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Vehicle manufacturer’s certification letter/Tax credit

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by 4rpr15, Nov 25, 2017.

  1. 4rpr15

    4rpr15 Senior Member

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    This is the letter that talks about the federal tax credit that our Prime qualifies for. I haven't received mine as of yet. How and when did everyone receive theirs?
     
  2. PriusC4me

    PriusC4me Junior Member

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    Are you sure this is required? My dealer never mentioned such a thing and indicated only the vin number was needed to claim this credit. Did your dealer tell you something different? I was hoping this was going to be easy, but maybe not!
     
  3. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    I've applied for the credit three times and never needed any letter. The VIN was sufficient.
     
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  4. PriusC4me

    PriusC4me Junior Member

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    Thanks for the reply, that makes me feel a when lot better about getting this credit. I just hope the boys in Washington can leave the tax credit alone at lease thru 2017. Fingers crossed!
     
  5. 4rpr15

    4rpr15 Senior Member

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    That makes me feel better then. I was just reading the IRS form 8936 which is filled out to get the tax credit and it talks about this letter. It sounds as if the letter is just given for informational purposes, but it doesn't have to be turned in or anything.
     
  6. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    All you need is the vin . I include my sales info and window sticker. My tax man has no problems with this. Have done it before. Good luck to all. Sure 2017 buyers will be fine. After that you waited too long. The party in power matters.
     
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  7. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    As long as the car is listed as certified by the IRS, the vehicle has already been through the process of being certified for the federal tax credit. The Prius Prime is listed and doesn't need to be certified. I did have a hassle trying to get it certified for my state tax credit for 2016. I couldn't get any clear answers from the dealer because they NEVER sold a plugin vehicle before and said that Toyota must just send in the certification when they see that my vehicle was sold. I talk to the state and fill out their form and get denied because it isn't certified from Toyota. So I call Toyota, they said that the dealer should be sending the certification because they have all the vehicle information needed in that state. I was just going in circles and getting upset. It was a $1199 tax credit that expired by December 31, 2016, which I bought on December 3rd. No one else in the state has tried or even bought a Prius Prime yet to get certified. I pretty much gave up the fight and did my taxes anyway at the end of January so I could get my federal tax credit of $4502.
    Within a month after filing, another person notified me through personal message on PriusChat that he got it certified for the state. So I amended my state taxes to get the credit. I was happy then and I did finally get the state tax credit, which is now expired.
    Here is the link for the IRS's list of certified vehicles and the tax credit amounts.

    Qualified Vehicles Acquired after 12 31 2009 | Internal Revenue Service

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
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  8. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    Another example of why this site is so valuable.
     
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  9. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    I totally agree with you!

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
  10. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    I do hope that when we lose net neutrality it does not affect access to this site.
     
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  11. 4rpr15

    4rpr15 Senior Member

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    Just so I understand. I do not need the letter of certification then in this case correct? I use TurboTax. All I need to do is fill out my VIN and I'm good?
     
  12. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    Yes. The work has already been done. It only has to be done once.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
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  13. 4rpr15

    4rpr15 Senior Member

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    Here's another debatable question. What if someone were to sell their Prime in the same year they purchased it. Who claims the credit or is it even claimable any longer?
     
  14. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    Only the first owner can claim the credit. Now the second owner can negotiate the price from the first owner for the tax credit. But that it all between the to owners.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
  15. 4rpr15

    4rpr15 Senior Member

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    So the first owner who purchased the Prime and sold it in the same year can claim the credit although it's not longer registered in their name?
     
  16. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    Yes. Only the first owner can claim the tax credit. If they don't claim it, it won't be claimed and would be a missed opertunity for a tax credit for that VIN.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
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  17. 4rpr15

    4rpr15 Senior Member

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    You would think that the IRS would look into people doing this for tax credit reasons. Otherwise people could always buy plug ins and just keep selling them yearly. I guess a red flag would have to come up if it were to be done multiple times. That's all I can think of.
     
  18. dalcon95

    dalcon95 Senior Member

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    You could only do one vehicle a year unless you could create a high tax liability. Your tax liability is you credit amount up to $4502 per Prius Prime. So if you bought 3 Prius Primes, you would have to have a tax liability of $13006 in order to get all 3 tax credits. If I was a second owner of any of those 3 vehicles, I would negotiate the price less the tax credit. If not, I might as well buy new to get my own tax credit.

    #1 in Easley,SC
     
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  19. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    Correct you DON'T need it.

    Since you use Turbo Tax you will need to enter:

    1. A valid VIN (yes it checks it)
    2. Vehicle Year
    3. Make
    4. Model
    5. Date purchased
    6. Date Placed in service
    7. Amount of Battery capacity in Kilowatt hours enter 8.8 to get the max $4,502 credit.
    8. Gross Vehicle Weight 3,365 (Plus) or 3,375 for Premium and Prime (must be under 14,000lbs to qualify)
    9. Cost.

    Just open your 2016 tax file and search for form 8936 and look at it. (don't save the file when you close Turbo Tax.)
     
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  20. CraigM

    CraigM Active Member

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    Yep, Turbo Tax knows all the questions to ask you. I installed a level-2 EVSE during 2016 for my Fiat 500e and Turbo Tax got me both the Federal, and Oregon, tax credit.

    Craig
     
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