School districts have a unique opportunity to save money as they transition to electric buses and charging infrastructure. Through the federal 45W Clean Vehicle Credit and 30C Refueling Property Credit, districts can access up to $40,000 per bus and $100,000 per charger—but these tax credits are set to expire soon.

In this episode of School Business Insider, John Brucato speaks with Katherine Roboff (World Resources Institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative) and Carolina Chacon Mendoza (Alliance for Electric School Buses). They explain eligibility, how elective pay works for tax-exempt entities, and the step-by-step IRS process to claim these funds.

We also discuss how districts can combine these tax credits with EPA’s Clean School Bus Program and why planning ahead for infrastructure and community engagement is critical. Whether your district is just beginning to explore electrification or already has buses and chargers on order, this episode provides timely, practical guidance to ensure you don’t leave money on the table.

Resources Mentioned:

• IRS 45W FAQ
• Alliance for Electric School Buses
• Electric School Bus Initiative (WRI)
• Recording and slides from WRI’s 45W webinar
• IRA and CHIPS Act of 2022 Pre-filing Registration Tool (IRS)
• IRS: Elective Pay and Transferability
• IRS: Elective Pay Pre-Filing Tool
• Lawyers for Good Government — Annotated Tax Forms
• Lawyers for Good Government — Updates to Elective Pay Tax Credits
• 30C Eligible Census Tracts Mapping Tool (ANL)
• Sample Filing Walkthrough (not tax advice)
  
  

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