EV Charger ScoutIf you've been holding off on an EV purchase waiting to "get the tax credit," it's important to know upfront: as of today, there isn't one. The federal EV purchase credit that shaped the US market for over a decade ended in late 2025, and a second federal incentive — the home charger installation credit — expired right behind it in mid-2026. This guide lays out exactly what ended, when, what limited federal benefits remain, and where the real incentive landscape has shifted to for 2026 buyers, in the US and beyond.
What Ended: The $7,500 Federal EV Purchase Credit
The federal Clean Vehicle Credit — officially Internal Revenue Code Section 30D, worth up to $7,500 on qualifying new EVs and plug-in hybrids, plus a separate used-EV credit of up to $4,000 under Section 25E — was eliminated by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025. The credits stopped applying to any vehicle acquired after September 30, 2025. There is no phase-out, no reduced amount, and no path to claim it for a vehicle purchased new today: the credit simply no longer exists for 2026 buyers.
| Credit | Maximum Value | Status as of 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Section 30D — New Clean Vehicle Credit | $7,500 | Ended — vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 do not qualify |
| Section 25E — Previously-Owned Clean Vehicle Credit | $4,000 | Ended — same September 30, 2025 cutoff |
| Section 30C — Alternative Fuel Refueling Property (home charger) | 30% of install cost, up to $1,000 | Ended — expired June 30, 2026 |
The One Narrow Exception
If you purchased a qualifying EV, or entered a binding written purchase agreement, on or before September 30, 2025, the credit can still be claimed — even if the vehicle wasn't actually delivered until after that date. The IRS treats the acquisition or contract date as the trigger, not delivery. This only helps buyers who acted before the deadline; it does nothing for anyone shopping in 2026.
Be skeptical of any dealership or salesperson in 2026 advertising "$7,500 off with federal EV tax credit" — that credit no longer exists for new purchases. Some dealers continue referencing outdated marketing material or conflate it with a manufacturer or state incentive. Always ask exactly which program a stated discount comes from.
EV Interior Essentials · EV Shop
Premium All-Weather Floor Mats
Laser-Measured for Maximum Coverage — Custom-Fit for Your Vehicle
* Amazon affiliate link — EV Charger Scout may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
What's Actually Still Available
The federal purchase incentives are gone, but they weren't the only lever affecting EV affordability. A few things remain on the table for 2026 buyers:
The New Auto Loan Interest Deduction
A new federal tax deduction allows buyers to deduct up to $10,000 per year in interest paid on a loan for a new, personal-use vehicle — as long as the vehicle's final assembly took place in the United States. This applies to gas, hybrid, and electric vehicles alike, so it isn't an EV-specific perk, but it's real money back for an EV purchase financed with a loan originated after December 31, 2024. The deduction phases out for buyers with a modified adjusted gross income above $100,000 (single filers) or $200,000 (married filing jointly), and is scheduled to run through 2028. You can check whether a specific vehicle's final assembly is domestic using its VIN through the NHTSA VIN decoder.
State, Local, and Utility Incentives
With the federal credit gone, state-level programs are now the main source of direct EV purchase savings in the US, and they vary dramatically by state — some offer direct rebates, sales tax exemptions, reduced registration fees, or HOV lane access, while others offer nothing at all. Utility companies in many states separately offer rebates for home charger installation or off-peak charging enrollment, independent of the expired federal 30C credit.
Since state and utility incentives change frequently and vary block by block in some cases, check current eligibility for your specific location rather than relying on last year's information. EV Charger Scout's free Local EV Incentives tool in the EV Tools hub covers all 50 states plus DC and is built specifically to answer this.
Home Charging Upgrade · EV Shop
Autel MaxiCharger AC Wallbox
Best Heavy-Duty — 40–50A, OCPP, RFID, Screen, Workplace-Grade
* Amazon affiliate link — EV Charger Scout may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
How Other Countries Compare in 2026
The US isn't alone in restructuring EV incentives — several major markets have shifted their approach recently, which matters for readers outside the US or comparing options internationally.
| Country | Current Incentive Landscape (2026) |
|---|---|
| Canada | The federal iZEV rebate program paused in January 2025 after exhausting its budget. A successor program, the Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP), launched in 2026 offering up to $5,000 for battery-electric/fuel-cell vehicles and $2,500 for plug-in hybrids, running through 2031. Provincial incentives (Quebec, BC) remain separate and vary by province. |
| United Kingdom | No direct purchase grant for private new car buyers. The main lever is the Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) company car tax rate for electric vehicles, set at 4% for the 2026/27 tax year — dramatically lower than the 25–37% rates for petrol or diesel company cars — plus salary sacrifice EV schemes offered through many employers. |
| European Union | No single EU-wide purchase incentive; programs are set nationally and vary widely, from strong purchase bonuses in some member states to primarily tax-based incentives (reduced VAT, registration tax exemptions) in others. |
| Australia | No federal purchase rebate; incentives are state-based (varying stamp duty exemptions and registration discounts) plus a Fringe Benefits Tax exemption for eligible EVs provided through employer novated lease arrangements. |
The throughline across all of these markets is the same: EV incentive programs are being actively restructured everywhere, not just in the US, and the details shift often enough that checking your specific country and region's current program before budgeting for a purchase is worth the ten minutes it takes.
Since the purchase-price incentive is gone, the ongoing savings from lower fuel and maintenance costs matter more than ever in the total cost of ownership math. Our EV vs. gas cost comparison breaks down the real numbers over 10,000 miles, including maintenance and hidden fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the federal EV tax credit still available in 2026?
No. The federal Clean Vehicle Credit (up to $7,500 for new EVs, up to $4,000 for used EVs, under Internal Revenue Code Section 30D) ended for any vehicle acquired after September 30, 2025, following the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law on July 4, 2025. There is no federal purchase credit available to new EV buyers in 2026, regardless of income, vehicle price, or where it was assembled.
Can anyone still claim the old EV tax credit on a 2026 tax return?
Only in one narrow case: if you purchased the vehicle or entered a binding written purchase contract on or before September 30, 2025. In that situation, the credit can still be claimed on the tax return covering that purchase, even if the vehicle was actually delivered after the deadline — the acquisition or contract date is what the IRS uses, not the delivery date. If you're buying new in 2026, this doesn't apply to you.
What happened to the federal home EV charger tax credit?
It also expired — Section 30C, which covered 30% of home EV charger installation costs up to $1,000, ran out on June 30, 2026. As of today, neither the vehicle purchase credit nor the home charger installation credit remains available at the federal level in the United States.
Are there any federal tax benefits left for EV buyers?
The main one is the new auto loan interest deduction, which lets buyers deduct up to $10,000 per year in interest paid on a loan for a personal-use vehicle with final assembly in the United States, for loans originated after December 31, 2024, through 2028. It applies to gas, hybrid, and electric vehicles alike, phases out above $100,000 MAGI (single) or $200,000 (joint), and is not EV-specific — but it can meaningfully offset financing costs on an eligible EV purchase.
Where should I look for EV incentives now that the federal credit is gone?
State, provincial, and utility-level incentives are now the primary lever, and they vary enormously by location — some states still offer purchase rebates, tax exemptions, HOV lane access, or reduced registration fees. EV Charger Scout's free Local EV Incentives tool in the EV Tools hub covers all 50 US states plus DC and is the fastest way to check what's actually available where you live.
More guides on Costs & Savings
Explore the full Costs & Savings topic hub — related guides that build on this one.