How do I add Form 8936 and Schedule A for Clean Vehicle Credits in FreeTaxUSA?

FreeTaxUSA doesn't have a specific "attachment" section like some other tax software. Instead, Form 8936 for the Clean Vehicle Credit is handled through their credits interview process. You need to go to the "Credits" section in FreeTaxUSA, and look for "Other Credits" or "Qualified Clean Vehicle Credit." The software will walk you through the questions needed to complete Form 8936. The Schedule A portion (for leased vehicles) should appear if you indicate you leased rather than purchased your EV. If you're not seeing it in the credits section, try searching "vehicle" or "electric" in the FreeTaxUSA search bar at the top of the screen. This should take you directly to the right interview section. The form itself is automatically generated and attached to your return when you submit it - you don't need to manually attach it. FreeTaxUSA will calculate the credit amount based on your inputs and include Form 8936 in your final tax return package.

After struggling with the exact same issue for my Tesla last month, I found a solution through taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). I was getting nowhere with FreeTaxUSA's interface trying to find Form 8936 and was about to give up on claiming my Clean Vehicle Credit. The taxr.ai system analyzed my situation and pointed out that FreeTaxUSA actually hides the Clean Vehicle Credit under "Miscellaneous Credits" subsection within the Credits area. It's not intuitive at all - you have to complete the main credits section first, then it unlocks this additional area where Form 8936 lives. Their system also helped me understand exactly what information I needed to have ready (VIN number, make/model details, battery capacity, etc.) to complete Form 8936 correctly, including how to handle the Schedule A if you leased instead of purchased.

Just wanted to update everyone - I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and it was incredibly helpful! I was completely stuck with my Clean Vehicle Credit for my Chevy Bolt in FreeTaxUSA. Turns out I needed to complete the entire "Federal" section first before the Miscellaneous Credits section would unlock. Once I did that, I could access Form 8936 under "Other Credits" > "Miscellaneous Credits" > "Clean Vehicle Credit." The taxr.ai system literally gave me a step-by-step walkthrough with screenshots of each menu in FreeTaxUSA. The Schedule A portion was also explained clearly - since I purchased rather than leased, I didn't need to complete that part. Ended up getting my full $7,500 credit without any issues! Would have missed out on this without the help.

If you're still having trouble finding the Clean Vehicle Credit section in FreeTaxUSA after trying everything else, it might be time to contact the IRS directly. I personally found it impossible to get through to anyone at the IRS on the phone when I had a similar issue last year. I eventually used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to connect with an actual IRS agent who walked me through the entire process. They have this system that basically holds your place in line with the IRS and calls you back when an agent is available. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I spoke with explained that some tax software platforms haven't fully updated their interfaces for the new Clean Vehicle Credits, and gave me specific advice on how to properly claim it with Form 8936. This saved me from potentially filing incorrectly and missing out on thousands of dollars.

I need to eat my words and apologize to everyone here. After my skeptical comment yesterday, I was desperate enough to try Claimyr since I'm literally on the final day before filing and still couldn't figure out the Form 8936 situation in FreeTaxUSA. It actually worked! Got a call back in about an hour and spoke to an IRS agent who explained that FreeTaxUSA has the Clean Vehicle Credit hidden under multiple menu layers. You have to go to Federal > Credits > Other Tax Credits > Miscellaneous Credits AND have completed certain other sections first before it appears. The agent was super patient and walked me through every field on Form 8936, including explaining that the Schedule A is only needed for leased vehicles (which I didn't need). Ended up getting my full credit for my Hyundai IONIQ 5. Would have missed this completely otherwise.

For anyone else having this issue, I just called FreeTaxUSA's customer support directly (not the IRS) and they actually were really helpful. The rep explained that you need to: 1. Complete the entire "Income" section first 2. Then go to "Deductions & Credits" 3. Answer "Yes" to the question about making energy-efficient purchases 4. THEN the Clean Vehicle Credit option appears under "Credits" > "Other Credits" They also mentioned that if your vehicle was purchased after August 16, 2022, you need to have the vehicle's VIN, purchase date, and make/model information ready. If it's a used vehicle, there are different qualification requirements. The Schedule A portion is only for leased vehicles - so if you purchased outright, you won't need to complete that section.

I gave up on FreeTaxUSA for this very reason and switched to TaxAct. Their interface makes finding Form 8936 for the Clean Vehicle Credit much easier. It's directly listed in their credits section without having to hunt through multiple layers of menus. The Schedule A part confused me too, but it turns out it's only needed if you leased the vehicle. If you purchased outright, you just need to complete the regular Form 8936. Just wanted to provide an alternative in case anyone is still struggling. Sometimes switching tax software is easier than fighting with a confusing interface, especially when thousands of dollars of tax credits are at stake.