Dealerships that didn't provide paperwork for EV Tax Credit {Solution post #119}

[Tclark5]

granted I bought my Lariat n September 2023 and I paid cash. My dealer never heard of such paperwork. I got my rebate last year simply by filling out form 8936 and entering my VIN.

They changed the rules for 2024 tax year. 7500.00 taken off sale price, dealer ship has to file vin within 3 days to get their money back. Same for the used EV’s. A dealer in FT Lauderdale screwed me out of my 4000 for a used RV under the 25,000 threshold. I contacted the IRS, nothing I can do except small claims against the dealer.

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[flyct]

They changed the rules for 2024 tax year. 7500.00 taken off sale price, dealer ship has to file vin within 3 days to get their money back. Same for the used EV’s. A dealer in FT Lauderdale screwed me out of my 4000 for a used RV under the 25,000 threshold. I contacted the IRS, nothing I can do except small claims against the dealer.

1/2 correct.

For Tax year 2024 the dealership has option of either applying the tax credit at point of sale by selecting it be transferred at time of sale OR selecting to not transfer it and the buyer must file for it on their tax return.

For either option to be valid the dealer MUST register the sale with the IRS within 3 days and they are supposed to provide an IRS form 15400 to the buyer.
https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/form-15400-sample-new.pdf

Also if the tax credit is transferred to the dealership it isn‘t “taken off the sale price“, its applied after all sales taxes are calculated. Its treated just like an additional down payment, rebate or incentive.

 

[StaffanM]

Hey guys, it’s been a while since I’ve checked in and gave you guys an update. Last I updated I let you know that I had printed off my 1040 and mailed it in after my electronic filing rejection, along with a copy of my purchase contract and window sticker to hopefully validate my eligibility with the IRS.
7 months went by, 10/12/2025 I got notice CP22A in the mail letting me know that the credit was denied and had been removed from my account. $72.47 had been added to my account in interest and if I wanted to appeal it I had 30 days to do so. This is all perfectly timed with the government shut down and IRS being shut down. 9/26 I got impatient and reached out to TAS, filled out form 911 and submitted to my local branch in hopes of having them step in to help remedy the situation. 2 weeks went by with no response (typical intake window is 2-3 weeks) 10/06 I submitted my packet containing, purchasing contract, attempts to remedy the missing form 15400 with the dealership, the IRS notices and denials, etc. to the national intake line for TAS. 10/01 the government shut down (outside of my knowledge) so on 10/16 when I made an attempt to call due to no response I was informed nobody was working and all operations shy of a few core positions were all shut down as a result of this long running. I have since filed an FTC complaint against the dealership for not complying, even recently. I sent an email off last week to the dealerships client care email requesting they either provide the receipt, proof of submission, or written confirmation 15400 was not submitted and got no response. As I wait for the government to re-open and TAS to accept my case. I’ll be sending a final demand to the dealership via email and certified mail, along with submitting an appeal to the IRS even though they’re shut down. A time stamped mail during the 30 day window still counts. Nearly a year in and I’m not giving up on this $7,500 credit. I intend to take the dealership to small claims court for their negligence and cost in time, stress, financial hardship, interest, etc. as a result of not complying with their legal obligation to submit form 15400 during the time of sale if all of my efforts fail. Sadly WA limits small claims to $5,000 maximum against businesses and not private entities, but at this point $5,000 is better than $0.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Nearly a year in and I’m not giving up on this $7,500 credit. I intend to take the dealership to small claims court for their negligence and cost in time, stress, financial hardship, interest, etc. as a result of not complying with their legal obligation to submit form 15400 during the time of sale if all of my efforts fail. Sadly WA limits small claims to $5,000 maximum against businesses and not private entities, but at this point $5,000 is better than $0.

Wait for the IRS & TAS to get back to work, sending redundant mailings serves no good except to clog the already overburdened processing system with chaff.

Sadly, I think they will continue to deny the claim, your best bet is the small claims suit, having the initial and final denials in hand for court will help your case.

Good luck, the wheels of justice turn slowly.

 

[Hammick]

This really sickens me that the IRS is making this so difficult. After Ford bought our Lightning back we decided to get the '26 GMC Sierra AT4 ER. The dealer would not give the tax credit at the time of sale but my salesman assured me that they would file the appropriate forms with the IRS and about a month later sent me an email that all the forms were complete. Turns out they did noting.

I'm in talks with the GM and he has told me they never file anything with the IRS on behalf of purchasers for "liability reasons". It's Autonation so a huge dealership that sells tons of EVs in Denver. What I can't understand is why their phone isn't lightning up with tons of angry customers. I suspect it's rare for people to purchase EVs in Colorado with all the state incentives making leases very attractive.

Anyone know if the IRS is still waiving the 72 hour deadline? I'm not going to give up but it's looking like my only recourse will be small claims court. Thankfully the limit in Colorado is $7,500 (good Karma I hope) and the trials are by video conference.

I'm a retired trial attorney and I can't imagine how I can lose this case unless I get an EV hating judge.

What really pisses me off is that we would have bought the MAX range version but for the tax credit.

 

[flyct]

…………….
I'm a retired trial attorney and I can't imagine how I can lose this case unless I get an EV hating judge.

What really pisses me off is that we would have bought the MAX range version but for the tax credit.

What a mess. My friend bought a Cadillac Lyriq Ev last year. The dealer told him the same thing that they filed the paperwork. I asked him to insist they provide the IRS Form 15400 verifying the car was registered with IRS. Well they didn’t register it with the IRS. So they registered it 2 months later and gave him the form. He was successful in claiming it on his tax return.

Too late now but there is a loophole to get tax credit with an EV that exceeds the MSRP limit of $80k. At least I was able to get it with Ford.

The loophole trick is If you would have leased the manufacture can claim the tax credit and pass it on to the buyer. We leased a 2024 Platinum Lightning with an MSRP $89,635. They applied $7:500 tax credit plus incentives that reduced the price by $23,068 to $66,566. I was going to pay the lease off immediately but the money factor/interest rate was essentially Zero %. So I’ll wait until the lease is up and pay it off then or give it back at the end of the lease.

 

[Hammick]

What a mess. My friend bought a Cadillac Lyriq Ev last year. The dealer told him the same thing that they filed the paperwork. I asked him to insist they provide the IRS Form 15400 verifying the car was registered with IRS. Well they didn’t register it with the IRS. So they registered it 2 months later and gave him the form. He was successful in claiming it on his tax return.

Too late now but there is a loophole to get tax credit with an EV that exceeds the MSRP limit of $80k. At least I was able to get it with Ford.

The loophole trick is If you would have leased the manufacture can claim the tax credit and pass it on to the buyer. We leased a 2024 Platinum Lightning with an MSRP $89,635. They applied $7:500 tax credit plus incentives that reduced the price by $23,068 to $66,566. I was going to pay the lease off immediately but the money factor/interest rate was essentially Zero %. So I’ll wait until the lease is up and pay it off then or give it back at the end of the lease.

Thanks. We did that on our R1S last February and paid it off within 5 days of taking delivery. After leasing fees the credit saved us $6,800. The money factor on Rivians is ridiculous so the leases aren't attractive.

The leasing angle doesnt' work on the Sierra or Silverados as GM doesn't treat the credit as a capital reduction but just adds it to the residual. Does nothing if you buy it out immediately. Just lowers the lease payment if you plan to turn it in at the end.

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