Dealerships that didn't provide paperwork for EV Tax Credit

[StaffanM]

So I have not had the same success as others with my endeavors this morning.
Called the dealership and told them to try and submit the form reflecting todays date as the date provided copy to customer, response - “GM said it wasn’t even worth his time to submit the form, I’d recommend printing off a blank form and filling in all the information and submitting it” (no 2024 15400 revised form is available, only 2023 & before, which is guaranteed to be rejected being an outdated form) I was told by the dealership to speak with an IRS agent to see what I should do.
Waited on hold with the IRS for 45 minutes before someone answered that English was not their primary language or even a half decent secondary language, she then transferred me to a different department where I was told the wait time would be another ~15-30 minutes (at least this one had a call back option) got a call back, they then wanted to transfer me as well, as soon as the transfer happened the automated message system said “we no longer answer questions to this in our law department, please visit the online resources… Goodbye” and of course the call ended. IRS is of no use, dealership is of no use. The dealerships biggest thing too is that if they submitted the 15400 form now, the name of the dealership wouldn’t be the same as the one on my purchase contract and would be null/void due to the difference there alone.
So for me in my situation, it’s off to small claims court and having to deal with that headache of a process. Dealerships should not be allowed to sell EV vehicles, if they are not registered to report sales of EV to the IRS…

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[aldera]

So I have not had the same success as others with my endeavors this morning.
Called the dealership and told them to try and submit the form reflecting todays date as the date provided copy to customer, response - “GM said it wasn’t even worth his time to submit the form, I’d recommend printing off a blank form and filling in all the information and submitting it” (no 2024 15400 revised form is available, only 2023 & before, which is guaranteed to be rejected being an outdated form) I was told by the dealership to speak with an IRS agent to see what I should do.
Waited on hold with the IRS for 45 minutes before someone answered that English was not their primary language or even a half decent secondary language, she then transferred me to a different department where I was told the wait time would be another ~15-30 minutes (at least this one had a call back option) got a call back, they then wanted to transfer me as well, as soon as the transfer happened the automated message system said “we no longer answer questions to this in our law department, please visit the online resources… Goodbye” and of course the call ended. IRS is of no use, dealership is of no use. The dealerships biggest thing too is that if they submitted the 15400 form now, the name of the dealership wouldn’t be the same as the one on my purchase contract and would be null/void due to the difference there alone.
So for me in my situation, it’s off to small claims court and having to deal with that headache of a process. Dealerships should not be allowed to sell EV vehicles, if they are not registered to report sales of EV to the IRS…

That sucks. They have to submit the form otherwise the IRS won't have a record to check against. I would definitely take them to small claims court if that is their attitude. Sounds like a great company to deal with. Hope things work out for you.

 

[RickLightning]

I would send the GM the following email:

Dear Mr. I Don't Care About Customers:

Your dealership neglected to file my purchase of an F-150 Lightning with the IRS, as required by law. You still refuse to do so. As such, I cannot claim my $7,500 tax credit.

On March X, 2025, I will be filing suit against you in Small Claims Court for $7,500 plus costs, including my time away from work, and pain and suffering from trying to make you do your damn job. I will also be posting on every social media platform what a tool you are, and recommending that everyone who reads it shop elsewhere.

I look forward to you getting off your fat ass and filing with the IRS immediately, you have X days before I file with Small Claims Court.

Sincerely,

Staffan

 

[StaffanM]

I would send the GM the following email:

Dear Mr. I Don't Care About Customers:

Your dealership neglected to file my purchase of an F-150 Lightning with the IRS, as required by law. You still refuse to do so. As such, I cannot claim my $7,500 tax credit.

On March X, 2025, I will be filing suit against you in Small Claims Court for $7,500 plus costs, including my time away from work, and pain and suffering from trying to make you do your damn job. I will also be posting on every social media platform what a tool you are, and recommending that everyone who reads it shop elsewhere.

I look forward to you getting off your fat ass and filing with the IRS immediately, you have X days before I file with Small Claims Court.

