Markus Andrews

Your Money

Women have about 44% less saved by the time they retire, research shows.
Although the goal of a comfortable retirement feels out of reach for most, some key steps can help.
The year-end process is a great time to reset your long-term strategy, experts say.

What begins as a gender wage gap inevitably becomes a significant shortfall by retirement.
In the U.S., women who work full time are typically paid about 80 cents for every dollar paid to their male counterparts.

That gap has persisted despite women’s increasing levels of education and representation in senior leadership positions. Women are also still more likely to take time out of the labor force or reduce the number of hours worked because of caretaking responsibilities, often referred to as the “motherhood penalty.” 
That contributes to a growing wealth discrepancy, which is especially difficult to manage for those nearing retirement, according to Stacy Francis, a certified financial planner and president and CEO of Francis Financial in New York.

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“Not only do we start with less money in our pockets, but we also live longer and our costs in retirement are higher,” said Francis, who is also a member of the CNBC Financial Advisor Council.
By the end of a career, a full-time working woman will have lost out, on average, $417,400 of income, the Center for American Progress found.
Men and women have similar overall participation rates in their workplace saving plans, but men’s account balances are roughly 44% higher than women’s balances, largely due to the persistent gender wage gap, according to an analysis by Vanguard.

More than half of women workers, or 57%, feel they don’t have enough income to save for retirement and only 19% are “very confident” that they will be able to fully retire with a comfortable lifestyle, a separate survey by Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies found.
“Today’s women are more educated and enjoy unimaginable career opportunities than previous generations,” said Catherine Collinson, CEO and president of Transamerica Institute and TCRS. “Yet, despite these advancements, women continue to be at greater risk than men of not achieving a financially secure retirement.”

Women continue to be at greater risk than men of not achieving a financially secure retirement.

Catherine Collinson
CEO and president of Transamerica Institute and TCRS

At the same time, their life expectancy is five years longer than that of men.
“The statistics are sobering,” said Kelly O’Donnell, chief client officer at Edelman Financial Engines. “The math tells us it’s harder for women because they are going to live longer and have less.”
But there are moves women can make to narrow or even close the retirement gap once and for all, experts say. These three steps are key:
1. Start with ‘a financial look in the mirror’
“One of the most important things they can do is take a financial look in the mirror,” Collinson said.
Most experts recommend meeting with a financial advisor to shore up a long-term strategy. Many employer-sponsored plans now offer counseling or one-on-one coaching. There’s also free help available through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.  
“A natural starting point is checking with your employer’s retirement provider and working on a plan,” Collinson said.
Once you’ve identified where you stand, “you can start making plans to address expectations and assumptions that could possibly affect your long-term trajectory,” she said.
2. Take advantage of 2024 changes
The IRS recently raised the contribution limits to retirement accounts for 2024, increasing the thresholds to $23,000 for 401(k) plans and $7,000 for individual retirement accounts.
More employers have also introduced some type of emergency savings benefits, many as a result of the new retirement legislation in Secure 2.0 — a law that focuses on improving retirement security by making it easier for workers to build and access emergency cash.
“If your employer is offering you something akin to free money, take it,” Douglas Boneparth, a certified financial planner and president and founder of Bone Fide Wealth, a wealth management firm based in New York, recently told CNBC. “That’s always going to be beneficial.”
“However, if it’s not being paired with an appropriate amount of discipline, it doesn’t matter,” added Boneparth, who is also a member of CNBC’s FA Council.
Above all else, use this as an opportunity to make the most of the financial education being offered, he advised.
3. Reset your long-term strategy
The year-end process is a great time to reflect back and evaluate what the year ahead has in store, according to Kate Winget, chief revenue officer for Morgan Stanley at Work.
“Start with a look at all the benefits you can take advantage of,” she said, such as employer contributions to a 401(k), equity compensation and stock purchase plans. “This is where you want to maximize your retirement plan,” she said.
Then, “layer in health-care benefits,” Winget added. “This is part of the overall compensation.”
Whether married or single, women need to assess their situation and plan for this accordingly, she said.
Since women are more likely to outlive men, Francis advises her female clients to consider that at some point, “they are going to be on their own.”
That may mean having to work longer to reach their retirement goals, Collinson cautioned.
“When you do finally retire, you’ll have a larger nest egg and a short time to make that nest egg last,” she said. More

Though financial stress is high going into 2024, many individuals aspire to keep financial resolutions.
Experts say the key to success with those goals is paying yourself first.

