The Federal 30C EV Charger Tax Credit Expires June 30, 2026: What Connecticut Homeowners Still Need to Verify

The federal Section 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit, which covers 30 percent of EV charger installation costs up to $1,000 for residential installations, expires on June 30, 2026. If you have a Level 2 charger installation scheduled or recently completed in Connecticut, here is how to verify that your installation will qualify before the deadline closes, what you need for your tax filing, and what comes next for CT homeowners who missed the window.

What the 30C Credit Covers and the June 30 Deadline Requirements

Section 30C of the Internal Revenue Code provides a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the cost to purchase and install qualifying EV charging equipment. For residential installations, the credit is capped at $1,000. For commercial installations in eligible census tracts, the cap is $100,000 per charger port. The credit directly reduces the tax you owe on your federal return for the year in which the qualifying installation is completed.

The June 30, 2026 deadline is a hard cutoff: to claim the 30C credit on your 2026 federal tax return, the charger equipment must be purchased, professionally installed, permitted by the local building department, inspected, and fully operational before midnight on June 30, 2026. An installation that is booked but not yet inspected as of June 30 does not qualify. If your installation is scheduled for later in 2026 or has been delayed, you will not be able to claim the 30C credit regardless of when you paid for the equipment.

The census tract eligibility requirement is a common point of confusion. The 30C credit is not available at every property in Connecticut. The IRS requires that the installation be located in a qualifying low-income or non-urban census tract as defined by specific IRS criteria. Checking your address against the IRS census tract eligibility tool before your installation date is an essential step that many homeowners skip. Your licensed electrician or TJF Electric can help you verify census tract eligibility before work begins or before you file your return.

What Connecticut Homeowners With Scheduled Installations Should Verify Before June 30

If you have a Level 2 EV charger installation scheduled in the next two days, there are three things you should confirm immediately. First, verify that your property address falls within a qualifying IRS census tract. Second, confirm that the contractor is a licensed electrician in Connecticut, since the installation must be performed by a licensed professional to comply with both the credit requirements and Connecticut's electrical code. Third, confirm that the municipal permit has been or will be obtained and that the inspection is scheduled and can be completed before June 30.

Inspection scheduling is often the bottleneck. Municipal electrical inspections in Connecticut are scheduled through local building departments, and some towns have limited availability for same-day or next-day inspection appointments. If your installation is complete but the inspection is not yet scheduled, call your local building department first thing in the morning on Monday, June 29 to request an emergency inspection appointment before the June 30 deadline. Whether that appointment can be accommodated depends on the municipality.

For installations that are already complete and inspected, the documentation you need for your tax return includes the receipts for the equipment and labor, the inspection certificate from the building department confirming the installation is code-compliant, and confirmation of your census tract eligibility. TJF Electric provides all of this documentation to our customers as part of every EV charger installation project. If you had your installation done by another contractor and need help gathering documentation, call TJF Electric at any time.

What Comes Next: Connecticut EV Incentives After the 30C Credit Expires

After June 30, 2026, the federal 30C credit will no longer be available unless Congress acts to extend or replace it. Connecticut homeowners who were planning an EV charger installation but missed the 30C window are not entirely without incentives, but the landscape has become more complicated since January 1, 2026.

Connecticut's Eversource residential EV charger rebates were previously available to all qualifying customers but became income-restricted as of January 1, 2026 under a Connecticut law signed by the governor in July 2025. That law imposed funding limitations on EV programs, significantly reducing the scale of available rebates and restricting eligibility to households that meet specific income requirements. If you previously received an Eversource rebate or are planning to apply for one, you should verify your current eligibility directly with Eversource at eversource.com before assuming you qualify under the new income-restricted structure.

The combined impact of the expiring 30C credit and the income restriction of Eversource rebates means that the financial incentive landscape for Connecticut EV charger installations has shifted meaningfully in 2026. Level 2 charger installations remain practical and valuable even without incentives, since a properly installed 240-volt circuit provides fast, reliable home charging that protects your EV battery better than Level 1 charging. Call TJF Electric to get a current estimate and understand what incentives, if any, apply to your specific situation. As a licensed Connecticut electrical contractor serving Greater Hartford and Tolland County, we track all available programs so our customers get accurate information before they commit.

7 Things Connecticut Homeowners Must Check to Qualify for the 30C Credit Before June 30

The 30C credit requires more than just installing a charger. Work through this checklist to confirm your installation qualifies before the deadline closes.

1. Verify your address is in a qualifying IRS census tract: The 30C credit requires the property to be located in a low-income or non-urban census tract as defined by the IRS. Not all Connecticut addresses qualify. Use the IRS eligibility mapping tool or ask your electrician to verify before you file.
2. Confirm the installation is by a licensed Connecticut electrician: The credit requires professional installation. Connecticut requires a licensed master electrician for 240-volt circuit work. Verify your installer's license with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (ct.gov/dcp).
3. Ensure a municipal permit was obtained: A building permit is required for EV charger installations in Connecticut. Work done without a permit does not qualify for the credit and may create liability issues when you sell your home.
4. Schedule and complete the municipal inspection before June 30: The installation must pass inspection and be documented as complete before the deadline. If your inspection is not yet scheduled, contact your local building department immediately to request an appointment for June 29 or June 30.
5. Keep the equipment purchase receipt and the labor invoice: These documents support the credit claim on your federal tax return. The credit covers both the equipment cost and the installation labor cost. Keep both receipts with your tax records.
6. Confirm the equipment is new, not used or refurbished: The 30C credit applies to new qualifying equipment. Used or refurbished chargers do not qualify even if they are professionally installed and inspected.
7. Work with your tax professional to claim the credit correctly: The 30C credit is claimed on IRS Form 8911. Your tax professional or CPA can ensure the credit is properly calculated and that all eligibility documentation is in order. TJF Electric can provide a certificate of completion confirming the installation details needed for the form.

Frequently asked questions

My Level 2 charger was installed in 2026 but the inspection has not happened yet. Can I still claim the 30C credit?

For the credit to apply to your 2026 tax return, the installation must be fully complete, including the final inspection, by June 30, 2026. An installation that is physically complete but has not yet passed inspection may not satisfy the 'fully operational' requirement. Contact your local building department immediately to request an inspection appointment before June 30. If the inspection cannot be completed in time, you will not be able to claim the 30C credit for this installation.

What if I am not in a qualifying census tract? Are there other Connecticut EV charger incentives?

If your property does not fall in a qualifying census tract for the 30C credit, you may still be eligible for Eversource utility rebates, though those rebates are income-restricted as of January 1, 2026. Contact Eversource directly at eversource.com to determine your current eligibility. Federal and state EV incentive programs change regularly, and your TJF Electric estimator can provide updated information about available incentives at the time of your installation.

Does the 30C credit apply to Level 1 charging (standard 120-volt outlet)?

No. Standard 120-volt outlets, which are used for Level 1 charging, do not typically qualify for the 30C credit. The credit is designed for the installation of dedicated EV charging equipment, which in residential applications means a Level 2 charger connected to a 240-volt circuit installed specifically for that purpose. A standard outlet that is simply used to plug in a vehicle does not qualify.