Sincerely,

Staffan

As much as I would love to be an absolute dick and pain in the ass to deal with in this matter, it’s not the new GM or owners fault that the previous GM and owner neglected to do their job accordingly, so I’ll be attempting this from a somewhat friendly manner initially. Ironically enough with the new ownership and management the dealership now offers putting the $7,500 credit towards to cost of the vehicle unlike when I purchased mine. It wasn’t even an option. I had no idea the dealership was even being bought out, otherwise I would have held off until late November or early December before purchasing my truck. I plan on going into the dealership tomorrow after physical therapy and hopefully being able to have a sit down conversation with the GM about the situation. If I’m lucky, they’ll cut me a check while on site in good faith, if not and depending on how the room reads it may end with me informing him to expect papers from the court.
It’s pretty hard for a dealership to deny accountability in a court of law when I have text conversations with the Sales Manager, and the IRS website linked to my SSN stating that no clean vehicle was purchased during the calendar year of 2024.
I may even propose to them “cut me a check for $7,500 right here and now, fill out that fucking form that you should have at the time I purchased my truck, then next year when your company does their taxes you can get reimbursed for the amount you’re having to reimburse me and I’ll sign it once I have the check in hand”

 

[rdr854]

As much as I would love to be an absolute dick and pain in the ass to deal with in this matter, it’s not the new GM or owners fault that the previous GM and owner neglected to do their job accordingly, so I’ll be attempting this from a somewhat friendly manner initially. Ironically enough with the new ownership and management the dealership now offers putting the $7,500 credit towards to cost of the vehicle unlike when I purchased mine. It wasn’t even an option. I had no idea the dealership was even being bought out, otherwise I would have held off until late November or early December before purchasing my truck. I plan on going into the dealership tomorrow after physical therapy and hopefully being able to have a sit down conversation with the GM about the situation. If I’m lucky, they’ll cut me a check while on site in good faith, if not and depending on how the room reads it may end with me informing him to expect papers from the court.
It’s pretty hard for a dealership to deny accountability in a court of law when I have text conversations with the Sales Manager, and the IRS website linked to my SSN stating that no clean vehicle was purchased during the calendar year of 2024.
I may even propose to them “cut me a check for $7,500 right here and now, fill out that fucking form that you should have at the time I purchased my truck, then next year when your company does their taxes you can get reimbursed for the amount you’re having to reimburse me and I’ll sign it once I have the check in hand”

If the old dealership was bought out, the buyer may have purchased the assets only - meaning your gripe is with the former dealership. You might be able to sue the former owner assuming that the corporate organization still exists. Unfortunately, suing the new dealership corporation or LLC is likely to get you nowhere unless they purchased the assets and liabilities of the old dealership.

 

[P-38]

On Monday my dealership said that they submitted in December when I bought the truck but it did not go thru and they took screen shots and are meeting with the IRS to get it resolved...

I've requested copies of the screen shots...it's been 24 hours and still don't have copies.

Why are they just now following up with IRS after I contacted them when my taxes were rejected...

I'll be decidedly less friendly tomorrow when I follow up.

 

[StaffanM]

Well today at the dealership for me was less than helpful, met with the sales manager that assisted with my sale (long time family friend) and gave him the low down and my proposition for the dealership. He said that the old GM & owner definitely had the “we’re retiring in a matter of weeks richer than we could hope for, so we don’t give a fuck about paperwork” mentality, and hinted that the new GM would be less than willing & cooperative in the matter. So today I printed my TurboTax return paperwork, included my W2 and a well written letter basically explaining my current situation and situation with the negligent dealership and included copies of my sales contract, window sticker showing MSRP and VIN for cross referencing, final assembly location sticker and asking that they make an exception for my case and scenario, I’ll be dropping that big ass manila envelope in the mail tomorrow morning. As always I’ll post updates as I get them for my case.
Fun side note when I asked my Sales Manager if he happened to know if the new owners purchased everything (assets/liability) he said “You’re like the second or third person that’s asked that” doesn’t instill a whole lot of confidence in the old dealership in the moments leading up to the change of ownership.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Well today at the dealership for me was less than helpful, met with the sales manager that assisted with my sale (long time family friend) and gave him the low down and my proposition for the dealership. He said that the old GM & owner definitely had the “we’re retiring in a matter of weeks richer than we could hope for, so we don’t give a fuck about paperwork” mentality, and hinted that the new GM would be less than willing & cooperative in the matter. So today I printed my TurboTax return paperwork, included my W2 and a well written letter basically explaining my current situation and situation with the negligent dealership and included copies of my sales contract, window sticker showing MSRP and VIN for cross referencing, final assembly location sticker and asking that they make an exception for my case and scenario, I’ll be dropping that big ass manila envelope in the mail tomorrow morning. As always I’ll post updates as I get them for my case.
Fun side note when I asked my Sales Manager if he happened to know if the new owners purchased everything (assets/liability) he said “You’re like the second or third person that’s asked that” doesn’t instill a whole lot of confidence in the old dealership in the moments leading up to the change of ownership.

Good luck, exercise your appeal rights if the initial claim for the credit is denied.

