Can married couple filing jointly claim tax credits for 2 EVs purchased in the same year?
My wife and I are trying to make the switch to electric vehicles this year and had a question about the tax credits. We're planning to buy two different EVs within the next few months, and we're wondering if we can both get the tax credits when we file jointly next year. From what I understand, a single person filing individually can claim the credit for their EV purchase. But our situation is different since we always file our taxes jointly as a married couple. Do we need to have each car titled in a different name (one in mine, one in hers)? Or should both cars be in both our names? Would we need to file taxes separately to take advantage of both credits? I've heard conflicting things from friends and online forums. We're looking at potentially a Tesla Model Y and a Ford Mustang Mach-E if that makes any difference for the credit eligibility. Thanks for any guidance!
29 comments


Noah Ali
Yes, married couples filing jointly can claim the EV tax credit for two vehicles purchased in the same year! The credit is applied per vehicle, not per tax return or per person. The title of the vehicle doesn't matter for tax purposes - the cars can be in either spouse's name, both names, or one car in each name. What matters is that you're the original owner of the vehicle and it's for personal use, not resale. When you file jointly, you'll use Form 8936 (Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit) for each vehicle separately. You'll need to complete two separate 8936 forms - one for each vehicle - and the combined credit amount will flow to your 1040. Just make sure both vehicles qualify for the credit under the current rules. There are price caps ($80,000 for SUVs/trucks/vans and $55,000 for other vehicles) and income limits ($300,000 for married filing jointly). Also, verify the vehicles meet North American final assembly requirements.
0 coins
Chloe Boulanger
•Thank you for the detailed info. I didn't realize we could claim both! What about the income limits though - is that adjusted gross income or some other calculation? We both make decent money and I'm worried we might be close to the threshold.
0 coins
Noah Ali
•The income limit is based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), not just regular AGI. For EV tax credits, your MAGI basically starts with your AGI then adds back certain deductions like student loan interest, IRA contributions, and foreign income exclusions. If your MAGI exceeds $300,000 for married filing jointly, you won't qualify for the credit. There's no phase-out - it's a cliff threshold. If you're close to that amount, you might want to consider increasing retirement contributions or other strategies to lower your MAGI below the threshold.
0 coins
James Martinez
Just wanted to share my experience with this - I've been using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was super helpful for figuring out our EV credits situation. My husband and I bought a Hyundai Ioniq and a Chevy Bolt last year, and we were confused about how the credits would work. I uploaded our purchase docs and preliminary tax info to taxr.ai, and it analyzed everything and confirmed we could claim both credits on our joint return. It even flagged that one of our vehicles qualified for the full credit while the other only qualified for a partial credit based on battery capacity and manufacturing location. Saved us from a potential audit nightmare!
0 coins
Olivia Harris
•How exactly does taxr.ai work? Do you just upload documents and it tells you what you can claim? I'm always nervous about sharing financial docs with random websites.
0 coins
Alexander Zeus
•Does it check if the specific EV models qualify under the new rules? My dealer told me their EVs qualify but I've heard some manufacturers claim this and then buyers find out later the car doesn't actually qualify.
0 coins
James Martinez
•The way it works is you upload documents like your purchase agreements, vehicle information, and tax forms, and their AI analyzes everything to determine eligibility based on current tax laws. They use bank-level encryption for all documents, and they don't store your sensitive info after processing. Yes, it absolutely checks specific EV models against the latest qualification rules! That was actually the most helpful part for us. It verified both our vehicles against the Treasury Department's approved list and flagged that our Bolt qualified for the full credit but our Hyundai only qualified for a partial amount due to battery sourcing requirements. Our dealer had told us both would get the full amount, so that saved us from claiming too much.
0 coins
Alexander Zeus
I was skeptical about using taxr.ai at first, but after getting confusing answers from three different tax preparers about my EV purchase, I decided to give it a try. Uploaded my Tesla purchase agreement and some basic tax info, and within minutes I had a clear answer about my eligibility. The system confirmed I could claim the credit and specified exactly how much I qualified for based on the battery components and assembly location. It even noted that my specific trim level and options kept the price under the $55,000 cap. What really impressed me was how it generated a complete Form 8936 with all the right information filled in, ready to include with my return. Saved me so much time and uncertainty - definitely going to use it for all my tax questions going forward.
