Can you expense home EV charger installation as a remote worker?

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As a remote worker who still drives to client sites occasionally, can I expense the cost of installing a home electric-vehicle (EV) charger through my employer or claim it on my taxes? What documentation or logs do employers and tax authorities typically require to justify installation or reimbursements? How are employer-paid charger installations treated for tax purposes (taxable benefit vs. deductible business expense), and how should mixed personal/business use be apportioned? Are there common alternatives employers use—mileage allowances, per-kWh reimbursements, or company installation programs—that are simpler or more tax-efficient? Finally, what steps and wording work best when requesting employer support for an EV charger, and are there government incentives or grants I should combine with an employer contribution?

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J. G. 10 Aug 2025

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Ask for kWh reimbursement not installation, offer smart‑charger kWh logs plus mileage records, propose employer fit a submeter or treat charger as capital asset apportioned by kWh
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S. S. 27 Aug 2025

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Think of your home EV charger like a tool in a shared workspace: it has personal and work uses tangled together. If you want to expense it, you’ll need clear evidence of how much is for business- like keeping a detailed log of trips tied to work and the electricity used during those drives.
Employers might hesitate because installing a charger at home can be seen as improving personal property, which often counts as a taxable benefit rather than a deductible expense. A practical next step is to ask your employer if they have policies around green commuting support or if they’d consider helping with operational costs instead, such as reimbursing electricity based on actual usage.
You could also explore local government rebates for EV infrastructure that stack with employer programs, making the whole setup more affordable.
13
Anonymous 30 Aug 2025

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Look, expensing a home EV charger?
Most employers won’t touch it unless you’re literally plugging in at their office or you can prove business miles are significant and consistent. Tax authorities? They want receipts, logs, and usually some sort of apportionment between personal and work use—good luck getting that right without a spreadsheet nightmare. Employer-paid installations often get treated as taxable benefits because the IRS sees it as personal property improvement. Instead of chasing installer bills, talk mileage rates or per-kWh reimbursements; way cleaner on paper. When pitching your boss, skip the tech jargon—just say “reduces my driving costs for client visits” and mention any local grants to sweeten the deal. But don’t expect easy wins here; it's bureaucracy meets electricity bills.
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Accepted Answer · 2025-08-12T05:31:00+00:00

Interesting .... Some employers treat a home EV charger like office equipment and capitalize it, depreciating the cost over five years and reimbursing a portion for business use. That sounds neat but might be wrong in practice. Should the reimbursement be added to pay, or can it be a standalone benefit if you own versus rent the property?