Young woman counting money.
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc

As the calendar turns to a new year, many Americans are vowing to change their money habits.
To that point, 48% of investors recently surveyed by Allianz Life Insurance Company say they are more likely to make and keep a financial resolution in 2024 to either save more or manage their money better.

That includes paying down credit cards, building emergency savings and investing more towards retirement.
Experts say the best way to tackle those money goals, and make sure they do not fall by the wayside, is to make them automatic.
Many people start with the bills, including rent, mortgage, utilities and food, and wait to save money with whatever is left over, noted Lawrence Sprung, a certified financial planner and founder of Mitlin Financial in Hauppauge, New York.
“A resolution that we talk about very, very frequently is paying yourself first,” said Sprung, who is also the author of the book “Financial Planning Made Personal.”

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To be sure, finding extra money to set aside or pay down debts can be difficult now, with Americans still feeling the stress of a higher cost of living.

Allianz’s survey found 73% of respondents say their pay hasn’t kept up with inflation, even after pay increases.
Meanwhile, 82% said the restarting of federal student loan payments will make it tough to make ends meet.
Separately, a recent Bankrate survey found that 59% of adults feel the economy is in a recession, even though economists say the economy is strong.
Elevated financial stress can make prioritizing short- and long-term money goals feel more difficult.
“It takes a lot of discipline, especially when money is tight,” said Kelly LaVigne, vice president of consumer insights at Allianz Life.
To stay on track, it helps to write down your to-do list, he said.
Experts also recommend scheduling the payments you want to make ahead of time.

1. Make credit card payments a priority.

If you have outstanding credit card debt, paying down that debt should be your first priority, according to LaVigne.
“You’re losing money significantly by not paying those balances as quickly as you can,” LaVigne said.
As the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates, credit card debt has become more expensive, with some borrowers facing interest rates of 20% or higher, according to LendingTree.
“Paying on time, every time, is job number one for anyone with a credit card,” said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree.
If you’re 30 days late one time with a credit card payment, that can do serious damage to your credit rating, he noted.
Setting up auto pay, either through a bank’s or credit card issuer’s website, can help ensure you do not miss those deadlines.
While auto pay is a “good thing,” it doesn’t completely absolve you of responsibility, Schulz said. Because technology is imperfect, you still need to keep track to make sure the payments go through. Moreover, some months you may want to pay more than others to knock those balances down.
Over time, making automatic payments can be a winning strategy.
“The easier you make it on yourself to pay down your debt, the more likely you are to stick with it,” Schulz said.

2. Build emergency savings.

To avoid running up credit card balances, it helps to have some emergency cash set aside.
Experts generally recommend having at least three to six months’ living expenses in an emergency fund.
As interest rates have climbed, you can earn more on those savings. Some online savings accounts are currently offering rates as high as 5% or more, according to Bankrate.
To make sure you regularly contribute funds towards your savings, it helps to have the money automatically deducted from your paycheck into your bank account.

3. Ramp up retirement investing.

As you juggle higher living costs and other financial priorities, it can be tempting to put investing toward retirement on the back burner.
But your most powerful asset when it comes to retirement is time. The more time your money is invested, the more opportunity there is for it to compound, or to earn interest on interest.
If you have a workplace retirement plan like a 401(k) plan, experts say it’s wise to invest at least up to the company match. For example, if you contribute 5% of your salary, your employer may also put in 5%. While terms may vary by employer, that’s free money you don’t want to miss out on.
When deciding how much of your total income to set aside, Sprung said 10% is a good general rule of thumb.
“Pay yourself that 10% and then utilize the remaining 90% to pay all those bills,” Sprung said.
Once you get used to living off 90% of your income, you won’t miss the 10% you’re saving, he explained.
“Automation is key, because once you do that and you don’t see the money, it makes it so much easier to live off of that 90%,” Sprung said.
It’s up to you to decide how to allocate that 10%, such as devoting half toward emergencies and the other half toward retirement.
“You have to determine where those savings need to be directed, and where you need them the most,” Sprung said. More

Employers can force out small 401(k) accounts once workers leave a job.
Most often, companies cash out balances less than $1,000, and roll those between $1,000 and $5,000 into an individual retirement account in the account holder’s name.
A recent law, Secure 2.0, raised that threshold to $7,000.

Tom Werner | Digitalvision | Getty Images

If you left behind a small 401(k) plan account at a former job, odds are your former employer has moved those funds out of the plan. That move may hurt your retirement savings over the long term, experts say.
Current law allows employers to “force out” 401(k) accounts of $5,000 or less if their owners leave the company, perhaps for another job or due to a layoff. The smallest balances, less than $1,000, can be cashed out while the rest can be rolled to an individual retirement account.

Employers don’t have to do this, experts say.
They can choose to keep small balances in the plan; however, most do not. To that point, 72% of 401(k) plans don’t keep balances of $5,000 or less once a worker leaves, according to a survey by the Plan Sponsor Council of America.
Just 7.5% of plans keep old accounts regardless of size, according to PSCA data.
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As more companies have chosen to automatically enroll new hires into their workplace 401(k), such plans have generally amassed more small accounts. Additionally, thousands of workers may have left behind small balances in the Covid-19 pandemic era. In 2022, a record number of workers quit their jobs during the “great resignation.”  

Companies typically cash out balances smaller than $1,000, meaning account holders get a check, less any income tax and tax penalties owed. Accounts between $1,000 and $5,000 are generally rolled over to an IRA.

Why companies often roll out small balances

A recent law, Secure 2.0, raised that upper limit from $5,000 to $7,000 in 2024. That means more small balances can be rolled out starting next year. However, that’s not automatic, as employers must update their plan rules accordingly.
Companies have an incentive to do so. For one, having many small balances can make plan administration more difficult, since companies must issue notices to a larger number of people.
Small balances can also lead to higher fees, said Ellen Lander, founder of Renaissance Benefit Advisors Group. Record keepers — the firms that track account holders’ savings, investments and other metrics — often charge based partly on a 401(k) plan’s average balance. A smaller average balance generally leads to higher fees, Lander said.

Investors should take action

However, there’s tension here. Investors may be better served keeping their money in the 401(k) plan.
If rolled over, 401(k) assets are often initially held in cash-like investments such as money market funds or certificates of deposit, until investors decide to invest those assets differently. There, they earn relatively little interest while also whittling away fees.
Additionally, those who get cashed out generally owe tax penalties if they are under age 59½. Their money is taken out of the tax-advantaged retirement system, denting their future retirement savings.

But there’s good news: Companies must issue notices to workers before forcing out a small balance. That means workers can take action before that happens.
Account holders “should do something” with those funds, Lander said.
“If a participant already has an IRA, the smartest thing would be to take that balance and roll it into an existing IRA or roll it into a new employer’s 401(k),” Lander added.Don’t miss these stories from CNBC PRO: More

There’s still time to reduce your tax bill or boost your refund for 2023, according to financial experts.
You can harvest portfolio losses, strategically take gains or donate directly to charity for a possible deduction.
But with the Dec. 31 deadline approaching, “time is of the essence,” said certified financial planner Edward Jastrem, chief planning officer at Heritage Financial Services.

Getty Images

The year-end is quickly approaching, but there’s still a chance to reduce your 2023 tax bill or boost your refund with some last-minute moves, experts say.
Dec. 31 is the deadline for many tax-saving opportunities, which leaves limited time to take action.

“It’s a little late to be super strategic,” but there’s still some “low-hanging fruit” with certain tax strategies, said certified financial planner Edward Jastrem, chief planning officer at Heritage Financial Services in Westwood, Massachusetts.

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Here are a few last-minute tax moves to consider for 2023.

Reduce gains by harvesting bond losses

While the S&P 500 approached a record high on Dec. 28, investors may still have opportunities for tax-loss harvesting, which uses investment losses to offset profits.
“We have been selling off some bond funds at losses and purchasing either individual bonds with high yields or buying other funds in their place,” said certified financial planner Monica Dwyer, vice president of Harvest Financial Advisors in West Chester, Ohio.
“This doesn’t change the overall asset allocation but improves the tax performance,” Dwyer added.

However, you need to consider the so-called wash sale rule, which blocks the tax write-off if you repurchase a “substantially identical” asset within a 30-day window before or after the sale. 

Leverage tax-gain harvesting

Another move, so-called tax-gain harvesting, is selling profitable brokerage account assets while in the 0% long-term capital gains bracket.
Tax-gain harvesting is “an overlooked strategy,” said CFP Andrew Herzog, an associate wealth advisor at The Watchman Group in Plano, Texas.

You may qualify for the 0% rate for 2023 with taxable income of $44,625 or less for single filers and $89,250 or less for married couples filing jointly.
These rates apply to your “taxable income,” which is calculated by subtracting the greater of the standard or itemized deductions from your adjusted gross income.
You can also use tax-gain harvesting to sell profitable assets and then immediately repurchase to reset the basis, or original purchase price, to reduce future taxes, Herzog explained.
“But it’s very important to have an accurate estimate of income for the year to thread this needle,” he said.

Donate directly to a charity

With the year-end nearing, there’s limited time to make a 2023 charitable donation and claim the deduction, according to Jastrem.
There’s likely not enough time to open and send money to a donor-advised fund. But you could transfer assets directly to a charity from a bank account or brokerage account, assuming your institution can initiate the transfer and the charity can accept the funds by Dec. 31.
“Time is of the essence,” Jastrem said.
Of course, you can only claim a charitable tax break if you itemize deductions on your 2023 tax return. The vast majority of Americans claim the standard deduction, which is $27,700 for married couples filing jointly and $13,850 for single filers in 2023.Don’t miss these stories from CNBC PRO: More

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on the first day back since the Christmas holiday on December 26, 2023 in New York City. 
Spencer Platt | Getty Images News | Getty Images

In each of the past 16 Decembers I have selected and invested personally in 10 of the stocks we follow with the intention of holding for just one year.
These are companies that I find especially attractive in light of their valuations or their potential to benefit from economic developments. I hold an equal dollar amount in each of the positions for the following year, and then I reinvest in the new list.

This year’s list is perhaps a bit more defensive than in years past, as seen by the number of medical device companies, and has a focus on earnings growth.
Results have been good in some years and not as good in others. I will sell my 2023 names on Friday and buy the following names that afternoon.
I will sell my 2023 Top Ten List at year-end and purchase the 2024 Top Ten on Jan. 2 to be sold at the beginning of trading in 2025. The following is my Top Ten for 2024, listed in random order:
Donaldson
Founded in 1915, Donaldson is a global manufacturer of filtration systems and replacement parts for engines, industrial plants, power generation and various life sciences applications. The company has dominant market share in many of its businesses, which are diverse by geography and end-market and have attractive long-term secular growth potential.

Valmont Industries
Valmont Industries is a relatively small company ($4.7 billion market cap) that manufactures engineered poles, towers and other structures for a number of different applications, including roads and highway safety, utilities, telecommunications, and access systems for construction sites.
We view the company as an investment in infrastructure development that should benefit from the long-term global secular trends of population growth, urbanization and water scarcity.
Goldman Sachs
The company’s major business activities include debt and equity underwriting, M&A advisory, asset management, trading, lending and proprietary investing. The stock has been highly volatile over the past couple of years, due largely to an ill-conceived decision to more aggressively target the consumer lending market.

The rationale behind this decision was sound – consumer banking activities generally produce more dependable and recurring revenue streams, which are rewarded by investors in the form of higher valuations (trading multiples). However, management’s timing could not have been much worse, while execution was poor at best.
Danaher
Following the separation of its Environmental and Applied Solutions businesses on Sept. 30, Danaher has become a pure-play biotechnology, life sciences and diagnostics company. The company’s evolution to its current state occurred through a long series of acquisitions and divestitures designed to generate shareholder value through the application of the company’s proprietary set of operating processes and tools it refers to as the Danaher Business System, or “DBS.”
Amazon
Amazon excels in three areas where we see ample secular tail winds: cloud computing, e-commerce and digital advertising. Perhaps more importantly, each of these businesses has a wide economic moat.
PepsiCo
PepsiCo is a leading multinational snacking and beverage manufacturer that has seen a significant improvement in operational execution since CEO Ramon Laguarta took over in 2018. Laguarta has transformed Pepsi into a “faster, stronger, and better” company through several strategic initiatives: 1) reinvesting into the company’s brands via innovation and marketing; 2) addressing portfolio gaps in fast-growing categories where the company had been underpenetrated; and 3) enhancing the supply chain by increasing manufacturing capacity and introducing efficiencies through technological investments.
Disney
The Walt Disney Co. is one of the most prestigious brands in the world. Over the past century, the company has evolved from a small animation studio to a vertically integrated media and entertainment conglomerate. Disney has faced its fair share of challenges over the past couple of years, including a botched succession, an acceleration in cord-cutting and a slow recovery at the box office. Offsetting these challenges has been the resilient, and highly profitable, Parks & Resorts business which has benefited immensely from pent-up demand coming out of the pandemic.
Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Laboratories is a best-in-class Medical Device company that is diversified across four segments: Medical Devices, Diagnostics, Nutrition and Established Pharmaceuticals. The company has a compelling mix of existing products that are generating durable growth today, and new/upcoming product launches that will support future growth.
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is one of the world’s largest and most diversified healthcare companies. Following the recent Kenvue spinoff (consumer health business), JNJ’s revenue base now consists of 65% from the pharmaceutical segment and 35% from the medical technology segment (MedTech). The company is expected to continue benefiting from an aging global population and rising standards of living in emerging economies.
Microsoft
Microsoft is one of the largest technology companies in the world. It has successfully pivoted from a Windows PC-first world to the cloud and is leading the way in generative artificial intelligence. The company is a strategic partner in enterprise digital transformations through its cloud, app and infrastructure, and artificial intelligence offerings.
The reader should not assume that an investment in the securities identified was or will be profitable. These are not recommendations to buy or sell securities. There is risk of losing principal. Past performance is no indication of future results. If you are interested in any of these names, please call your financial advisor to discuss. More

Going from applicant to new hire can be a slow process.
Experts say taking these three steps may help you secure a new job more quickly.

Xavier Lorenzo | Moment | Getty Images

If you’re looking for a new job, get ready for more competition in the new year.
“We see many more job seekers come and use our site in mid- to late-January,” said Scott Dobroski, career trends expert at Indeed.

“It aligns to that new year, new you mentality,” he said.
While layoffs made headlines at the end of 2023, some companies are still looking to cut positions in 2024, according to a recent report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an outplacement and business and executive coaching firm.
The firm’s survey found 29% of companies had layoffs in 2023, with 21% indicating they may cut positions in 2024. Meanwhile, 46% of companies reported increased hiring in 2023, with plans to continue adding new employees in 2024.
If you’re looking for work, experts say there’s several steps you can take to help speed up your job search.

1. Leverage your network.

If you’re between jobs, take advantage of the ability to set your status to “looking for work” on professional networking sites, recommends Vicki Salemi, career expert at Monster.

New Year’s gatherings can be a great time to expand your professional contacts, she said.
As you’re adding new contacts, be sure to have an updated resume ready with your most recent professional successes. Your most recent performance reviews can be helpful for jogging your memory, she said.

