Tesla Model 3 full tax credit

[steady saver]

For anyone interested, Tesla just announced a few hours ago that the Model 3 is now eligible for the full $7500 tax credit.

Just in case you were wanting to BTD...

 

[audreyh1]

Well congrats to them!

If you really blow that dough on a Tesla (like we did) you won’t be eligible for any tax credit.

 

[steady saver]

Ironically, we test drove a Y today. Tempted. Our son has a Model 3 and he has been bugging us for a couple of years now to get one. I'm still driving my 2012 Prius (which I've been very happy with)... But I'm imagining we might be ordering a Y...

 

[audreyh1]

Those Model 3s are very sleek looking. I often admire the styling when I’m at a Tesla showroom. Unfortunately I don’t like sitting that low to the ground, so I won’t rent one.

 

[njhowie]

Those Model 3s are very sleek looking. I often admire the styling when I’m at a Tesla showroom. Unfortunately I don’t like sitting that low to the ground, so I won’t rent one.

When we were in FL in February for a very short trip, Hertz was renting them for $50/day so we figured it was a good opportunity to test drive for a couple days. It was nice/different/interesting, but at the end we weren't ready to run out and buy one. Electric may be in our/the future, but we'll wait and see how things progress with alternatives from other manufacturers.

I really liked how easy and convenient Hertz made it. Didn't need to set up anything for charging. Just go to any supercharger, they did pass-through billing directly to the credit card on the booking for the amount used, no fees or anything additional added. Returning the car, they said to just be sure it has 70% or more charge. When picking it up, they also gave a quick tutorial. It was a very good experience start to finish.

 

[audreyh1]

We rented a Y and really enjoyed that option. Unfortunately they aren’t nearly as available for rental as the 3. Hopefully given the Y popularity that will change. Yes Hertz figured out how to make the rental very smooth.

 

[Koolau]

Those Model 3s are very sleek looking. I often admire the styling when I’m at a Tesla showroom. Unfortunately I don’t like sitting that low to the ground, so I won’t rent one.

Heh, heh, "sleek" to me is a code word for "hard to get in and out of." Son's Mod. 3 always hurts my neck getting in our out. YMMV.

 

[Popeye]

When we were in FL in February for a very short trip, Hertz was renting them for $50/day so we figured it was a good opportunity to test drive for a couple days. It was nice/different/interesting, but at the end we weren't ready to run out and buy one. Electric may be in our/the future, but we'll wait and see how things progress with alternatives from other manufacturers.

I really liked how easy and convenient Hertz made it. Didn't need to set up anything for charging. Just go to any supercharger, they did pass-through billing directly to the credit card on the booking for the amount used, no fees or anything additional added. Returning the car, they said to just be sure it has 70% or more charge. When picking it up, they also gave a quick tutorial. It was a very good experience start to finish.

I’ve wondered how they’d handle rentals. Do you get it at 100% charge? If you return at less than 70%, do they charge you to fill it back up? What rates for the electricity would they charge? Is it inflated like the gas prices used to be?

 

[njhowie]

I’ve wondered how they’d handle rentals. Do you get it at 100% charge? If you return at less than 70%, do they charge you to fill it back up? What rates for the electricity would they charge? Is it inflated like the gas prices used to be?

When we took it at pick up it was 82%. I recharged to 100% the night before drop off and after that only had the drive back to the hotel and then to the airport next morning - probably about 45 minutes total driving, and it was between 80% and 85% when we dropped it off.

We did go late that last night to the supercharger to take advantage of the cheaper rate just to see how much the fill would come to.

No idea how they'd handle recharging if less than 70%.

 

[audreyh1]

They charge you $35 if you return the car with less than 70% charge. You can also pay $35 up front if you don’t want to deal with charging close to return.

You can expect at least 70% charge when you pick up the car.

I thought the charge pass through for charging during the rental worked well.

Ours had over 20,000 miles on it and was old enough to still have the ultrasonic sensors which are handy for parking.

 

[Koolau]

They charge you $35 if you return the car with less than 70% charge. You can also pay $35 up front if you don’t want to deal with charging close to return.

You can expect at least 70% charge when you pick up the car.

Ours had over 20,000 miles on it and was old enough to still have the ultrasonic sensors which are handy for parking.

Sorry, I don't understand about the ultrasonic sensors. Are they no longer offered or do they wear out sometime after 20,000 miles? I didn't notice that feature in my son's Mod. 3, but he just drives it when I'm with him and I struggle to see what going on on the screen. (Didn't even know about the sensors but it sounds like a great idea - especially as I get older.) I still remember folks putting "feelers" on their cars to help with parking. Wow, that was a while ago.

 

[audreyh1]

They stopped installing them on the newest models. I’m sure your son’s car has them. I think some other solution is going to happen, but they didn’t transition well. I’m really glad our 2022 Tesla has them.

 

[joesxm3]

The camera only parking assist is out with a second revision. It sort of works, but I never saw how it was with the USS so I can't compare.

