David,
I just left you a phone message and wanted to follow up via email.
In addition to speaking with my contact at the IRS I placed an inquiry with the Congressional Research Service. Please read their email below. They give a more hopeful picture for the future although the bottom line for now remains the same as the credit will not be extended as of right now.
Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can help you with anything else.
Scott Savett
Office of Congressman Jim Gerlach
Work #: 610-409-2780
Fax #: 610-409-7988
Email:
[email protected]
To sign up for the Congressman’s E-Newsletter click here
From:
[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 12:50 PM
To: Savett, Scott
Subject: Expiration of the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Tax Credit
Hi Scott,
Section 30C of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) currently provides taxpayers with a tax credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property that is equal to 30% of the cost of the property up to $1,000 for non-business installations (i.e. personal residences). For all refueling property (except hydrogen fuels), this credit is currently scheduled to expire at the end of 2011 along with a variety of other expiring tax provisions. These provisions, including this credit, have been extended before and are often referred to as "tax extenders" and are often extended at the end of each year.
For more information on tax extenders, see http://www.crs.gov/pages/Reports.aspx?PRODCODE=R42105&Source=search#_Toc310515311" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
While there have been bills introduced to extend the alternative fuel vehicle refueling credit (for example H.R. 1875 and S. 1220), neither chamber has passed an extension of this tax credit. The final piece of legislation that may be considered and passed this year is the bill which extends the payroll tax cut, the doc-fix and extended unemployment insurance benefits (H.R. 3630). This legislation, even if it was agreed to by the House, does not contain an extension of the alternative fuel vehicle refueling tax credit or other extenders. Hence, passage of an extension of this provision is almost certain not to happen this year.
However, Congress has historically passed extensions of income tax provisions retroactively. In the case of your constituent, if he places in service an electric charging station in 2012, he will be able to claim this credit on his 2012 tax return which he will file in April of 2013. Hence, if Congress extends this tax credit in 2012, he will still be able to claim this provision on his 2012 return which he files in 2013. But given the uncertainty over whether "tax extenders" will be extended, their are no guarantees this provision will be in effect in 2012.
I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to call or email
Best
xxxxx
xxxxx
Analyst in Public Finance
Government Finance and Taxation Section
Congressional Research Service
