Why is Turbo Tax stating zero deduction for electric vehicle charger installed for personal use in 2017 when IRS Form 8911 was released for 2017?

[sr-smr]

Why is Turbo Tax stating zero deduction for electric vehicle charger installed for personal use in 2017 when IRS Form 8911 was released for 2017?

[GinnyF · Accepted solution]

There are questions regarding the calculation of the Form 8911, Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit and who qualifies for the personal part of this credit. The most common reason taxpayers do not qualify for this credit is that the calculation of regular tax after credits compared to Tentative Minimum Tax results in the credit being disallowed based on the amounts in the taxpayer(s) return. This is due to IRS instructions for this form.

The Form 8911 for personal installations is calculated based on certain requirements and calculations:

The following requirements must be met to qualify for the credit.
You placed the refueling property in service during your tax year.
The original use of the property began with you.
The property isn’t used predominantly outside the United States.
The property must be installed on property used as your main home.

The personal credit calculations are as follows:
Line 1 Cost of the refueling property  For personal use, skip lines 2-9.
Line 10 equals Line 1
Line 11 equals Line 10 times 30%
Line 12 equals $1,000   (unless you moved during the tax year and installed a refueling property at both residences, then the maximum is $2,000)
Line 14 is your regular tax before credits
Line 15 a and b are credits which reduce regular tax before the Form 8911 credit
Line 15c equals a and b total.
Line 16 is line 14 minus Line 15c (remaining regular tax after tax credits)
If this is zero or less, you do not qualify for a personal 8911 credit
Line 17 equals Tentative Minimum Tax
(Even if you do not have to pay Alternative Minimum Tax, the Tentative Minimum Tax is part of this calculation. Turbo Tax does this calculation for you.)
Line 18 equals Line 17 from Line 16.
If this is zero or less, you do not qualify for a personal 8911 credit.

[GinnyF]

There are some data entry errors in calculating this form. Please see if these suggestions help you.

Are you entering the credit from the interview or the forms mode?

Have you told Turbo Tax in interview that this station was used to charge a business vehicle?

In the forms mode, you only enter the description and the cost in the top of Form 8911. Do not enter anything else in the business section of the form. Any entry in the business section will cause the personal section to not be completed.

Are you subject to Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) on form 6251? You can look this up on form 1040, line 45 or look in the left column of the Turbo Tax on-line version and click on Tax Tools, Tools, Review Tax Summary. There is a specific line on the Tax Summary for Alternative Minimum Tax. If you have ATM on your return, the IRS does not allow this credit.