Web site of the Month: Tax Incentive Assistance Project

The Tax Incentive Assistance Project is a useful guide to navigating through the incentives available to businesses and consumers who have made energy-efficiency improvements throughout the year. (Artwork by TIAP)

Customer service and key account managers who have spent the year urging customers to make energy efficiency improvements can earn extra points at tax time by pointing businesses and homeowners to the Tax Incentive Assistance Project (TIAP).

A coalition of public interest nonprofit groups, government agencies and other energy-efficiency organizations sponsor TIAP to help consumers access Federal income tax incentives for energy-efficient products and technologies. The project works with the Treasury and Energy Departments and other agencies on rules to implement the tax incentives. Its network of professional and trade associations and firms provides products and services eligible for the tax incentives.

The Web site provides information to consumers, businesses and energy-efficiency firms. States and utilities looking to use Federal tax incentives to complement local programs can find information, presentations and technical assistance.

The home page features updates on legislation, filing guidelines and studies, as well as downloadable tax forms. The left-hand navigation bar lists different types of energy consumers, guiding users quickly to information that suits their specific needs.

Easy to use

TIAP's simple organization makes it as user-friendly as a Web site on the dry and complex subject of tax codes can be. The Consumer Incentives menu lists home shell, home heating and cooling equipment, passenger vehicles, on-site renewables and fuel cells and micro-turbines. Each item links to a page that answers questions specific to the measure, such as the amount of the incentive, eligible products, minimum efficiency qualifications and more. At the end of each page is a list of links to more resources.

The Business section covers incentives for commercial buildings, commercial vehicles, combined heat and power, fuel cells and micro-turbines and on-site renewables. The investment tax credit for combined heat and power systems is a new addition this year for systems placed into service between Oct. 3, 2008 and Jan. 1, 2017.

Users hoping to get incentives for installing geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) will need to look under on-site renewables for both business and consumer installations. While the debate goes on as to whether GHPs are an energy-efficiency or a renewable technology, it seems that TIAP comes down on the side of renewables.

The only incentives TIAP addresses for builders and manufacturers at this time are for new homes and appliances. As with the other sections, there are links to more resources pertaining to each application.

Resources for decision makers, power providers

Utility representatives will find many valuable resources under General Information. Organizations including the American Council for an Energy-efficient Economy (ACEEE), Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), Edison Electrical Institute and Residential Energy Services Network contribute reports and presentations for program implementers, state energy offices and utilities. This section also provides a hand reference for relevant IRS regulations and a rundown of recent and pending legislation.

The frequently asked questions in the general information section give quick answers for a variety of questions about specific products, filing procedures and installation scenarios. The most useful information on this page may be an explanation of the difference between rebates, deductions and credits.

As all good informational Web sites do, TIAP provides contact information. General questions go to ACEEE, while ASE manages media inquiries.

The Tax Incentive Assistance Project has the power to turn utility customer service representatives into heroes. Visit it today and brush up your knowledge on energy-efficiency tax incentives, because nothing takes the sting out of tax time like a little money back. Especially if it is a rebate for on something that saves you money all year around.

Resources

Tax Incentive Assistance Project

Consumer Incentives

Business Incentives

Builders and Manufacturers

General Information

American Council for an Energy-efficient Economy

Resources (cont.)

Alliance to Save Energy

Edison Electrical Institute

Residential Energy Services Network

IRS Regulations
Legislative Language & Pending Updates

Frequently Asked Questions

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