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The federal Section 30C tax credit for EV charger installations is ending. Homeowners can claim up to $1,000 and businesses up to $100,000 per unit -- but only if the charger is installed before the deadline. After June 30, 2026, the credit drops to $0.
~3 months (119 days)
until the credit expires
Up to $1,000
Up to $100,000/unit
$0
Section 30C of the Internal Revenue Code, also known as the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit, provides a federal tax credit for the cost of installing EV charging equipment. Originally part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, it was extended and modified by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed in July 2025, the credit now expires on June 30, 2026.
The credit covers both the cost of the charging equipment itself and the installation labor, including any necessary electrical work. It applies to Level 2 (240-volt) home chargers, Level 3 DC fast chargers, and commercial charging stations.
The credit equals 30% of the total cost of purchasing and installing an EV charger. For residential installations, the credit is capped at $1,000. For commercial installations, the cap is $100,000 per individual charging unit.
Most homeowners pay $1,500 to $3,000 for a Level 2 EV charger with professional installation. Electrical panel upgrades, if needed, can push the total to $3,000-$5,000.
Commercial EV charger installations range from $5,000 for a Level 2 station to $100,000+ for DC fast chargers including utility upgrades and site preparation.
| Charger Type | Typical Cost | 30C Credit | Net Cost After Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 Home Charger (Basic) | $1,200 - $1,800 | $360 - $540 | $840 - $1,260 |
| Level 2 Home Charger (Premium) | $2,000 - $3,000 | $600 - $900 | $1,400 - $2,100 |
| Level 2 Home + Panel Upgrade | $3,000 - $5,000 | $900 - $1,000 | $2,000 - $4,000 |
| Commercial Level 2 Station | $5,000 - $15,000 | $1,500 - $4,500 | $3,500 - $10,500 |
| Commercial DC Fast Charger | $30,000 - $100,000 | $9,000 - $30,000 | $21,000 - $70,000 |
Costs include equipment and installation. Residential credit capped at $1,000 total. Commercial credit capped at $100,000 per unit. Actual costs vary by location, electrical infrastructure, and charger specifications.
Not every property qualifies for the Section 30C credit. Your EV charger must be installed at a location within a low-income community or a non-urban (rural) census tract. This requirement was added by the IRA in 2022 and expanded eligibility significantly in 2024.
The good news: the qualifying area is much broader than most people think. You do not need to live in a low-income neighborhood. Many suburban, exurban, and rural areas across the country meet the eligibility criteria.
Even within cities, some census tracts qualify as low-income communities. The only way to confirm is to check your specific address.
The IRS provides the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit eligibility locator where you can enter your property address to determine if it is in a qualifying census tract. Search for "Section 30C eligibility" on the IRS website or the Department of Energy's AFVR Property Eligibility Locator.
We recommend checking before scheduling your installation. If your property does not qualify, the credit is not available regardless of when you install.
Claiming the Section 30C credit is straightforward, but you need to follow the correct steps and keep proper documentation. Here is the process from start to finish.
Use the IRS eligibility locator or DOE mapping tool to confirm your address qualifies. Save a screenshot or printout as documentation.
The charger must be purchased new and installed at the qualifying property. Installation must be complete and the charger placed in service on or before June 30, 2026. Partial installations do not qualify.
Save: (1) the charger purchase receipt, (2) the installer invoice showing labor and materials, (3) the installer's name, address, and EIN/license number, (4) proof of the installation address and date, and (5) census tract eligibility verification.
Complete IRS Form 8911 (Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit) and attach it to your federal tax return. For installations completed in 2026, you will file this with your 2026 return in early 2027.
The credit amount from Form 8911 flows to your Form 1040. The credit directly reduces your federal tax liability dollar-for-dollar. Remember: this is a non-refundable credit, so it cannot exceed your tax liability for the year.
Important: The credit applies to the tax year in which the charger is placed in service. If you purchase equipment in 2025 but installation is not complete until 2026, you claim it on your 2026 return. Conversely, if installation is complete in 2025, you claim it on your 2025 return. The key date is when the charger becomes operational, not when you pay for it.
After June 30, 2026, there is no federal tax credit for EV charger installations. Any charger installed after this date -- whether residential or commercial -- will not receive any Section 30C credit. There is no phase-down or partial credit. It simply ends.
Before June 30
30% credit
After June 30
$0 credit
Extension?
None pending
As of February 2026, no bills have been introduced in Congress to extend Section 30C beyond June 30, 2026. The OBBBA, signed July 4, 2025, explicitly set this expiration date as part of broader changes to clean energy tax credits. Given the current legislative environment, an extension is not expected.
Some states offer their own EV charger rebates and incentives that operate independently of the federal credit. These vary by state and may continue after the federal deadline. NuWatt operates across the Northeast and Texas -- check with your state energy office or view our incentives page for current state programs.
Even after the federal credit expires, an EV charger is a valuable home investment. Level 2 home charging is significantly cheaper per mile than public charging, and having a home charger increases EV convenience and can add value to your property.
NuWatt Energy installs Level 2 home EV chargers and commercial charging stations across our service areas. Our licensed electricians handle everything from permit to power-on, and we help you verify your Section 30C eligibility before scheduling.
Professional installation of 240V chargers at your home. Same-day or next-day charging for any EV. Typical install: 3-5 hours.
Multi-unit charging solutions for businesses, apartment complexes, and municipal properties. Networked or non-networked options.
We check your census tract eligibility during your free consultation so you know your credit amount before committing.
The federal EV charger tax credit (Section 30C) expires on June 30, 2026. After that date, the credit drops to $0 for both residential and commercial installations. The charger must be installed and placed in service on or before June 30, 2026 to qualify.
For residential properties, the credit is 30% of the total installation cost, capped at $1,000. For commercial properties, the credit is 30% of the cost per unit, capped at $100,000 per charging station. The credit applies to the cost of equipment and installation labor.
Your property must be located in a low-income community or a non-urban (rural) census tract. The IRS provides an online eligibility locator tool (Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit locator) where you can enter your address to check. Many suburban and rural areas qualify -- it is not limited to low-income neighborhoods.
Yes. Any qualified EV charger installation completed and placed in service on or before June 30, 2026 is eligible. You will claim the credit on your 2026 federal tax return (filed in early 2027) using IRS Form 8911.
Any qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling property qualifies, including Level 2 (240V) home chargers, Level 3 DC fast chargers, and commercial charging stations. The equipment must be new (not used) and installed at a qualified location. Both hardwired and plug-in chargers are eligible as long as they meet the location requirement.
No, the Section 30C credit is non-refundable. It can only offset your federal income tax liability for the year. If your credit exceeds your tax liability, you cannot receive the excess as a refund. However, for commercial entities, the credit can be carried forward to future tax years.
As of February 2026, no legislation has been introduced to extend Section 30C beyond June 30, 2026. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed in July 2025 set the June 30, 2026 expiration date. No extension is expected.
Yes. The federal Section 30C credit can be combined with state-level EV charger rebates and incentives where available. Some states offer additional rebates of $300-$700 for Level 2 charger installations. Check your state energy office for current programs.
Section 30C expires June 30, 2026. Once it is gone, there is no federal credit for EV charger installations -- residential or commercial. If your property qualifies, now is the time to act.
Only ~119 days remain before the credit expires.