2026 Tax Questions: EV Charger Credits, Mileage Rates and Betting Winnings

For 2026, the tax details that matter to drivers and gamblers include a midyear change to the business mileage rate, an expired home charger credit and rules for reporting online betting winnings. The answers below describe the situations covered and the limits readers should keep in mind. They apply to the United States and the 2026 tax year where specified.

Home EV charger credit: the deadline has passed

A reader who bought a Tesla and planned to install a charger at home asked whether the installation could still qualify for a federal tax credit. The answer in this 2026 Q&A is no: the credit expired on June 30, 2026. To qualify under the terms described, the reader had to buy and install the charger at home by that date.

The credit was worth 30% of the equipment and installation cost, capped at $1,000. The cap matters: even when 30% of the combined cost would exceed $1,000, the credit could not exceed that stated maximum. For someone planning a new installation after the deadline, the cited credit does not apply. The [EV charger credit details](https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/605201/federal-tax-credit-for-electric-vehicle-chargers) describe the benefit; anyone reviewing a past installation should check their purchase and installation dates against the cutoff.

Business driving has two mileage rates in 2026

The standard mileage allowance for business vehicle use changed halfway through the year. From January through June 2026, the rate was 72.5 cents per mile. From July through December 2026, it was 76 cents per mile. The answer attributes the increase to higher gasoline prices.

That split means the applicable rate depends on when the business driving took place. A person tracking mileage across the full year should keep the first and second halves separate when applying these figures; using one rate for every 2026 mile would miss the midyear adjustment. The rates in this answer concern business vehicle use, so they should not be treated as a rate for other kinds of driving.

Gas tax relief remains uncertain

A reader asked whether the federal gasoline tax would be temporarily suspended amid high prices at the pump. The answer described that outcome as unlikely. The federal tax cited in the Q&A is 18.4 cents per gallon. Some people had called for a temporary suspension, while others argued that pausing the tax would do too little to reduce what drivers pay.

The answer also points to pressure on the Highway Trust Fund, which is funded mainly by federal gasoline tax revenue. That tension helps explain why a proposed pause can face objections even when fuel costs are a concern: reducing the tax could also reduce a major source of funding for the fund. The source does not say that a suspension has been adopted. Readers should treat the discussion as an assessment of the proposal, not as a change in the amount charged at the pump. More background is available in this explanation of a possible [federal gas tax pause](https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/do-drivers-really-need-a-federal-gas-tax-holiday) and the [Highway Trust Fund](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/highwaytrustfund/).

Online sports betting winnings count as income

Online sports betting winnings are taxable as gambling income, including cash prizes from fantasy sports leagues tied to professional athletes’ performances. The same treatment applies to bets on the outcome of a specific event, such as the Super Bowl or a basketball game.

The answer says to report winnings on Schedule 1 of [Form 1040](https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040). If a taxpayer itemizes deductions on [Schedule A](https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-a-form-1040), gambling losses may be deductible, but the write-off is limited to the lesser of 90% of losses or the amount of gambling winnings. That cap can leave some losses without a deduction, even when the taxpayer itemizes.

Some gamblers may file [Schedule C](https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-c-form-1040) when their activity is extensive enough to qualify as a trade or business. The answer cautions that meeting that standard can be difficult. Someone who bets online should therefore distinguish between reporting winnings and claiming losses: the answer describes them separately, with different forms and limits. These are general points from the Q&A, not an assessment of any individual’s filing situation.

Reader questions and further tax topics

The Ask the Editor series invites readers to submit tax questions, and some submissions may be condensed or combined with similar questions. Subscribers to The Kiplinger Tax Letter, The Kiplinger Letter and The Kiplinger Retirement Report can find submission details in those publications. Information about [The Kiplinger Tax Letter](https://subscribe.kiplinger.com/loc/KTP/kipcomstorykt), [The Kiplinger Letter](https://subscribe.kiplinger.com/loc/KWP/kipcomarticles) and [The Kiplinger Retirement Report](https://subscribe.kiplinger.com/pubs/KE/KRP/KRP_digitaldisc_2995_5495.jsp?cds_page_id=280913&cds_mag_code=KRP&id=1754522199423&lsid=52181813122082444&vid=2&gad_source=kip.com) is available through their subscription pages.

The series says it will address more reader questions about tax changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill, retirement accounts and other subjects in future installments. Its answers are for general information and are not a substitute for advice tailored to a person’s circumstances. Readers weighing a tax filing decision can consult a qualified tax professional. For now, the practical steps are straightforward: check the charger installation date, match business miles to the correct half-year rate, and keep records of betting winnings and losses before preparing a return.

Related reading includes the [Ask the Editor archive](https://www.kiplinger.com/tag/ask-the-editor), questions about [audit concerns](https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/tax-law/ask-the-tax-editor-irs-audits-red-flags), [hobby or business income](https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/income-tax/ask-the-tax-editor-august-7-is-it-a-hobby-or-a-business), [selling a home](https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/capital-gains-tax/ask-the-tax-editor-april-10-questions-on-selling-a-home), [inherited IRA timing](https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/iras/ask-the-tax-editor-10-year-rule-for-inherited-iras), [Roth IRA conversions](https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/tax-law/ask-the-editor-august-8-tax-questions-on-roth-ira-conversions) and [tax rules for landlords](https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/capital-gains-tax/ask-the-tax-editor-june-5-tax-rules-for-landlords).