Resources for Dealers
To help you hit the ground running with the State of Vermont Incentive Program, check out these resources. They’ll help you discover how to successfully offer and apply for the rebate.
General State Incentive Resources
- Auto Dealership Incentive Portal Quick Guide: Shows enrolled dealers how to submit a rebate application.
- How to Avoid Common Rebate Mistakes [PDF]: Reference document, for use when creating and submitting applications.
- State Incentive for New Plug-in Electric Vehicle Program Guidelines: Detailed information on the new EV incentive program, including current eligible vehicle models and model years.
- Replace Your Ride State Incentive Program Guidelines: Detailed information on the Replace Your Ride program, including eligibility and dealer processing requirements.
State Incentive Program Forms
- Participating Dealer Agreement Form – Complete this form to join both the New PEV and RYR programs, then email it to [email protected].
- Consumer Attestation Form for New Vehicles - For all New PEV or New PEV+RYR applications, the consumer must complete and sign this form.
- Consumer Attestation Form for Used Vehicles - For all Used RYR applications, the consumer must complete and sign this form.
- Replaced Vehicle Attestation Form - For all Used RYR applications a dealership representative must complete this form, attesting that the replaced vehicle meets all Incentive Program guidelines.
Webinar Recordings
April 24, 2024 - State of Vermont EV Incentive Programs: Auto Dealer Updates
Federal Tax Credit Dealer Resources
All dealers selling new or used plug-in electric vehicles should sign up for and use the IRS Energy Credits online system. Dealers can pass through these incentives at the point-of-sale to customers and get reimbursed by the IRS within 72 hours. Regardless of whether a dealer opts-in to pass-through tax credits at the time of sale, they still need to register and report sales to the IRS within 3 days of a sale to enable customers to claim credits on purchases themselves.
Passing through the incentive at the point-of-sale gives the customer instant access to the funds. If they have to claim it themselves they’ll have to wait until they file their taxes for the year they purchased the vehicle (which could be more than 12 months out). If they don’t have enough tax liability in that year, they will not get the full benefit when claiming on their own. Dealer pass-through of the incentive guarantees they will get the full amount of the tax credit (see item 7 below for details).
There is no option for dealers to transfer a federal tax credit on a lease through the IRS Energy Credits Online system. The lessee is not the owner and is not eligible to claim the credit. Leased vehicles may qualify for a commercial clean vehicle credit (IRC 45W). The credit must be claimed by the leasing company and they may pass through some or all of the value of the credit as a lease incentive.
IRS Links
- General dealer information on EV tax credit reporting requirements, including a link to sign up for the Energy Credits Online system and related resources:
- List of new and used EV models eligible for federal tax credits: Tax Incentives (fueleconomy.gov)
- IRS checklists for new and used EV tax credits on individual sales:
- IRS tutorial video on using the Energy Credits Online system to file sales reports: How to Submit Time of Sale Reports (irsvideos.gov)
- IRS email list: Dealers can sign-up to receive updates on EV tax credit issues via the IRS e-News Subscriptions here. Select “e-news for business” and sign-up for e-news for clean vehicle industry.
- IRS instructions on adding multiple users from the same dealer on the reporting portal: Publication 5902 (irs.gov)
- IRS FAQ guidance on purchaser’s tax liability: Q4 at the link below states if a tax credit passed through by a dealer exceeds a buyer’s tax liability the excess is not subject to recapture from the dealer or buyer. This is a major advantage for customers who may not have enough tax liability to offset the credit if they claim themselves. Plus, they get the credit applied instantly at the time of sale rather than having to wait until their tax refund for the year they purchased the vehicle. Topic H — Frequently asked questions about transfer of New Clean Vehicle Credit and Previously Owned Clean Vehicles Credit | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)
- IRS technical support for EV dealer issues is available through this email address: [email protected]