0 coins
Alicia Stern
If you're having trouble getting clear answers about EV tax credits from the IRS, you should try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent WEEKS trying to get through to a human at the IRS about my specific EV credit question - the automated system was useless and I kept getting disconnected. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 45 minutes! They have this system that navigates the IRS phone tree for you and holds your place in line. You can check out how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I spoke with confirmed that yes, married couples filing jointly can claim two separate EV credits in the same year. She also advised me on exactly which documentation to keep with my tax records in case of audit.
0 coins
Gabriel Graham
•How much did this service cost? Seems like something the IRS should provide for free...
0 coins
Drake
•This sounds fake. Nobody gets through to the IRS that quickly. I've tried calling dozens of times about my refund and always get the "high call volume" message before they hang up on me.
0 coins
Alicia Stern
•There is a small fee for the service, but considering I had already wasted hours trying to get through myself, it was totally worth it to me. I agree the IRS should be more accessible, but until they improve their systems, this was a great workaround. I was skeptical too at first! I had tried calling at least 10 times over two weeks and never got through. With Claimyr, I put in my number, they called me back when an agent was on the line, and I was talking to a real person at the IRS. I was actually shocked it worked, but it did. They somehow know the best times to call and which menu options actually get you to a human.
0 coins
Drake
Ok I'll admit I was wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment I decided to try it myself because I was desperate to talk to someone about my amended return that's been stuck for 10 months. I used the service yesterday and got connected to an IRS agent in about 35 minutes. The agent was able to see exactly what was happening with my amended return and why it was delayed. She even put notes in my file to expedite the processing. For anyone struggling to get answers from the IRS website or automated system, this is definitely worth trying. I've literally never been able to get through on my own despite trying at all different times of day.
0 coins
Sarah Jones
Just want to add one thing about the EV credits - make sure you check whether the vehicles you're buying are eligible for the FULL credit amount. The rules changed significantly in 2023, and now the credit amount depends on where the vehicle and its battery components are manufactured. Some EVs only qualify for a partial credit or no credit at all, even if dealers advertise them as "tax credit eligible." The Treasury Department updates the list of qualifying vehicles regularly, so check the most current info before purchasing. Also, starting in 2024, you can transfer the credit directly to the dealer for an immediate discount instead of waiting until tax time, which might be a better option depending on your situation.
0 coins
Sebastian Scott
•Where exactly do you check which cars qualify? I've been looking at the Kia EV6 but keep getting conflicting information.
0 coins
Sarah Jones
•The official place to check is the IRS website's "Qualified Manufacturer" page. They maintain an updated list of which vehicles qualify and for how much of the credit. For the Kia EV6 specifically, it depends on where it was manufactured and where the battery components come from. As of my last check, some trim levels of the EV6 qualify for a partial credit if assembled in North America. I'd recommend either calling the dealer with the specific VIN of the car you're interested in and asking them to verify eligibility, or using the VIN decoder tool on the Department of Energy's website, which can tell you the manufacturing location.
0 coins
Emily Sanjay
My husband and I did exactly this last year! We bought a Ford F-150 Lightning and a Volkswagen ID.4 within two months of each other. We filed jointly and claimed both credits with no issues. We did have each vehicle primarily in one person's name (I'm the primary on the Ford, he's primary on the VW), but our tax guy said that wasn't necessary - we could have had both in either name or both names. The one thing to watch out for is that if you're getting a loan, some lenders have weird rules about how many car loans one person can have, so having each vehicle primarily in a different name can sometimes make the financing process smoother.
0 coins
Jordan Walker
•Did you have to file any special forms or just the regular 8936? Our tax software is confusing me about how to enter two vehicles.
0 coins
Andrew Pinnock
•You'll need to file two separate Form 8936s - one for each vehicle. Most tax software handles this by letting you add multiple instances of the same form. In TurboTax, for example, you'd go to the credits section, add the EV credit, fill out the first vehicle's info, then add another EV credit form for the second vehicle. Each form will calculate the credit amount separately, and the software will combine them on your main return. Just make sure you have all the vehicle identification details handy for both cars when you're filling out the forms.
