Some Toyota and Lexus Vehicles Certified for the New Energy Tax Credit

[Asian Brad]

Some Toyota and Lexus Vehicles Certified for the New Energy Tax Credit

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service has acknowledged the certification by Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. that several of its 2006 vehicles and a 2005 model year vehicle qualify for the hybrid tax credit enacted by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The tax credit for hybrid vehicles applies to vehicles purchased on or after January 1, 2006, and may be as much as $3,400 for those who purchase the most fuel-efficient vehicles.

The hybrid vehicle certifications recently acknowledged by the Service and their credit amounts are:

2005 Toyota Prius $3150
2006 Toyota Prius $3150
2006 Toyota Highlander 4WD Hybrid $2600
2006 Toyota Highlander 2WD Hybrid $2600
2006 Lexus RX400h 2WD $2200
2006 Lexus RX400h 4WD $2200
Starting in 2006, this tax credit replaces the tax deduction of $2,000 which was previously allowed for taxpayers who purchased a new hybrid vehicle before December 31, 2005 for the clean-burning fuel deduction. The tax credit requires a different certification. Many currently available hybrid vehicles may qualify for this new tax credit.

Consumers seeking the credit may want to buy early since the full credit is only available for a limited time. Taxpayers may claim the full amount of the allowable credit up to the end of the first calendar quarter after the quarter in which the manufacturer records its sale of the 60,000th vehicle. For the second and third calendar quarters after the quarter in which the 60,000th vehicle is sold, taxpayers may claim 50 percent of the credit. For the fourth and fifth calendar quarters, taxpayers may claim 25 percent of the credit. No credit is allowed after the fifth quarter.

[p21usa]

Hey Asian Brad!
The information about the tax credit has been available for some time now but I'm sure there are newbies that haven't seen it. BTW, I like your Prius webpage...very clever!

[Asian Brad]

This is the first time that the tax credit info has actually been certified by the IRS. Before estimates were based off of the ACEEE's calculations (http://www.aceee.org/transportation/taxcredits06.pdf). And you'll actually find that they are a little off. Also, it looks like Ford's Escape Hybrid is approved for a 2wd $2600 / 4wd $1950 credit.

http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Stor...34194799B8AD%7D

[Tideland Prius]

I love your site! Keep it up!

[Three60guy]

Excellent post and excellent web site Brad.

Finally we have IRS confirmation on 2006 tax credits.

Great news

[Abq Richard]

Is the trigger the 60,000th vehicle for each manufacturer (e.g. Toyota, Honda) or the 60,000th of each model (e.g., Prius, Highlander)?

[Asian Brad]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(abqrichard @ Apr 7 2006, 10:57 PM) [snapback]236623[/snapback]</div>

Is the trigger the 60,000th vehicle for each manufacturer (e.g. Toyota, Honda) or the 60,000th of each model (e.g., Prius, Highlander)?
[/b]

It's manufacturer. And Honda and Acura count as one manufacturer, and Toyota and Lexus count as one. I would imagine that Ford and Mercury count as one as well, though I'm not for certain.