Clock is Ticking For New Hybrid Car Tax Credit

The allowable tax credit for Toyota and Lexus hybrids began to phase out on October 1st

The numbers are in. Toyota and Lexus outpaced their rivals by selling more than 60,000 hybrid vehicles during the first two quarters of 2006. Compare these results to the first quarter sales of Honda which reported selling 9,072 hybrids and to Ford and Mercury who sold a combined 6,192 hybrids.

Why are these sales figures important? "Effective January 1, 2006, anyone who purchases a new hybrid vehicle is eligible for a tax credit of up to $3,400," explains Andrew Schwartz CPA, founder of FindAGoodCPA.com,(www.FindAGoodCPA.com), a site where taxpayers can locate and interact with tax professionals in their metropolitan area based on the professional's specialty. "The catch is this credit begins to phase out for each manufacturer upon selling its 60,000 hybrids," as follows:

* The full credit is allowed through the end of the quarter following the quarter during which the manufacturer sells its 60,000th hybrid vehicle after January 1, 2006.

* The credit is cut in half for the subsequent two quarters.

* The credit is then cut to twenty-five percent of the original credit for the subsequent two quarters.

* No credit is allowed for vehicles purchased from that manufacturer thereafter.

The hybrid car tax credit is currently set to expire on December 31, 2010. "Even so, if you're thinking about purchasing a Toyota or Lexus, don't delay!" warns Schwartz. "Due to the success of their hybrid brands, the allowable credit for hybrids produced by Toyota and Lexus was cut in half on October 1, 2006, will be sliced in half again on April 1, 2007, before being fully phased out on September 30, 2007."

The New Hybrid Vehicle Tax Credit

Prior to January 1, 2006, anyone who purchased a new hybrid was eligible to claim the $2,000 "Clean Fuel" deduction. The Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005 enacted a more valuable tax credit for hybrid purchasers.

To qualify for this tax credit, the hybrid purchased must be a new vehicle. According to the IRS, "the original use of the vehicle must begin with you", so used vehicles don't qualify. Leasing a hybrid doesn't qualify the lessee for the credit. "If a qualifying vehicle is leased to a consumer, the leasing company may claim the credit," explains the IRS. And the final condition to qualify for this tax credit is that you use your hybrid predominantly within the United States.

Below are the hybrids currently eligible for this new tax credit, along with the original credit allowed.  Remember that the allowable credit allowed for Toyota and Lexus vehicles is currently half of the original credit.

Chevy Silverado 2WD Hybrid Pickup, 2006 & 2007 - $250
Chevy Silverado 4WD Hybrid Pickup, 2006 & 2007 - $650
Ford Escape Hybrid Front 2WD, 2006 & 2007 - $2,600
Ford Escape Hybrid 4 WD, 2006 & 2007 - $1,950
GMC Sierra 2WD Hybrid Pickup, 2006 & 2007 - $250
GMC Sierra 4WD Hybrid Pickup, 2006 & 2007 - $650
Honda Accord Hybrid AT, 2006 - $1,300 or $650
Honda Civic Hybrid CVT, 2006 - $2,100
Honda Insight CVT, 2006 - $1,450
Lexus GS 450h, 2007 - $1,550
Lexus RX400h 2WD or 4WD, 2006 & 2007 - $2,200
Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4 WD, 2006 & 2007 - $1,950
Saturn Vue Green Line, 2007 - $650
Toyota Camry Hybrid, 2007 - $2,600
Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 2006 & 2007 - $2,600
Toyota Prius, 2006 & 2007 - $3,150

Form 8910

To claim this new tax credit, taxpayers need to complete and attach a Form 8910 (available at www.irs.gov) to their federal income tax return.

While the form seems simple enough to complete, anyone subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) might completely lose out on this new tax break. "And with more and more people paying this tax each year, working through a tax projection is the best way to determine if you'll be hit by the AMT the year you plan to purchase your hybrid vehicle," suggests Schwartz.

About Andrew D. Schwartz CPA
Andrew D. Schwartz, CPA is the editor and founder of FindAGoodCPA.com, (www.FindAGoodCPA.com), a site where taxpayers can locate and interact with tax professionals in their metropolitan area based on the professional's specialty. Schwartz has provided tax and basic financial planning advice in interviews with various media, including the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. He is available for interviews.