0 coins
Jessica Nguyen
Great question! I went through this exact situation last year with my spouse. We purchased a Chevy Bolt EUV and a Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid within the same tax year and successfully claimed both credits on our joint return. A few key points from my experience: 1. **Vehicle titling doesn't matter for tax purposes** - We had one car titled jointly and one in my name only. The IRS doesn't care about the title arrangement as long as you're the original purchaser and it's for personal use. 2. **Income limits are crucial** - Make sure your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) stays under $300,000 for married filing jointly. This is a hard cutoff, not a phase-out, so even $1 over disqualifies you completely. 3. **Check current eligibility carefully** - The Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E you mentioned may have different credit amounts or eligibility based on recent rule changes about battery sourcing and final assembly location. The Treasury Department's list gets updated frequently. 4. **Filing is straightforward** - You'll complete two separate Form 8936s (one per vehicle) and the credits combine on your main return. Most tax software handles this easily. I'd recommend double-checking both vehicles' current eligibility status on the IRS website before purchasing, as the rules have been changing pretty frequently. Good luck with your EV purchases!
0 coins
Isabella Santos
•This is super helpful! I'm actually in a similar situation - we're looking at buying two EVs this year too. Quick question about the income limits - you mentioned MAGI instead of just AGI. Do you know if things like 401k contributions or HSA contributions help reduce that number? We're probably going to be close to that $300k threshold and wondering if we should max out our retirement accounts to stay under the limit.
0 coins
Fiona Sand
•Yes, 401k and HSA contributions definitely help! Both are "above-the-line" deductions that reduce your AGI (and therefore your MAGI) before you even get to itemizing. Since MAGI for EV credits is basically your AGI plus certain add-backs (like foreign income exclusions), maximizing your pre-tax retirement contributions is one of the most effective ways to lower your MAGI. For 2024, you can contribute up to $23,000 each to 401k plans ($30,500 if you're 50+), plus $4,300 each to HSAs if you have family coverage. If you're both working and have access to these accounts, that could potentially reduce your MAGI by $54,600 or more. Traditional IRA contributions can also help (up to $7,000 each), but there are income limits for deductibility that might affect you at your income level. I'd definitely run the numbers - it might make sense to front-load your retirement savings early in the year before making the EV purchases to ensure you stay under the threshold.
0 coins
Chloe Anderson
This is exactly the kind of question I had when my partner and I were planning our EV purchases! We ended up buying a BMW iX and a Rivian R1T last year and successfully claimed both credits on our joint return. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet is timing considerations. If you're close to the income limits, consider the timing of when you take delivery of the vehicles versus when you receive bonuses, exercise stock options, or have other income events. The credit is based on the year you take delivery, not when you order or make payments. Also, keep detailed records of everything - purchase agreements, delivery receipts, VIN numbers, and any dealer communications about credit eligibility. We had to provide additional documentation during processing, and having everything organized made it much smoother. For the specific models you mentioned (Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E), both have had varying eligibility depending on when they were manufactured and which trim levels you choose. I'd recommend getting written confirmation from the dealers about current eligibility status before finalizing your purchases, as this changes more frequently than most people realize. The good news is that as a married couple filing jointly, you absolutely can claim both credits in the same year - it was one of the best financial decisions we made!
0 coins
Maria Gonzalez
•This is really comprehensive advice, thank you! The timing aspect is something I hadn't considered. We're actually expecting a decent bonus in December, so it might make sense to take delivery of both vehicles earlier in the year to keep our MAGI lower for this tax year. One follow-up question - you mentioned getting written confirmation from dealers about eligibility. What exactly should I ask them for? Just a statement that the vehicles qualify, or something more specific about the manufacturing location and battery components? I want to make sure I'm protected if the eligibility changes between now and when I file taxes. Also, did you run into any issues with your tax software handling two Form 8936s, or was it pretty straightforward?
0 coins
Zadie Patel
•@32841e8c314c Great point about the timing! For dealer confirmation, I'd recommend asking for written documentation that includes: 1. **VIN-specific eligibility** - Have them verify the exact VIN you're purchasing against the current Treasury Department eligible vehicle list 2. **Final assembly location** - Confirmation that your specific vehicle was assembled in North America 3. **Battery component compliance** - Verification that the battery meets the required percentage of North American sourcing 4. **Credit amount** - Whether it qualifies for the full $7,500 or a partial amount 5. **Price verification** - Confirmation that your trim level/options keep you under the $55,000/$80,000 caps Get this in writing (email is fine) because dealers sometimes give outdated information, and eligibility can change between model years or even production runs. As for tax software, it was actually very straightforward! We used TaxAct, and it just prompted us to "add another vehicle" when we were in the EV credit section. Each Form 8936 populated separately, and the software automatically combined the credits on our main return. Just make sure you have all the vehicle details handy - VIN, purchase date, purchase price, and manufacturer info for both cars. Your strategy of taking delivery early to avoid the bonus income is smart - that timing flexibility can really help with staying under the MAGI threshold!