 

[Koolau]

The camera only parking assist is out with a second revision. It sort of works, but I never saw how it was with the USS so I can't compare.

Fortunately, I can still park very well. But I would like the ability to have help with parking as I'm sure that day is coming when I'll need the help. (Feelers, anyone?)

 

[ken830]

Even without the tax credits, these cars are so cheap now compared to what we paid. We paid >$70k for my Model 3 Performance in 2018!

We had no parking sensors at all on our old 2013 Model S, but we do on our 2018 Model 3 and 2022 Model X. Tesla removed them from the 3/Y some time in 2022 and will do so for the S and X in 2023(?). For now, I'm glad we have them, but when (if?) Tesla Vision gets really good, all of those sensor cut-outs are going to look like an eyesore in comparison. I already kind of feel this way. PPF wrapping would also be better without them.

The end-game for Tesla is a car that is fully aware of all objects and features in its surroundings using neural-networks ingesting mostly-video, which is why they never offered birds-eye view parking cameras that are mostly only useful for seeing parking lines and low-curbs -- vehicles, walls, and other taller objects are horribly distorted. Tesla has the right idea, and it just won't be obvious to most people for awhile longer.

 

[gcgang]

Good to know the 3 qualifies.

I’ve glanced at the tax credit rules. While the price and income requirements are pretty straightforward, whether the car qualifies is typical governmental mishmash.

My Y lease is up soon, and I’m going to buy a new Y this time. If I get the credit, great. If I don’t, still great as I love the vehicle, and after a lifetime of driving used cars I’m going new new new from here on out.

 

[ken830]

Good to know the 3 qualifies.

I’ve glanced at the tax credit rules. While the price and income requirements are pretty straightforward, whether the car qualifies is typical governmental mishmash.

My Y lease is up soon, and I’m going to buy a new Y this time. If I get the credit, great. If I don’t, still great as I love the vehicle, and after a lifetime of driving used cars I’m going new new new from here on out.

Yes, the vehicle qualification part has been a HUGE mess. It seems like maybe all of these cars qualified all along??

 

[Koolau]

Yes, the vehicle qualification part has been a HUGE mess. It seems like maybe all of these cars qualified all along??

If so, I wonder how they sort that out looking back. Gaaaahhhhkk!

 

[ken830]

If so, I wonder how they sort that out looking back. Gaaaahhhhkk!

Probably doesn't hurt to just take it when filing taxes next April and leave it to the IRS to challenge you Disclaimer: I'm not a tax accountant nor do I know anything about tax accounting...

 

[USGrant1962]

Probably doesn't hurt to just take it when filing taxes next April and leave it to the IRS to challenge you Disclaimer: I'm not a tax accountant nor do I know anything about tax accounting...

Not specifically Tesla-related but tax credit related, Tax Foundation has an interesting article pointing out that there are now 21 different tax credits for individuals and two dozen corporate tax credits and that IRS is ill-equipped to administer them. Basically, IRS is a tax processing organization that is not equipped to evaluate your Tesla purchase, your energy efficient appliance, your "dependent" child, or your green energy investment. The result is lots of fraud, errors, and erroneous refundable tax credit payments.

https://taxfoundation.org/irs-tax-credits-overpayments/

IMO, Congress using the tax code for social and economic benefits instead of just collecting taxes is a really bad idea on many levels.

 

[mz44]

For anyone interested, Tesla just announced a few hours ago that the Model 3 is now eligible for the full $7500 tax credit.



Just in case you were wanting to BTD...

Subsidized by your neighbor

 

[Koolau]

Probably doesn't hurt to just take it when filing taxes next April and leave it to the IRS to challenge you Disclaimer: I'm not a tax accountant nor do I know anything about tax accounting...

You forgot the disclaimer the IRS uses when you call them. "We take no responsibility for the advice we give and you can not rely on what we say as you prepare your taxes" or words to that effect!

 

[Koolau]

Not specifically Tesla-related but tax credit related, Tax Foundation has an interesting article pointing out that there are now 21 different tax credits for individuals and two dozen corporate tax credits and that IRS is ill-equipped to administer them. Basically, IRS is a tax processing organization that is not equipped to evaluate your Tesla purchase, your energy efficient appliance, your "dependent" child, or your green energy investment. The result is lots of fraud, errors, and erroneous refundable tax credit payments.

https://taxfoundation.org/irs-tax-credits-overpayments/

IMO, Congress using the tax code for social and economic benefits instead of just collecting taxes is a really bad idea on many levels.

IRS will probably just come after a few folks who screwed up their rebates.

 

[Winemaker]

My neighbor placed the order for a Tesla Wednesday morning, I don't know what model. They told her 3 weeks delivery, enough time to get the charger installed. They called last evening at 6, it'll be here on Monday.

 

[audreyh1]

Wow!

What a difference compared to last year! We waited a long time for our X (over 400 days, but they weren’t building them for a while due to a major refresh cycle) but even the Y’s were 3 months out for Performance and 6 months out for Long Range.

Yesterday was our car anniversary.