No, you can't normally claim the EV tax credit without the Clean Vehicle Sales Report from the dealer. You can contact the dealer and request the form. Per the IRS "When you take possession of the vehicle, the seller must give you a time-of-sale report and a copy of the confirmation the IRS provides when it accepts the time-of-sale report submitted through IRS ECO". More details on the requirements can be found at IRS EV Credit Guidelines.
Hi,
My Dealer did not submit the paperwork for me to claim this credit. How can I
attach a file or explanation to substantiate the purchase before resubmitting the return?
You must ensure the seller has successfully submitted the Time of Sale report through IRS ECO to claim the credit.
You will need to file Form 8936, Clean Vehicle Credits when you file your tax return for the year in which you took delivery of the vehicle. You must file the form whether you transferred the credit at the time of sale or you're claiming the credit on your return.
If the return is rejected due to Form 8936, ensure the VIN was input correctly. Note there are no letters “O”, “Q” or “I” in a VIN. If the VIN was input correctly and you believe the vehicle is eligible, attach a file or explanation to substantiate the purchase before resubmitting the return.
The only way to include the additional information and explanation to claim the EV credit when the dealer did not submit the paperwork is to file the return by mail.
You could consider filing your return electronically without claiming the EV credit and then later filing an amended return to claim the EV credit. Then file the amended return by mail with the additional explanation and information.