10 Important Points in
Applying for an E-85 Rebate

1. The E-85 Rebate Program is available to anyone that is a resident of Illinois, or is doing business or established in Illinois. Individuals, local governments, schools, universities, small businesses, corporations, non-profit organizations and similar entities are all eligible. The only exception to this is agencies, departments, commissions, and other entities of the federal government. You may receive a rebate for one or more eligible vehicles that you own.
   
   
2. There are two types of rebates you may apply for: (1) a one-time E-85 Vehicle Rebate or (2) an E-85 Fuel Rebate. You may apply for only one type of rebate, not both. For the E-85 Fuel Rebate, you may apply for a rebate for the same vehicle for up to three consecutive years. For the E-85 Vehicle Rebate, it must be a new flexible fuel vehicle purchased from a car dealer in Illinois. Vehicles purchased from an out-of-state dealer are ineligible for this type of rebate. However, it can still receive an E-85 Fuel Rebate (see below). For an E-85 Vehicle Rebate, the vehicle’s paperwork must clearly show that there is an “upcharge” or additional cost for purchasing the flexible fuel version of the vehicle as compared to the gasoline-only vehicle of the same make and model. The “upcharge” must be distinctly listed on the paperwork (e.g., the window paperwork on the new vehicle) and not part of an options package that includes other options. The amount of the E-85 Vehicle Rebate is for 80% of the incremental cost of the new E-85 vehicle. The application for the E-85 Vehicle Rebate may be submitted at any time during the year, but must be submitted by December 31 in the year it was purchased to be eligible for a rebate. However, you will find that most new E-85 flexible fuel vehicles do not have an incremental cost or an “upcharge.”

The remaining points are with regards to the E-85 Fuel Rebate

3. The E-85 Fuel Rebate Program is based on the calendar year, from January through December. You must use E-85 fuel in your flexible fuel vehicle for at least 50% of the “fill-ups” during the calendar year. The use of E-85 may vary from month to month, but the average for the year must be at least 50%.
   
   
4. Any flexible fuel vehicle is eligible to receive an E-85 Fuel Rebate, whether it is new or used. The objective of this type of rebate is that you use E-85 fuel.
   
   
5. For the 2007 applications, the E-85 fuel rebate applications are to be submitted during December 2007 or January 2008, but must be postmarked by January 31, 2008. The Illinois EPA only processes the E-85 fuel rebates at the end of the year (e.g., during December and January). Since E-85 fuel purchases may take place during the month of December, you have until the end of January to submit the application. Do not submit an application form at other times during the year since we need all E-85 fuel receipts for the entire year in order to process an application.
   
   
6. The Alternate Fuels Rebate Program is a State rebate program administered by the Illinois EPA. The rebate checks are issued by the Office of the State Comptroller after they are reviewed and approved by the Illinois EPA. The rebate checks are issued by May for the previous year’s applications. This program IS NOT a “tax credit” or a “tax rebate,” and is independent of and unrelated to the “due date” for your federal or state income taxes. Therefore, the application due date is not on April 15 (see #5 above).
   
   
7. There are two amounts for the E-85 Fuel Rebate. If your vehicle is driven 17,500 miles or more during the year, the amount of the rebate will be $450. If the vehicle is driven less than 17,500 miles, the amount of the rebate will be $340. If you apply for the E-85 Fuel Rebate for three consecutive years, the maximum amount you can receive over the three-year period is $1,350 per vehicle (fleet limit of 300 vehicles). The Alternate Fuels Rebate Program provides rebates “up to $4,000” for other types of alternate fuel vehicles, such as natural gas or propane vehicles or conversions. Unfortunately, some applicants believe that they are getting a $4,000 rebate for using E-85 fuel, which is not the case. Please read all of the application materials before completing the application form.
   
   
8. You will need to provide the E-85 fuel receipts with your application at the end of the year. You do not need to submit any gasoline receipts for when you fill the vehicle up with gasoline, just the E-85 receipts. The Illinois EPA verifies E-85 fuel purchases by looking for the “E-85” product identifier on the receipt as well as the pump number for the respective station. As with applying for any type of product rebate, the receipts must be submitted with the completed application form. The Illinois EPA uses the receipts to verify that you are purchasing E-85 fuel for your flexible fuel vehicle and reviews the total number of gallons of E-85 consumed, the number of miles traveled during the year, and the type of vehicle to determine that the “50% usage” criteria has been met. Applications that do not have the needed receipts or receipts that are illegible will be denied. If you are using E-85 fuel in more than one vehicle, keep the receipts separate and be sure to submit a separate application form for each vehicle. We recommend that you keep your E-85 fuel receipts in an envelope, zip lock bag, or similar container until it is time to apply for the rebate. If you are a fleet manager with your own fuel station, copies of the fuel invoices for E-85 purchases are sufficient.
   
   
9. In addition to the application and receipts, the W-9 form must also be submitted (see “W-9 Form” link). Be sure to sign your application and W-9 form, and double-check to make sure that all of the information is completed and correct.
   
   
10. All program updates and application materials are posted under the “Illinois Alternate Fuels Rebate Program” link on our website at www.illinoisgreenfleets.org. Please check this website for updated information, along with the map and list of new E-85 fuel stations.