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Rebates and Tax Credits for Windows, Doors, and Skylights

Local Rebates

Many local utilities provide financial incentives for purchasing ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors, and skylights. To find out if rebates or other incentives are available in your area, visit the ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder.

Federal Tax Credits

On February 17, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. This bill extends and modifies the tax credits for windows, doors, and skylights established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

The following guidance is not intended as legal advice, and you should consult a tax professional with specific questions:

  • To qualify for the tax credit, windows, doors, and skylights placed in service after February 17, 2009 must have a U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) less than or equal to 0.30. You can find the U-factor and SHGC on the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label. See an example of the NFRC label. NFRC is the only federally recognized organization for determining the energy performance of windows, doors and skylights. Please see the NFRC website Exit ENERGY STAR for information concerning product performance.
  • Qualifying products purchased between February 17, 2009 and December 31, 2010 are eligible for a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the product cost. The maximum amount of homeowner credit for all improvements combined (including roofing, insulation, HVAC, and water heaters) is $1,500 during 2009 and 2010.
  • For products purchased between January 1, 2009 and February 16, 2009, the terms of the tax credit are less clear. The Internal Revenue Service will likely clarify these terms in guidance documents, which are expected to be released later this year.

Update

On April 22, 2009, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a news release about tax credits for home energy efficiency improvements Exit ENERGY STAR.

The "Safe Harbor" provision allows the performance terms of the previous window, door, and skylight tax credit to carry over until June 1, 2009. Under the old tax credit, windows, doors, and skylights had to meet or exceed the prescriptive criteria established by the 2001 Supplement of the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or the 2004 Supplement of the 2003 IECC for the climate zone in which the product is installed. Either ENERGY STAR labels or manufacturer certification statements were required to document these requirements for windows and skylights; doors were required to have a manufacturer certification statement. These performance terms and certification requirements will continue until June 1, 2009. The monetary terms of the current tax credit still apply to all window, door, and skylight purchases made in 2009 and 2010.

This is NOT a change in the tax law: As of June 1, all products must meet U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) maxima of 0.30. Please note that this is NOT the revised guidance document, which constitutes the final word from the IRS on how the tax credit will be implemented. The IRS plans to issue the revised guidance document later this spring.

Additional information will be posted as it is made available.