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Colorado AFV Manufacturer/Retrofitter

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Rebate

The Colorado Department of Revenue offers a rebate for the purchase of an AFV, HEV, or for the conversion of a vehicle to operate using an alternative fuel. Vehicles must be owned by the State of Colorado, a political subdivision of the state, or a tax-exempt organization, and be used in connection with the official activities of the entity. The rebate is a percentage of the incremental cost if used toward purchasing a new vehicle, or is a percentage of the conversion cost if used towards the cost of converting a vehicle to operate using an alternative fuel.

For costs incurred between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2009, the rebate percentages are as follows:

Certification LevelPercentage
Low Emission Vehicle25%
Ultra Low or Inherently Low Emission Vehicle50%
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV)75%

For an AFV purchase or conversion that permanently replaces a motor vehicle or power source that is at least 10 years old, the percentage specified in the table above is doubled, up to a maximum of 100% of the incremental or conversion cost.

For costs incurred between July 1, 2009, and July 1, 2015, the rebate percentages are as follows:

CategoryJuly 1, 2009, to July 1, 2010July 1, 2010, to July 1, 2011July 1, 2011, to July 1, 2012July 1, 2012, to July 1, 2013July 1, 2013, to July 1, 2015
1 - Vehicle meeting Tier 2, Bin 1 federal emissions standards 85%75%75%75%75%
2 - Light-duty diesel-electric hybrid passenger vehicle with a minimum fuel economy of 70 miles per gallon (mpg)65%45%25%15%15%
3 - Light-duty passenger vehicle, light-duty truck, or medium-duty diesel-electric truck conversion that increases original fuel economy by at least 40% AND (for 2010 and 2011) a new diesel-electric or gasoline-electric medium-duty truck hybrid with 30% greater fuel economy than a comparable vehicle75%55%35%25%25%
4 - Light-duty passenger vehicle, light-duty truck, or medium-duty truck natural gas conversions75%55%35%25%25%
5 - Idle reduction technologies25%25%25%25%25%
6 - Vehicle meets Tier 2, Bin 2 or 3 federal emissions standards, with a fuel economy of at least 40 mpg75%10%10%0%0%

Each qualified entity is limited to $350,000 per state fiscal year in total rebates paid.

(Reference House Bill 1331, 2009, and Colorado Revised Statutes 39-33-101 through 39-33-106)

Point of Contact

John Doty
AFV/Hybrid Taxes and Rebates
Colorado Department of Revenue
Phone (303) 205-8211
jdoty@spike.dor.state.co.us
http://www.revenue.state.co.us/mv_dir/home.asp

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Tax Credit

An income tax credit is available from the Colorado Department of Revenue for a motor vehicle titled and registered in Colorado that uses or is converted to use an alternative fuel, is a hybrid vehicle, or has its power source replaced with one that uses an alternative fuel. For vehicles purchased or converted between January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2010, the percentage of the actual or incremental cost that may be claimed as a credit is as follows:

Type of VehiclePercentage
Low Emission Vehicle50%
Ultra Low or Inherently Low Emission Vehicle75%
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV)85%

Beginning January 1, 2010, tax credits are based on specified state-defined vehicle categories as follows:

CategoryJanuary (Jan.) 1, 2010, to Jan. 1, 2012Jan. 1, 2012, to Jan. 1, 2013Jan. 1, 2013, to Jan. 1, 2014Jan. 1, 2014, to Jan. 1, 2015Jan. 1, 2015, to Jan. 1, 2016
1 - Vehicle meeting Tier 2, Bin 1 federal emissions standards 85%75%75%75%75%
2 - Light-duty diesel-electric hybrid passenger vehicle with a minimum fuel economy of 70 miles per gallon (mpg)65%45%25%15%15%
3 - Light-duty passenger vehicle, light-duty truck, or medium-duty diesel-electric truck conversion that increases original fuel economy by at least 40% AND (for 2010 and 2011) a new diesel-electric or gasoline-electric medium-duty truck hybrid with 30% greater fuel economy than a comparable vehicle75%55%35%25%25%
4 - Light-duty passenger vehicle, light-duty truck, or medium-duty truck natural gas conversions75%55%35%25%25%
5 - Idle reduction technologies25%25%25%25%25%
6 - Vehicle meets Tier 2, Bin 2 or 3 federal emissions standards, with a fuel economy of at least 40 mpg75%10%10%0%0%
7 - Vehicle meets Tier 2, Bin 2 or 3 federal emissions standards, with a fuel economy of at least 30 but less than 40 mpg. (Excludes original equipment manufactured natural gas vehicles.) 50%0%0%0%0%

These credits are capped at $6,000 for the following: AFVs, AFV conversions, HEVs, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), PHEV conversions, idle-reduction technologies, and power source replacements; there is no cap on natural gas vehicle conversions. Between 2012 and 2016, the cap on PHEV conversions increases to $7500. Individuals who claimed a tax credit in previous years for the purchase of a HEV, Model Year 2004 or newer, may be eligible to claim an additional credit for the conversion of the same vehicle to a PHEV. For credits claimed in tax years 2010 and 2011, Category 3 and Category 4 vehicles that permanently displace vehicles or power sources at least 12 years old are eligible for 1.25 times the credit percentages displayed up to 100%. Additional information is also available from the Governor's Energy Office.

(Reference House Bill 1331, 2009, and Colorado Revised Statutes 39-33-101 to 39-33-106)

Point of Contact

Division of Taxation
Colorado Department of Revenue
Phone (303) 238-7378
http://www.revenue.state.co.us/main/home.asp