint | Not on the list | Calculate net cost →Cost vs gas → |
Model names link to the full spec page for that trim. “Calculate net cost” opens the EV tax credit calculator with that MSRP already loaded, so all you pick is your state; “cost vs gas” loads the same MSRP and the car's kWh/100 mi into the TCO calculator. The cap was measured on MSRP including factory options and accessories but excluding destination, so a loaded build could cross a line its base price cleared — which is why the Lightning ER and R1T rows carry the caveat. The three trucks here are compared head to head in best EVs for towing.
Which EVs qualified: the full 2026 §30D eligibility list
The 25 model lines below met the federal requirements for the 2026 model year — North-America assembly, an MSRP at or under the class cap, and the battery-sourcing tests. 18 qualified for the full $7,500; the rest met only one of the two $3,750 halves. Remember: this is the pre-sunset eligibility reference — a new 2026 purchase cannot claim any of it.
| Vehicle | Class | MSRP cap | Federal credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acura ZDX | SUV | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Cadillac LYRIQ | SUV | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Cadillac OPTIQ | SUV | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Chevrolet Blazer EV | SUV | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Chevrolet Equinox EV | SUV | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Chevrolet Silverado EV | Truck | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Chrysler Pacifica PHEV | Van | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | Truck | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | SUV | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| GMC Sierra EV | Truck | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Honda Prologue | SUV | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Hyundai IONIQ 5Eligible since US production began at Hyundai Metaplant America (GA). | SUV | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Hyundai IONIQ 9 | SUV | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Kia EV6 | SUV | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Kia EV9 | SUV | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Tesla Model 3 (Long Range / Performance) | Car | $55,000 | $7,500 |
| Tesla Model Y (AWD / Long Range / Performance) | SUV | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Volkswagen ID.4Tennessee-built trims only. | SUV | $80,000 | $7,500 |
| Ford Escape PHEV | SUV | $80,000 | $3,750 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe (PHEV) | SUV | $80,000 | $3,750 |
| Jeep Wrangler 4xe (PHEV) | SUV | $80,000 | $3,750 |
| Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring (PHEV) | SUV | $80,000 | $3,750 |
| Nissan LeafQualifies for half credit only — battery components do not meet 2026 threshold. | Car | $55,000 | $3,750 |
| Rivian R1SQualifies for half credit — meets critical-minerals threshold only. | SUV | $80,000 | $3,750 |
| Rivian R1T | Truck | $80,000 | $3,750 |
Source: IRS Clean Vehicle Credit (§30D) guidance and the fueleconomy.gov eligible-vehicles list. Eligibility moved year to year as battery-sourcing thresholds stepped up.
The rules, as they stood (income caps, MSRP limits, used & point-of-sale)
These are the §30D rules people still ask about — useful for reconciling a pre-sunset purchase, and for understanding why the credit was so often smaller than the headline $7,500.
- Income caps (new EV): $150,000 single, $225,000 head of household, $300,000 married filing jointly — modified AGI, using whichever of the current or prior year was lower. There was no taper — see income limits below for the mechanics.
- MSRP caps: $80,000 for SUVs, trucks, and vans; $55,000 for cars. The IRS used EPA classification, which is why the Cadillac LYRIQ and Tesla Model Y counted as SUVs under the higher cap.
- Used EV credit (§25E): the lesser of $4,000 or 30% of the sale price, on a vehicle at least two model years old, priced at or under $25,000, bought from a licensed dealer. Tighter income caps: $75,000 single, $112,500 head of household, $150,000 joint.
- Point-of-sale transfer: from January 2024 to the sunset, buyers could take the credit as an instant price cut at a registered dealer instead of waiting to file.
With the federal credit gone, the real-world price of an EV in 2026 is its sticker — see the cheapest EVs of 2026 for actual prices, not “effective after credit,” and the EV vs gas TCO calculator to see where an EV still pays off on fuel and maintenance over 5, 7, and 10 years.
Income limits: a cliff, not a phase-out
Searching for an “EV tax credit phase-out” usually turns up the old rule. Before 2023, §30D stepped a manufacturer's credit down over four quarters once it had sold 200,000 plug-ins — that is how Tesla and GM buyers lost the credit in 2019 and 2020. The Inflation Reduction Act repealed that 200,000-unit cap and replaced it with an income test that had no taper whatsoever: one dollar of modified AGI over the line took the credit from $7,500 to zero.
| Filing status | New EV (§30D) | Used EV (§25E) |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $150,000 | $75,000 |
| Head of household | $225,000 | $112,500 |
| Married filing jointly | $300,000 | $150,000 |
- Two years to pass, not one. You qualified if your modified AGI came in under the cap in the year you took delivery or the year before it — the IRS let you use whichever was lower, so one big year did not automatically cost you the credit.
- “Modified” barely modified anything. Modified AGI is the AGI on your return plus any foreign earned income excluded under §911, §931, or §933. For nearly every domestic filer it is just the AGI.
- Liability mattered on the return, not at the dealer. Claimed on Form 8936, the credit could not exceed your tax liability for the year and nothing carried forward on a personal-use vehicle. Transferred to the dealer at the point of sale, you kept the full discount even if your liability was smaller — the income cap was the only thing that could claw it back.
- Leasing was the way around all of it. A lease was a commercial sale to the leasing company, so it ran through §45W: no income cap, no MSRP cap, no assembly test, with the lessor typically passing the money through as a capitalized cost reduction. That route closed on the same date. Now that both are gone, the lease-vs-buy question is purely about depreciation and interest — the EV lease vs buy calculator runs it on the money that is actually left.
