Tax Breaks on Hybrid Vehicles

Quick Highlights

• Tax Deduction of $2,000 for new hybrids purchased prior to December 31 , 2010.
• Tax Credit of up to $3,400 for new hybrids purchased or leased after December 31, 2005.
• Basis must be reduced by the amount of the credit taken.
• There will be a recapture of the credit with respect to any property which ceases to be eligible for such credit, including the case of a lease period of less than the economic life of a vehicle.
• In addition to being a hybrid, vehicles must meet clean air and other standards to Qualify.
• Different vehicles will qualify for different amounts of credit, and the credit you receive may depend on when you acquire the vehicle.
• The credit cannot be used to reduce your taxes below the Alternative Minimum Amount.
• For hybrid cars, light trucks and clean-burn vehicles, the credit expires December 31, 2010.  For heavy hybrid trucks, the credit expires December 31, 2009.
• The credit is only available to the original purchaser of a new, qualifying vehicle.  If a qualifying vehicle is leased to a consumer, the leasing company may claim the credit.

The energy bill that President Bush signed August 8th, 2005 provides generous tax credits to people who buy or lease new hybrids and other fuel-efficient vehicles starting in 2006. Current tax law provides buyers with up to $2,000 in tax deductions.  The new law will replace the deductions with tax credits that can reach $3,400.  In addition to hybrids, the credits will apply to vehicles powered by fuel cells, advanced “lean burn” diesel vehicles and vehicles powered by other alternative power sources. This article concentrates on hybrid vehicles.

Tax credits are significantly more valuable than deductions because deductions merely reduce the amount of income that’s subject to tax, but a credit reduces the tax owed on dollar-for-dollar basis. Consequently, a $2,000 deductions saves a person in the 30% federal tax bracket $600 in taxes, and a $2,000 credit saves $2,000.  However, since the basis must be reduced by the amount of the credit, business use vehicles will realize a benefit less than the amount of the tax credit.  For a business in the 30% tax bracket, the net benefit would be $1,400.

However, figuring how much of a credit a hybrid-car buyer might receive starting in 2006 is a bit of a trick, and in some cases will be a moving target.  Under the new law, each hybrid car will qualify for two credits.  The first credit is based on how many more miles the hybrid gets to the gallon than a similar standard-fuel vehicle.  The second credit, a conservation credit, is added on top of the first credit. In addition, the credit is reduced after an automaker has sold 60,000 hybrids.

Used and Leased Vehicles
A consumer that leases a hybrid vehicle is not eligible for the credit.  The credit is allowed to the vehicle owner, including the lessor of a vehicle subject to lease.  That means that lessor (the person who leases the vehicle to the consumer) is the person who can claim a credit for the vehicle.

A credit for a hybrid vehicle can only be claimed by the original purchaser of the vehicle, that is, the purchaser of a new vehicle. The credit does not apply to a used hybrid vehicle.

The Credit and the Alternative Minimum Tax
The Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit cannot be used to offset the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).  A taxpayer cannot claim the credit unless the taxpayer’s regular tax liability exceeds the taxpayer’s AMT liability.

Even if a person is not subject to the AMT, he may not be able to claim the maximum allowable credit, or any credit, for the qualified vehicle that is purchased.  The amount of the credit that one can claim depends on the particular facts and circumstances.

For example, A, B and C each purchase the same make, model, and model year of a qualified hybrid motor vehicle to use as their personal vehicles.  At the time that A, B and C purchase their vehicles, the maximum allowable credit for the vehicle is $3,150.  A, B and C each have regular tax of $12,000 for the taxable year in which they purchase their vehicles.  A’s tentative minimum tax is $8,000, B’s tentative minimum tax is $11,000, and C’s tentative minimum tax is $12,000.  Because A’s regular tax ($12,000) exceeds A’s tentative minimum tax ($8,000) by $4,000, A can claim the maximum credit allowable for the qualified hybrid vehicle that A purchases.  Because B’s
regular tax ($12,000) exceeds B’s tentative minimum tax ($11,000) by only $1,000, B can claim a credit of only $1,000 for the qualified hybrid vehicle that B purchases. Because C’s regular tax ($12,000) does not exceed C’s tentative minimum tax ($12,000), C cannot claim any credit for the qualified hybrid vehicle that C purchases.

Also if you claim the credit as a personal credit, the tax code limits the amount of the credit that you may claim to the amount of your regular tax liability. Therefore, if your regular tax liability is zero, the amount of the credit for which you are eligible will be zero. The credit cannot be used to reduce your regular tax liability below zero, and cannot be carried forward or back to another taxable year.

Hybrids will qualify for the fuel economy credit based on the following table:

Percent increase over base year (2002)	The fuel economy credit amount is
At least 25% but less than 50%	$ 400
At least 50% but less than 75%	$ 800
At least 75% but less than 100%	$1,200
At least 100% but less than 125%	$1,600
At least 125% but less than 150%	$2,000
At least 150%	$2,400

The conservation credit is added on top of the fuel economy credit.  This credit is aimed at providing a payback for the car’s lifetime fuel savings.  The credit schedule is as follows:

Lifetime fuel savings (gallons of gasoline)	The conservation credit amount is
at least 1,200 but less than 1,800	$250
at least 1,800 but less than 2,400	$500
at least 2,400 but less than 3,000	$750
at least 3,000	$1,000

Credit Phase-Out depends on Vehicle Sales
After a manufacturer has sold 60,000 vehicles (of all models) the credit will start to shrink, eventually to zero.  After reaching the
60,000 limit, the phaseout period begins.  The phaseout period is defined as the period beginning with the second calendar quarter following the calendar quarter which includes the first date the number of qualifying vehicles exceeds 60,000. The credit falls to 50% for the first two quarters of the phaseout period, 25% for the 3rd and 4th quarters of the phaseout period, and to 0% for each subsequent quarter.

Honda reached the 60,000 mark in late 2007.  Buyers purchasing Honda hybrids on or after Jan. 1, 2008 will receive a reduced credit, based on the exact date of purchase. Those who purchased after Jan. 1, 2008, will receive no tax credit. The Honda Civic Hybrid is the only Honda vehicle affected.  The credit is $1,050 from Jan 1 2008 – June 30, 2008, and $525 from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008.

The only manufacturer for whom the credit had been limited in the 2006 tax year is Toyota Motor Sales, USA, which includes Lexus. Buyers purchasing Toyota hybrids on or after Oct. 1 will receive a reduced credit, based on the exact date of purchase. Those who purchased after Oct. 1, 2007, will receive no tax credit. See the table below for the credit amount and purchase date limitations for various models of Toyota and Lexus.

Qualifying Vehicle	Taxpayers May Claim Full Credit If Purchased By 9/30/06	Taxpayers May Claim Half Credit If Purchased From 10/01/06 Through 3/31/07	Taypayers May Claim Quarter Credit if Purchased From 4/1/07 Through 9/30/07	Taxpayers May Claim No Credit If Purchased After 10/01/07
05,06,07 Toyota Prius	$3,150	$1,575	$787.50	$0
06,07 Toyota Highlander 2WD, 4WD	$2,600	$1,300	$650	$0
07 Toyota Camry Hybrid	$2,600	$1,300	$650	$0
06,07 Lexus RX 400h 2WD, 4WD	$2,200	$1,100	$550	$0
07 Lexus GS450h	$1,550	$775	$387.50	$0

Eligible Vehicles