Federal Tax Credits for Panels and EV Chargers Are Ending

Are the federal tax credits for panels and EV chargers really ending?

Yes. The electrical panel upgrade tax credit isn’t available for work placed in service after December 31, 2025. The home EV charger credit ends for chargers placed in service after June 30, 2026. “Placed in service” means installed and ready to use, so the work has to be finished by the deadline, not just paid for.

What changed, and when

A federal budget law signed on July 4, 2025, set end dates for two credits you’ll care about if you’re planning electrical work at home, and the IRS followed with guidance on August 21, 2025. Each one has its own rules, its own cap and its own deadline.

The two credits, side by side

The panel credit (Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, or “25C”)

• Deadline: not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.
• Amount: 30 percent of the cost, capped at $600 for electrical panel work.
• The catch: a panel upgrade qualifies only when it’s installed together with, and makes possible, another qualifying improvement, such as a heat pump, a heat pump water heater or a qualifying central air conditioner.
• Panel requirements: a capacity of at least 200 amps, installed to the National Electrical Code.

That catch trips people up. A panel upgrade by itself does not qualify. Say you replace a full 100-amp panel because you want room for future projects. No credit. Now say you’re installing a heat pump and your old panel can’t carry it, so the 200-amp upgrade is what makes the heat pump possible. That’s the case the credit was written for.

The EV charger credit (Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit, or “30C”)

• Deadline: not available for chargers placed in service after June 30, 2026.
• Amount: 30 percent of the cost of the charger and its installation, up to $1,000.
• The catch: only for homes in an eligible census tract.

Why two months is tighter than it sounds

As of November 1, there are two months left for the panel credit. That sounds like plenty until you list what a panel job involves. It needs a permit. It sometimes needs the utility to schedule a disconnect and reconnect of your power. And it needs a final inspection before the work is truly done. The heat pump or other equipment the panel supports has to be installed too, since the panel only qualifies alongside it. Add the holidays, and the calendar fills fast.

If you’re already planning a qualifying project, start now. Keep itemized invoices and product documentation for everything, because you’ll need them at tax time.

Utility rebates are a separate thing. They come from your utility, not the federal government, and they have their own rules and deadlines.

Don’t upgrade just for the credit

A credit capped at $600 is a nice bonus on a job you need. It’s a poor reason to do a job you don’t. A panel upgrade makes sense when a load calculation says your home needs the capacity, and sometimes it says you don’t. Our post on when to upgrade from a 100-amp to a 200-amp panel walks through how to tell.

Infiniti Electric is licensed and insured and handles electrical panel upgrades and EV charger installations in Riverside and across the Inland Empire, permits and inspections included. If a deadline matters for your project, contact us and we’ll give you an honest read on whether the timing works.

This is general information, not tax advice. A tax professional or the IRS instructions for each form have the final word.

Panel and EV charger tax credit questions