PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Lets businesses claim a tax credit for each qualifying commercial clean vehicle they put in service during the year. For each vehicle, the credit is the smaller of: a percentage of the vehicle’s cost (15%, or 30% if it is not powered by a gasoline or diesel engine) or the extra amount paid for the clean vehicle compared with a similar gas/diesel model. The credit cannot be more than $7,500 for vehicles under 14,000 pounds gross weight or $40,000 for heavier vehicles. You must include the vehicle’s VIN on your tax return to get the credit. A qualifying commercial clean vehicle must be bought to use or lease (not to resell), be made mainly for public roads or be mobile machinery, and either run significantly on an electric motor with a battery of at least 15 kWh (7 kWh for lighter vehicles) that can be recharged from outside or meet certain alternate motor-vehicle rules. The vehicle is generally one that can be depreciated. Some tax-exempt entities that do not lease the vehicle are treated differently. You cannot take this credit and the section 30D credit for the same vehicle. The Treasury will issue rules to apply these parts. No credit is allowed for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025.

Title 26, §45W

Internal Revenue Code, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

For purposes of section 38, the qualified commercial clean vehicle credit for any taxable year is an amount equal to the sum of the credit amounts determined under subsection (b) with respect to each qualified commercial clean vehicle placed in service by the taxpayer during the taxable year.

(b)Per vehicle amount

(1)In general

Subject to paragraph (4), the amount determined under this subsection with respect to any qualified commercial clean vehicle shall be equal to the lesser of— (A)

(B)the incremental cost of such vehicle.

(2)Incremental cost

For purposes of paragraph (1)(B), the incremental cost of any qualified commercial clean vehicle is an amount equal to the excess of the purchase price for such vehicle over such price of a comparable vehicle.

(3)Comparable vehicle

For purposes of this subsection, the term “comparable vehicle” means, with respect to any qualified commercial clean vehicle, any vehicle which is powered solely by a gasoline or diesel internal combustion engine and which is comparable in size and use to such vehicle.

(4)Limitation

The amount determined under this subsection with respect to any qualified commercial clean vehicle shall not exceed—

(A)in the case of a vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 14,000 pounds, $7,500, and

(B)in the case of a vehicle not described in subparagraph (A), $40,000.

(c)Qualified commercial clean vehicle

For purposes of this section, the term “qualified commercial clean vehicle” means any vehicle which—

(1)meets the requirements of section 30D(d)(1)(C) and is acquired for use or lease by the taxpayer and not for resale,

(2)either—

(A)meets the requirements of subparagraph (D) of section 30D(d)(1) and is manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways (not including a vehicle operated exclusively on a rail or rails), or

(B)is mobile machinery, as defined in section 4053(8) (including vehicles that are not designed to perform a function of transporting a load over the public highways),

(3)either—

(A)is propelled to a significant extent by an electric motor which draws electricity from a battery which has a capacity of not less than 15 kilowatt hours (or, in the case of a vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 14,000 pounds, 7 kilowatt hours) and is capable of being recharged from an external source of electricity, or

(B)is a motor vehicle which satisfies the requirements under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 30B(b)(3), and

(4)is of a character subject to the allowance for depreciation.

(d)Special rules

(1)In general

Rules similar to the rules under subsection (f) of section 30D (without regard to paragraph (10) or (11) thereof) shall apply for purposes of this section.

(2)Vehicles placed in service by tax-exempt entities

Subsection (c)(4) shall not apply to any vehicle which is not subject to a lease and which is placed in service by a tax-exempt entity described in clause (i), (ii), or (iv) of section 168(h)(2)(A).

(3)No double benefit

No credit shall be allowed under this section with respect to any vehicle for which a credit was allowed under section 30D.

(e)VIN number requirement

No credit shall be determined under subsection (a) with respect to any vehicle unless the taxpayer includes the vehicle identification number of such vehicle on the return of tax for the taxable year.

(f)Regulations and guidance

The Secretary shall issue such regulations or other guidance as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, including regulations or other guidance relating to determination of the incremental cost of any qualified commercial clean vehicle.

(g)Termination

No credit shall be determined under this section with respect to any vehicle acquired after September 30, 2025.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 119–21 substituted “

September 30, 2025” for “

December 31, 2032”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 117–169, title I, § 13403(c), Aug. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 1966, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [enacting this section and amending section 38 and 6213 of this title] shall apply to vehicles acquired after December 31, 2022.”

§45W Credit for Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicles

Summary

Title 26, §45W

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Amendments

Citations & Metadata