The Home Energy Saving Tax Credit Is Back

The Residential Energy (Efficient) Property Credit was initially introduced in 2006. The credit’s name is somewhat misleading, and the credit is best described as an energy-saving credit since it applies to improvements to the taxpayer’s existing primary home to make it more energy-efficient. Over the years since it was first introduced, it has provided a tax credit in amounts varying from 10% to 30% of the cost of energy-saving devices installed as part of a taxpayer’s home, with the maximum credit ranging from $500 to $1,500. Currently, the credit percentage is 10%, with a lifetime credit amount limited to $500.

Since the credit currently has a lifetime credit of $500, that means if you have ever claimed this credit in the past, going all the way back to 2006, you must reduce any credit currently claimed, limited to the $500, by any credit amount you claimed in any prior year. As a result, taxpayers who claimed the maximum credit amount in the past won’t be eligible for any additional credit under this extension.

Generally, this tax credit equals 10% of the cost of the following energy-saving improvements that meet certain Energy Star requirements:

An advanced main air-circulating fan;
A natural gas, propane, or oil furnace;
A natural gas, propane, or oil hot water boiler;
Energy-efficient heat pumps;
Energy-efficient water heaters;
Energy-efficient central air conditioners;
Insulation;
Metal roofs with appropriate pigmented coatings;
Asphalt roofing with appropriate cooling granules;
Exterior storm windows and skylights;
Exterior storm doors, and
Others not listed here.

To qualify for the credit, the home must be the taxpayer’s primary residence and be in the United States, the improvement must generally have a life of 5 years or more, and the original use must begin with the taxpayer.

The credit is non-refundable, meaning it can only be used to offset your tax liability to bring it down to zero, and there is no carryover provision, so any portion of the credit not used in the year when the credit is earned is lost.

There are also credit limits for certain items:

Qualified Windows and Skylights: $200
Qualified Advanced Main Air Circulating Fan: $50
Qualified Hot Water Boilers: $150
Qualified Energy-Efficient Equipment: $300

Basis Adjustment

The basis of your home is increased by the amount you spend on an energy-efficient improvement but is then reduced by the amount of the credit. So even if you can’t claim the credit because you’ve exceeded the lifetime credit limit, the cost of the energy-efficient property will increase your home’s basis.

Retroactive Extension

Since this credit was retroactively extended to 2018, if you made qualifying improvements in 2018, you can amend your 2018 return and claim the credit. Since this credit has been extended through 2020, it can also be claimed for energy-efficient improvements made in 2019 and 2020 as long the $500-lifetime credit limit will not be exceeded.

If you have questions about this credit or think you might qualify for the credit in 2018 and want to see if the credit is worth the cost of amending your return, contact the Experts at Henssler Financial: