Car dealership never filed Form 8936 for EV tax credit - what are my options?

Good news! The IRS actually extended the reporting window for dealers and waived the strict 3-day reporting requirement that was causing so many headaches. Your dealership can still report this sale through the Energy Credits Online (ECO) Portal even months after the purchase. Call your dealership and specifically ask to speak with whoever handles their EV tax credit submissions. Tell them they need to register for the ECO Portal if they haven't already and report your vehicle sale there. Be sure to have your purchase agreement and vehicle info ready when you call. You cannot file Form 8936 yourself as that's strictly the dealer's responsibility for used EVs. The credit will be applied at the point of sale once they properly report it. Keep being persistent with the dealership - be polite but firm that they are legally obligated to report this sale.

After fighting with my dealership for MONTHS over the same issue, I finally got them to file my EV purchase through the ECO Portal using https://taxr.ai to help navigate the whole mess. The dealership kept claiming they "didn't have access" to the portal, which was total BS. When I showed them the guidance I got from taxr.ai about dealer requirements for used EV credits, they suddenly "found" their portal access. The tool analyzed my purchase documents and confirmed I was eligible, plus it generated a perfect letter explaining the dealer's legal obligations that I forwarded to their finance manager. Suddenly they were very cooperative! The dealer finally processed everything and I got my $4,000 credit applied to my financing. Don't give up - they're legally required to do this and the IRS has made it clear the 3-day window isn't a hard deadline anymore.

I have to admit I was wrong about using taxr.ai! I was initially skeptical but decided to try it after the dealership kept stonewalling me for weeks. The document analysis was spot-on and identified that my Bolt definitely qualified for the used EV credit. The customized letter they generated for me to send to the dealership was the game-changer. Within 48 hours of sending it, I got a call from the finance manager apologizing for the "confusion" and confirming they had filed everything through the ECO Portal. They even sent me documentation showing it was processed! Honestly wish I'd known about this sooner instead of wasting all those hours on hold and getting nowhere. Sometimes having the right documentation makes all the difference when dealing with uncooperative businesses.

Had the EXACT same problem with a Honda dealership last year! After 3 months of getting nowhere with them, I used https://claimyr.com to get through to an actual IRS agent who confirmed dealers have an ongoing obligation to report these sales. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent gave me specific guidance I could reference when talking to the dealership, including the fact that there's no strict time limit for dealers to register these sales now. When I called the dealership back with this info and mentioned I'd spoken directly with the IRS, suddenly they were able to "find" their ECO Portal access and file everything within 48 hours. Sometimes you just need to be able to say "I spoke with the IRS and they said..." to get these places to take you seriously. The dealership even called me to apologize for the delay!

OK I need to eat my words. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr as a last resort for my EV credit issue. I genuinely didn't expect it to work, but I got a call back THE NEXT DAY with an actual IRS agent on the line! The agent confirmed that dealerships have an ongoing obligation to report EV sales through the ECO Portal and there's no strict deadline anymore. She even offered to note my case file so there's a record of me attempting to claim the credit I'm entitled to. Armed with this specific information from an actual IRS agent, I called my dealership's general manager (bypassing the finance dept) and suddenly they were very accommodating. Credit was processed within 48 hours. Sometimes you just need to talk to the right person with the right information!

My brother works at a dealership and told me there's actually a major knowledge gap about the ECO Portal at many dealerships. Some dealers simply don't know how to use it or that they're required to. He suggested asking specifically for the finance director (not just any finance person) and using these exact words: "I need you to register my EV purchase in the Energy Credits Online Portal so I can receive my used clean vehicle credit as required by the IRS." If they give you any pushback, specifically mention that the IRS waived the 3-day reporting requirement and they can still register the sale. Being specific about these technical details usually gets their attention because it shows you know what you're talking about.

Anyone know if the same rules apply to leased EVs? My dealer said something about leases being handled differently for the tax credit.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same situation - bought a used Nissan Leaf 6 months ago and the dealership never filed the Form 8936. I've been calling them weekly and getting nowhere. Based on what everyone's shared here, I'm going to take a more direct approach. I'll ask specifically for the finance director and mention the ECO Portal by name. It sounds like many dealerships just don't know about their ongoing obligations or are hoping customers will give up. Has anyone had success getting retroactive documentation from the dealership showing when they finally processed the sale? I want to make sure I have a paper trail in case there are any issues down the road with my tax filing.

Absolutely get that documentation! When my dealership finally processed my EV credit through the ECO Portal, they provided me with a confirmation receipt showing the date they submitted it and my vehicle details. This is crucial for your records. Ask them specifically for: 1) A copy of the ECO Portal submission confirmation, 2) An updated purchase agreement or addendum showing the credit was applied, and 3) Any internal documentation showing they registered your vehicle for the tax credit program. If they give you pushback about providing documentation, remind them that they're required to maintain records of these transactions for IRS compliance. Most dealerships will provide this once they realize you're serious about documentation - it also protects them legally. Also, take notes during your calls including who you spoke with, when, and what was promised. This creates a timeline if you need to escalate to your state's consumer protection office or file a complaint with the IRS later.

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! My dealership kept claiming they "didn't know about" the ECO Portal requirements even though they had been selling EVs for months. What finally worked for me was printing out the official IRS guidance on dealer obligations and bringing it with me in person. I made an appointment with the general manager (not just finance staff) and calmly explained that I had purchased the vehicle specifically because of the tax credit they promised, and that they had a legal obligation to report the sale. Having the printed IRS documentation made all the difference - they couldn't claim ignorance anymore. Within 3 days they had registered my vehicle in the ECO Portal and provided me with confirmation. The key is being persistent but professional, and making sure you're talking to someone with actual authority to resolve the issue. Don't let them wear you down with the runaround - you're entitled to that credit! One more tip: if you paid with a credit card, some companies will help dispute charges if a merchant fails to provide promised benefits. That can add extra pressure if the dealership continues to be uncooperative.

I've been following this thread closely because I'm dealing with a similar situation - bought a used Tesla Model 3 last fall and the dealership claims they "forgot" to file the paperwork for my $4,000 credit. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening! What strikes me is how many dealerships seem genuinely unaware of their ongoing obligations with the ECO Portal. It's not just stalling tactics - some really don't know the process has changed since the IRS relaxed the strict deadlines. This makes me think the problem is partly systemic lack of training at dealerships. I'm planning to combine several strategies mentioned here: first, I'll call and ask specifically for the finance director using the exact technical language about the ECO Portal that Jasmine suggested. If that doesn't work within a week, I'm going to schedule a face-to-face meeting with the general manager like Abigail did, bringing printed IRS documentation. The fact that multiple people here have successfully resolved months-old cases gives me hope. It seems like the key is being persistent, professional, and demonstrating that you understand the technical requirements. I'm not giving up on this credit - it was a major factor in my purchase decision and I have every right to receive it! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and strategies. This community is incredibly helpful for navigating these frustrating bureaucratic issues.

This entire thread is a goldmine of information! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. What's really striking to me is how consistent the pattern is across different dealerships - they either genuinely don't know about the ECO Portal requirements or they're hoping customers will just give up. For anyone still struggling with this, here's what I'm taking away as the key success factors: 1) Use specific technical language (ECO Portal, Form 8936, used clean vehicle credit), 2) Talk to someone with actual authority (finance director or GM, not salespeople), 3) Mention that the IRS waived the strict 3-day deadline, and 4) Document everything. The fact that people are succeeding even with purchases from 8+ months ago proves these credits aren't lost causes. Brandon, definitely don't give up on your July purchase - based on everything shared here, you have multiple viable paths forward. The dealership is legally obligated to report your sale and they can still do it through the ECO Portal. One question for those who've been through this successfully - how long did it typically take from when the dealership finally agreed to help until you actually saw the credit reflected? I want to set realistic expectations for my own situation.