0 coins
Isaiah Thompson
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a very similar situation - my spouse and I are planning to purchase two EVs this year and file jointly. Reading through everyone's experiences has cleared up a lot of my confusion. One additional consideration I wanted to mention is the point-of-sale rebate option that started in 2024. Instead of waiting until tax time to claim the credit, you can now transfer it directly to the dealer for an immediate discount at purchase. This might be especially useful if you're buying two vehicles and want to reduce the upfront cost. However, I've heard that if you use the point-of-sale option and later discover you weren't actually eligible (due to income limits or vehicle eligibility changes), you'd have to pay the IRS back. So there's a bit of a trade-off between getting the money upfront versus waiting to claim it on your return when you're more certain about your final tax situation. For those of you who successfully claimed credits for two vehicles, did any of you use the point-of-sale option, or did you all wait until filing your returns? I'm trying to decide which approach makes more sense for our situation. Also, @416a9f18d66b (Aria), definitely recommend getting that written confirmation from dealers that others mentioned. The eligibility rules really do change frequently, and having documentation could save you headaches later!
0 coins
Christian Burns
•@92a0f5ebd644 Great point about the point-of-sale option! I'm actually new to this community but have been lurking and learning so much from everyone's experiences. As someone who's just starting to research EV purchases for my family, the point-of-sale rebate sounds appealing for cash flow reasons, but you're absolutely right about the risk. If our income ends up being higher than expected or if vehicle eligibility changes after purchase, having to pay back $15,000 (for two vehicles) to the IRS sounds like a nightmare. I'm leaning toward the traditional route of claiming the credits at tax time, especially since we won't know our final MAGI until the end of the year. Plus, it seems like from this thread that the traditional method is pretty straightforward with tax software. Has anyone here had experience with dealers pushing the point-of-sale option? I'm wondering if some dealers prefer it because they get paid immediately rather than waiting for customers to get their tax refunds and potentially spend that money elsewhere. Thanks to everyone in this thread for sharing your experiences - this has been incredibly educational for a newcomer like me!
0 coins
Aurora Lacasse
Welcome to the community! As someone who just went through this exact situation with my partner last year, I can confirm that married couples filing jointly can absolutely claim EV tax credits for two vehicles purchased in the same year. We bought a Hyundai Ioniq 5 and a Volkswagen ID.4 and successfully claimed both credits on our joint return. A few key takeaways from our experience: **Vehicle titling is flexible** - We had one car in my name and one in both our names. The IRS doesn't care about the title arrangement as long as you're the original purchaser and it's for personal use. **Documentation is crucial** - Keep everything organized: purchase agreements, VINs, delivery dates, and any dealer communications about eligibility. We actually created a dedicated folder for all EV-related tax documents. **Income timing matters** - Since you mentioned planning purchases "within the next few months," consider your annual income flow. If you're close to the $300k MAGI limit for joint filers, the timing of bonuses, stock options, or other income could affect your eligibility. **Vehicle-specific eligibility changes** - Both the Model Y and Mach-E have had varying eligibility depending on manufacturing dates and trim levels. I'd strongly recommend verifying current eligibility status right before purchase, not just during your initial research. The filing process itself was straightforward - just two Form 8936s that our tax software handled easily. Best financial decision we made last year! Feel free to ask if you have any other questions about the process.
0 coins
Chloe Anderson
•This is such a helpful breakdown, @17f95d4ab17e! I'm new to this community and currently researching EV purchases with my spouse. Your point about creating a dedicated folder for EV tax documents is brilliant - I wouldn't have thought of that but it makes so much sense given how complex the eligibility requirements seem to be. I'm curious about your experience with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and VW ID.4 specifically. Did both vehicles qualify for the full $7,500 credit, or were there differences in the amounts based on the battery sourcing requirements? I've been reading that some vehicles only qualify for partial credits now due to the new manufacturing and battery component rules. Also, when you say "vehicle-specific eligibility changes," how frequently are we talking? Should I be checking eligibility weekly, monthly, or just right before I'm ready to sign paperwork? I want to make sure I'm not caught off guard by any last-minute changes. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's really reassuring to hear from someone who successfully navigated this process!
0 coins