2.  Use technology tools to boost your search.

With more competition for jobs in January, that may mean fewer positions will be available, according to Dobroski.
One way to get ahead of the competition is to use technology tools to help broaden your search.
By creating online profiles with your skills, experience and work you are seeking, you may find different positions that are a match.
Dobroski said he has seen bank tellers become sales executives after identifying transferable skills for those new roles. What’s more, the new salaries may be upwards of $30,000 or $35,000 more.
“Let the technology work for you,” Dobroski said. “You may find opportunities that you’re a fit for, but you otherwise wouldn’t have considered, both in and out of the industry that you’re in.”

3.  Pursue companies that prioritize hiring.

Some companies are prioritizing hiring more than others, according to data from Indeed.
“They’re making hiring efficient and effective,” Dobroski said.
That includes streamlined hiring processes with clear descriptions of open positions and transparent communication with job seekers, he said.
Indeed has put out a list of 15 companies currently hiring the fastest.
Here are the companies that made the list, according to the ranking.
1.      Signet Jewelers
2.      Mariano’s
3.      Cook Out Restaurants
4.      Comfort Keepers
5.      Holiday Inn Express and Suites
6.      Bath & Body Works
7.      The Goddard School
8.      Tesla
9.      Sevita
10.   Applebee’s
11.   Ross Dress for Less
12.   Hampton by Hilton
13.   Papa John’s
14.   Finish Line
15.   The Salvation Army More

A provision in Secure 2.0 allows money saved in a 529 college savings plan to be converted into a Roth individual retirement account tax-free after 15 years.
Up until now, the funds had to be used for qualified education expenses. Starting Jan. 1, the savings can also be put toward retirement.
That removes a “significant objection” to these college savings plans, says College Savings Foundation Chair Vivian Tsai.

Up until now, 529 savings plans were widely considered the best way to save for college. But there was always a major sticking point, according to financial experts and plan investors.
The funds had to be used for qualified education expenses such as tuition, fees, books and room and board. Even though the restrictions had loosened in recent years to include continuing education classes, apprenticeship programs and even student loan payments, any limitations on this future savings created “a mental barrier,” said College Savings Foundation Chair Vivian Tsai.

Starting in 2024 — thanks to “Secure 2.0,” a slew of measures affecting retirement savers — families can roll unused money from 529 plans over to Roth individual retirement accounts free of income tax or tax penalties.
“Most people’s objections are ‘what if I don’t use this money for education.’ Now you can use it for retirement,” Tsai said. “It removes a significant objection.”
“This is a big deal,” she added.

The benefits of a 529 college savings plan

These plans have been steadily gaining steam for several reasons.
In some states, you can get a tax deduction or credit for contributions. A few states also offer additional benefits, such as scholarships or matching grants, to their residents if they invest in their home state’s 529 plan.

Yet, total investments in 529 plans fell to $411 billion in 2022, down nearly 15% from $480 billion the year before, according to data from College Savings Plans Network, a network of state-administered college savings programs.
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“Last year, we saw a pretty noticeable reduction in contribution behavior,” said Chris Lynch, president of tuition financing at TIAA. Regular contributions to a 529 college savings plan took a back seat to paying more pressing bills or daily expenses, he said.
Further, many would-be college students started rethinking their plans altogether. Some are opting out entirely or considering a local and less expensive in-state public school or community college. 
Now, 529s offer more flexibility, even for those who never enroll in college, Lynch said.
“A point of resistance that potential participants have had is the limitation around, what happens if my kid gets a scholarship or decides they’re not going to college,” Lynch said.
In such cases, you could transfer the funds to another beneficiary, or withdraw them and pay taxes and a penalty on the earnings. If your student wins a scholarship, you can typically withdraw up to the amount of the scholarship penalty-free.
However, the added benefit of being able to convert any leftover funds into a Roth IRA tax-free after 15 years, up to a limit of $35,000, “helps to eliminate that point of resistance,” he said.