Gear we'd look at
Home charging is where the savings live now
With the federal credit gone, the math on an EV leans entirely on cheap home charging — and a Level 2 setup is the single biggest lever. These are the categories that get most buyers to overnight charging without a five-figure install.
Level 2 (240V) home EV charger
40–48A hardwired or NEMA 14-50 plug-in
The core upgrade: a Level 2 charger adds 25–35 mi of range per hour versus ~4 on a standard outlet, so any EV is full by morning. Match the amperage to your panel and the car's onboard AC rate.
Shop on Amazon →
NEMA 14-50 outlet (50A, industrial-grade)
Hubbell / Leviton industrial
A 14-50 receptacle lets you run a plug-in Level 2 charger without a permanent hardwire job. Spend the extra few dollars on an industrial-grade outlet — budget ones overheat under sustained EV load.
Shop on Amazon →
Portable Level 1/Level 2 charger
120V for backup, 240V when you can
A dual-voltage travel charger covers overnight trickle on a normal outlet and faster 240V charging wherever you find a dryer-style plug. Handy as a backup or for renters without a wall unit.
Shop on Amazon →
Level 2 install kit: wire, conduit, and a 2-pole breaker
The parts your electrician bills back to you
A hardwired 48A charger needs a 60A double-pole breaker and 6 AWG copper; a plug-in 40A unit needs 50A and 8 AWG. Buying the wire, conduit, and breaker yourself and paying for labour only usually beats a bundled quote — match the breaker brand to your panel.
Shop on Amazon →
J1772 to NACS (Tesla) adapter
Supercharger access for non-Tesla EVs
If your EV didn't ship with a NACS adapter, this unlocks the largest reliable DC network in the US — worth keeping in the frunk for road trips even if you mostly charge at home.
Shop on Amazon →
As an Amazon Associate EVMath earns from qualifying purchases. Product links are sponsored and go to Amazon search results, not specific listings — verify specs, amperage, and connector type before buying.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a federal EV tax credit in 2026?+
No. The One Big Beautiful Bill, signed July 4, 2025, terminated the new-EV Clean Vehicle Credit (§30D), the used-EV credit (§25E), and the commercial/lease credit (§45W) for any vehicle acquired after September 30, 2025. No new purchase or lease in 2026 can claim a federal EV credit.
Which EVs qualify for the federal tax credit in 2026?+
For a new acquisition in 2026, none — the program has ended. The table on this page is the eligibility reference: the 25 model lines that met the §30D requirements (North-America assembly, MSRP cap, and battery-sourcing tests) before the sunset. It still matters if you signed a binding contract and made a payment on or before Sept 30, 2025.
Were the income caps $150,000 single and $300,000 joint?+
Yes. The new-EV credit capped modified AGI at $150,000 single, $225,000 head of household, and $300,000 married filing jointly, using whichever of the current or prior year was lower. The used-EV credit used tighter caps: $75,000 / $112,500 / $150,000. There was no phase-out — a dollar over the cap zeroed the credit.
Is there an income phase-out for the EV tax credit?+
No — and that catches people out. There was no taper: a modified AGI one dollar over $150,000 single or $300,000 joint took the credit from $7,500 to nothing. The gradual phase-out most people remember is the pre-2023 rule, which stepped a manufacturer's credit down over four quarters once it had sold 200,000 plug-ins — that is how Tesla and GM buyers lost the credit in 2019 and 2020. The Inflation Reduction Act repealed the 200,000-unit cap and replaced it with the income and MSRP tests.
Which year's income counted for the EV tax credit?+
Either one. You qualified if your modified AGI was under the cap in the year you took delivery or in the year before it, whichever was lower — so a single high-income year did not automatically disqualify you. Modified AGI is the AGI on your return plus any foreign earned income excluded under §911, §931, or §933, which for most filers means it is simply the AGI.
Did leasing get around the EV tax credit income limit?+
Yes, while it lasted. A lease was a commercial sale to the leasing company, so it ran through §45W, which had no income cap, no MSRP cap, and no North-America assembly test — the lessor claimed up to $7,500 and typically passed it through as a capitalized cost reduction. That is why leasing was the standard workaround for high earners and for cars over the MSRP cap. §45W was terminated on the same September 30, 2025 date, so a 2026 lease carries no federal credit either.
Is the $4,000 used EV credit still available?+
No. The §25E used-EV credit — the lesser of $4,000 or 30% of the sale price, on a vehicle priced at or below $25,000 and sold through a licensed dealer — sunset on the same September 30, 2025 deadline as the new-EV credit.
What was the point-of-sale credit option?+
From January 2024 through September 30, 2025, buyers could transfer the credit to a registered dealer at the time of sale for an equivalent price reduction, rather than waiting to file. If your AGI later came in over the cap, the IRS reclaimed it on your return. That option ended with the rest of the program.
Are there any EV incentives left in 2026?+
State programs are still running independently of the federal sunset — Colorado, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Oregon, among others, offer point-of-sale or post-purchase rebates as of 2026. Use the state dropdown in the EV tax credit calculator to check your state's current rule and source link.
More EV calculators and guides
- EV tax credit calculator — check a pre-sunset purchase against the income and MSRP caps, plus state-by-state rebates.
- Cheapest EVs of 2026 — real sticker prices now that the federal credit is gone.
- EV vs gas TCO calculator — 5/7/10-year total cost vs an equivalent gas model.
- EV lease vs buy calculator — with §45W gone, what a lease and a purchase actually cost side by side.