Reading through all these success stories gives me so much hope! I'm actually in a very similar situation - bought a used Chevy Bolt in September and my dealership has been giving me the complete runaround for months. They keep saying "we'll look into it" but nothing ever happens. What I'm realizing from everyone's experiences here is that I've been way too polite and patient. I keep calling the same finance person who clearly doesn't know what they're doing instead of escalating to someone with actual authority. I'm going to try Jasmine's approach first - calling tomorrow and asking specifically for the finance director, using the exact phrase about registering my EV purchase in the Energy Credits Online Portal. If that doesn't work within a few days, I'm scheduling a face-to-face meeting with the general manager like Abigail suggested. The fact that people are getting this resolved even for purchases from last year proves the IRS really did relax those deadlines. My dealership kept telling me it was "too late" but clearly that's not true. This thread has been incredibly educational - thank you everyone for sharing your strategies and success stories! Brandon, don't give up on your July purchase! Based on everything shared here, you definitely still have options and that dealership is legally required to help you get your credit.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation with a dealership that sold me a used Prius Prime in December and never mentioned they needed to file anything for the tax credit. I only found out about the ECO Portal requirement when I started preparing my taxes. What's frustrating is that the salesperson specifically mentioned the $4,000 credit as a selling point, but now the finance department acts like they've never heard of it. I've been reading through all the strategies shared here and I'm planning to call tomorrow and ask specifically for the finance director using the exact technical language several people mentioned. One question - for those who successfully got their dealerships to cooperate, did you find it helpful to mention potential consequences if they continued to refuse? I'm wondering if I should reference the fact that failing to report eligible sales could be an IRS compliance issue for them, or if that might make them more defensive. Also, Brandon, definitely don't give up on your July purchase! Multiple people here have proven that the "too late" excuse is complete nonsense. The IRS clearly relaxed those deadlines specifically because so many dealerships were failing to report sales promptly.

I've been dealing with this exact same issue for months! My dealership sold me a used Model Y in October and conveniently "forgot" to mention they needed to file Form 8936 for my $4,000 credit. After reading through all these success stories, I'm finally feeling optimistic about getting this resolved. What really resonates with me is how many people mentioned that dealerships often genuinely don't understand the ECO Portal requirements rather than deliberately trying to scam customers. My finance person kept insisting there was a "deadline that passed" but clearly that's outdated information based on the IRS guidance shared here. I'm planning to call tomorrow morning and ask specifically for the finance director, using the exact phrase about registering my EV purchase in the Energy Credits Online Portal. If that doesn't work, I'll escalate to the general manager with printed IRS documentation like Abigail suggested. Brandon, reading your original post felt like looking in a mirror! Don't let them discourage you with the "too late" excuse - multiple people here have proven that's completely false for purchases much older than yours. We're entitled to these credits and the dealerships are legally obligated to help us get them. Let's not give up!

This entire discussion has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm a tax professional and I've had several clients come to me with similar issues over the past year. What's particularly frustrating is how inconsistent dealership knowledge is about the ECO Portal requirements. From a professional perspective, I want to emphasize that the IRS did indeed extend the reporting flexibility specifically because of widespread dealer confusion. The original 3-day rule was causing massive compliance issues across the industry, so they relaxed it to help consumers get the credits they're legally entitled to. For anyone still fighting this battle, I'd recommend documenting everything meticulously - dates, names, what was promised versus delivered. If a dealership continues to refuse after you've followed all the great advice in this thread, you may want to consult with a tax professional who can help you explore additional options, including potential complaints to state regulatory bodies. Brandon and everyone else dealing with this - don't give up! These credits were designed to incentivize EV adoption, and you specifically made purchasing decisions based on them. The dealerships have clear legal obligations here, and the IRS has made the process more flexible to ensure consumers aren't penalized for dealer mistakes.

As someone who just went through this exact nightmare, I can confirm that persistence absolutely pays off! I bought a used Nissan Leaf last August and my dealership gave me the runaround for 4 months before finally processing my ECO Portal registration. The breakthrough came when I stopped being so polite and started using the specific technical language everyone's mentioned here. When I called and said "I need my EV purchase registered in the Energy Credits Online Portal for my used clean vehicle credit," suddenly they took me seriously instead of treating me like a confused customer. What really worked was asking for the finance director by name and having all my documentation ready - purchase agreement, VIN, and the fueleconomy.gov eligibility confirmation. The whole conversation took 15 minutes once I reached someone who actually understood the requirements. Brandon, your July purchase is absolutely still viable! The IRS guidance is crystal clear that dealerships have ongoing obligations regardless of timing. Don't let them use the "too late" excuse - multiple people in this thread have proven that's completely false. Keep pushing and use the specific strategies everyone has shared. You're entitled to that $4,000 credit and they're legally required to help you get it!