“It becomes a no-brainer at this point,” said Marshall Nelson, wealth advisor at Crewe Advisors in Salt Lake City, Utah.
There are still some limitations. The 529 account must have been open for 15 years and account holders can’t roll over contributions made in the last five years. Rollovers are subject to the annual Roth IRA contribution limit, and there’s a $35,000 lifetime cap on 529-to-Roth transfers.
Still, “we’re going to see a spike in 529 usage,” Nelson predicted.
Even if someone in their mid-20s put $35,000 in a Roth IRA and just left it alone, that could be close to $1 million 40 years down the road, he said.
“It’s something I see catching on,” Nelson added. “Now they have the option to use that money to supplement retirement. That’s a huge win.”Don’t miss these stories from CNBC PRO: More

The Inflation Reduction Act offers a tax credit worth up to $7,500 to those who buy new electric vehicles. It also offers a $4,000 credit for used EVs.
New rules for 2024 will allow buyers to get the EV tax credit at the point of sale, rather than waiting for tax season. Unlike current rules, consumers won’t need to have a tax liability to get it.
However, fewer new EVs will likely qualify for a tax break starting Jan. 1 due to car manufacturing requirements.

Praetorianphoto | E+ | Getty Images

The $7,500 tax credit for new electric vehicles will be easier for many consumers to claim in 2024, but it may be more difficult for others. These opposing dynamics are due to federal policies taking effect at the same time.
One policy kicking in Jan. 1 will allow car dealers to give buyers their EV tax break at the point of sale — as cash, a price discount or down payment. Currently, consumers must wait until they file an annual tax return during tax season to receive a financial benefit.

Under the new mechanism, consumers would essentially “transfer” their federal tax credit to the car dealer. In turn, the dealer would pass on that tax break to consumers. This will be available for both new and used EVs, the respective credits of which are worth up to $7,500 or $4,000.

Further, consumers would be eligible for the tax break regardless of their tax burden, which isn’t the case now. Currently, since the tax credit is nonrefundable, buyers only qualify for any of the credit if they have a federal tax liability — a policy that tends to dilute the benefit for households with relatively low incomes or exclude some entirely.
These new policies will make the tax credit both easier to claim and more accessible starting in 2024, while making EVs cheaper for consumers, said Ingrid Malmgren, policy director at Plug In America.

Why claiming a $7,500 EV tax credit may be tougher

Meanwhile, consumers who want a tax break will likely have fewer cars to choose from next year.
The Inflation Reduction Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022, phases in certain manufacturing requirements aimed at enhancing domestic EV supply chains.

In the short term, however, they disqualify some EVs from being eligible for a full or partial tax credit as carmakers work to comply with the rules. These rules only apply to purchases of new EVs, not used models or leases.
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In 2024, EVs whose battery components are built or assembled by a “foreign entity of concern” — China, Iran, North Korea and Russia — don’t qualify for a tax credit, Malmgren explained.
“Right now, China is a big supplier,” Malmgren said.
As a result, “the expectation is there will be fewer cars available Jan. 1,” she said. “And sadly, they’re the more affordable ones.”
The U.S. Department of Energy has a list of new and used EVs eligible for a full or partial tax credit.

There are some caveats

There are few things to consider for consumers hoping to get a point-of-sale discount.
For one, not all dealers will necessarily participate, though most are expected to. Consumers should ask their dealer before buying, experts said.
Buyers must also file an income tax return for the year in which they transfer their EV tax credit to a dealer.
Further, the EV tax credit carries some eligibility requirements for cars and consumers. One is based on household income, and rules vary for new and used EVs.

For example, married couples who file a joint tax return are only eligible for a new EV tax credit in 2024 if their annual income is $300,000 or less in either 2023 or 2024. For used EVs, the income threshold is $150,000 for married couples.
But car dealers won’t analyze consumers’ income to determine if they qualify. Buyers must self-attest their eligibility — and making a mistake could mean paying back the credit’s full value to the IRS at tax time.Don’t miss these stories from CNBC PRO: More