The next EV shopper deadline worth caring about is not another flashy range claim. It is the federal home EV charger tax credit, because the IRS says the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit for individuals only applies to qualifying property placed in service by June 30, 2026. That matters because the credit can cover 30% of the cost, up to $1,000, which is real money when your “simple charger install” suddenly turns into conduit, labor, and a mildly insulting electrician invoice. See the IRS credit page here.

The catch, because of course there is one, is that not every driveway qualifies. The IRS says the charger has to be installed at your primary residence, and that home has to sit in an eligible census tract. So if you are shopping for an EV this summer and planning to add Level 2 charging at home, do not order the hardware first and ask questions later. Check the rules first, then get quotes, then buy the charger.

This is also one of those rare tax credits where the boring paperwork matters almost as much as the product. The charger has to be placed in service by the deadline, not just ordered, and the IRS says you claim it with Form 8911. In plain English: if you wait until the last minute and your install gets pushed into July, that “I’ll deal with it later” strategy could cost you up to a grand.

For a lot of buyers, that makes home charging part of the EV purchase decision right now, not some accessory you figure out after the car shows up. If your address qualifies, this is a good time to lock down the charger and installation before the deadline and summer scheduling crunch. If it does not, at least you know the real math before you start pretending the charger rebate is already in your pocket.