The short answer
There is no federal tax credit for a residential EV charger placed in service after June 30, 2026. The Section 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit applied to “Installations Beginning January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026” per the US DOE's Alternative Fuels Data Center, as amended by Public Law 119-21. What remains is state and utility programs, which are local, change often, and are genuinely worth chasing.
Why this page exists
Because a large amount of currently published advice still presents the federal credit as available, and a reader budgeting a charger install on the basis of a $1,000 credit that no longer exists is being materially misled.
This is not a subtle distinction or a matter of interpretation. The AFDC — the US Department of Energy's own reference — states the eligibility window explicitly, and the window closed. Any page telling you otherwise has not been re-checked since before June 30, 2026.
Last verified: October 5, 2026, directly against the AFDC's Section 30C page. We re-check this page quarterly and immediately on any federal or significant state policy change, because it is the highest-risk page on this site — it is financially material and it goes stale fast.
What the credit was, for the record
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Eligible installations | “Installations Beginning January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026” |
| Residential amount | “up to 30% of the cost, up to $1,000” |
| Business amount | “6% of the depreciable costs, up to $100,000 per item”, or “30%… up to $100,000 per item” where prevailing wage and apprenticeship standards were met |
| What counted as one item | “each charging port or fuel dispenser, as well as each energy storage property” |
| Amended by | Public Law 119-21; previously Public Law 117-169 |
| Statutory basis | 26 U.S. Code 30C |
What is still available
State and utility programs, and they are genuinely worth the hour it takes to check. Several are substantial.
| Source | Typical form | Worth checking? |
|---|---|---|
| Your electric utility | A charger rebate, an installation rebate, or a dedicated EV tariff | Always. This is the single most productive call to make |
| Your state energy office | Point-of-sale rebates, income-qualified programs, tax credits | Yes — varies enormously by state |
| Your city or county | Occasionally a local rebate or a permit-fee waiver | Worth a search |
| Multi-unit dwelling programs | Incentives aimed at landlords and HOAs | Yes, if you rent or live in a condo — see apartment charging |
| Low-income and equity programs | Higher rebate levels or full cost coverage | Yes, where eligible |
The thing that beats most rebates
What to ask your utility
- “Do you have a rebate for home EV charging equipment or installation?” Ask about both separately — some programs cover one and not the other.
- “Do you offer a time-of-use or dedicated EV rate?” This is the question that usually saves the most.
- “Is there a separate-meter or submeter option for EV charging?” Some territories offer a cheaper rate on a dedicated meter.
- “Do you have a list of approved installers?” Often yes, and being on it usually implies some vetting — useful when hiring an electrician.
- “Are there requirements I need to meet before installing?” Some programs require pre-approval, and installing first can disqualify you.
- “Do you offer anything for multi-unit dwellings?” If you rent or live in a condo, this is the question that can move a landlord or an HOA.
Programs to be skeptical about
- “Federal rebate” claims in a charger's marketing. The federal residential credit expired on June 30, 2026. A product page still advertising it has not been updated.
- Any third-party site listing current state amounts. Those figures go stale within months and the site rarely says when it last checked. Go to the utility.
- Anything requiring you to buy a specific charger through a specific link to qualify. A legitimate utility rebate does not work that way.
- Programs with no named administering body. A real rebate has a utility or a state agency behind it.
What a charger install actually costs without a credit
Plan on the full amount. Our installation cost page breaks the project into the line items that should appear in a quote, and the biggest savings available to you are not rebates at all — they are mounting closer to the panel, buying the amperage your car can actually use, and using load management instead of a service upgrade.
Those three decisions routinely save more than any rebate would have, and all three are entirely within your control.