 

[jimfigler]

here is an interesting situation. Back last April I got the $7500 off at the time of sale. The dealer called me this year and said they missed the 3-day deadline on the first two EVs they submitted because they were not aware of the 3-day deadline. They asked me if I could file for the $7500 and then pay them back. They are not asking me to repay otherwise. They understand it is no fault of mine. I already filed and did fill out the EV section but indicated I had transferred the credit to the dealer. the sale does not show up on my IRS.gov account but our return was accepted for the IRS. I'm guessing we could amend it and request the $7500 but won't it get kicked back because sale does not show up on my IRS.gov account?

 

[Joe.....Montana]

here is an interesting situation. Back last April I got the $7500 off at the time of sale. The dealer called me this year and said they missed the 3-day deadline on the first two EVs they submitted because they were not aware of the 3-day deadline. They asked me if I could file for the $7500 and then pay them back. They are not asking me to repay otherwise. They understand it is no fault of mine. I already filed and did fill out the EV section but indicated I had transferred the credit to the dealer. the sale does not show up on my IRS.gov account but our return was accepted for the IRS. I'm guessing we could amend it and request the $7500 but won't it get kicked back because sale does not show up on my IRS.gov account?

I would also assume your taxes will get flagged if you try and amend your return. It seems like returns being denied is based upon VIN not being found. I wondered how this situation would be handled (dealerships applying $7,500 at point of sale but not submitting appropriate paperwork - when a purchaser qualifies for the tax credit). Because the dealership is essentially fronting the $7,500. I also wonder how IRS will handle the situation if dealership applied at purchase but purchaser did not qualify based upon income.

 

[jimfigler]

I would also assume your taxes will get flagged if you try and amend your return. It seems like returns being denied is based upon VIN not being found. I wondered how this situation would be handled (dealerships applying $7,500 at point of sale but not submitting appropriate paperwork - when a purchaser qualifies for the tax credit). Because the dealership is essentially fronting the $7,500. I also wonder how IRS will handle the situation if dealership applied at purchase but purchaser did not qualify based upon income.

The dealer told me they are out $15000 for the two sales they missed the 3 day deadline. From the date on the paperwork, it appears they waited 17 days. They understand the mistake is on them. He was told by someone that I could claim the $7500. He was asking if I could try.

 

[StaffanM]

The dealer told me they are out $15000 for the two sales they missed the 3 day deadline. From the date on the paperwork, it appears they waited 17 days. They understand the mistake is on them. He was told by someone that I could claim the $7500. He was asking if I could try.

This is definitely a dealership problem and not a you problem. Have to ask yourself “do I really want to put in all this extra work and possible headaches for something that the dealership neglected to do and admitted to me is their own doing and not my own?” They’re a car dealership, $15,000 is a nice chunk of change for us common folk, an easy write off to the dealership during their tax filings as a loss. Do whatever you want to, if your sales contract and pricing reflects the $7,500 credit towards the overall financed or purchased agreement you have no obligations in the situation, they can’t even attempt to renegotiate or have you resign in a situation like this. They can ask nicely all they want, at the end of the day it was their wrong doing and not your own. Fortunately for you and unlike most of us on this thread, it was in your favor and not against it.

 

[Maquis]

As much as I would love to be an absolute dick and pain in the ass to deal with in this matter, it’s not the new GM or owners fault that the previous GM and owner neglected to do their job accordingly, so I’ll be attempting this from a somewhat friendly manner initially. Ironically enough with the new ownership and management the dealership now offers putting the $7,500 credit towards to cost of the vehicle unlike when I purchased mine. It wasn’t even an option. I had no idea the dealership was even being bought out, otherwise I would have held off until late November or early December before purchasing my truck. I plan on going into the dealership tomorrow after physical therapy and hopefully being able to have a sit down conversation with the GM about the situation. If I’m lucky, they’ll cut me a check while on site in good faith, if not and depending on how the room reads it may end with me informing him to expect papers from the court.
It’s pretty hard for a dealership to deny accountability in a court of law when I have text conversations with the Sales Manager, and the IRS website linked to my SSN stating that no clean vehicle was purchased during the calendar year of 2024.
I may even propose to them “cut me a check for $7,500 right here and now, fill out that fucking form that you should have at the time I purchased my truck, then next year when your company does their taxes you can get reimbursed for the amount you’re having to reimburse me and I’ll sign it once I have the check in hand”

It’s the current dealer that’s telling you it’s not worth a few minutes of their time to help you recover $7500. I wouldn’t cut them any slack, for sure.

 

[TaxmanHog]

I already filed and did fill out the EV section but indicated I had transferred the credit to the dealer.

Did you file on paper or E-file?

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