The IRS issued updates to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Code Sec. 25C) and the Residential Clean Energy Property Credit (Code Sec. 25D). The former credit applies to qualifying property placed in service on or after January 1, 2023, and before January 1, 2033. The updates pertained to FS-2024-15. More information is available here.
Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit
The credit is limited to $2,000 per taxpayer per taxable year in the aggregate for electric or natural gas heat pump water heaters, electric or natural gas heat pumps, and biomass stoves or boilers.
Thus, a taxpayer could claim a total credit of $3,200 if they had sufficient expenditures in property categories (or a home energy audit) subject to the $1,200 limitation and in property categories subject to the $2,000 limitation.
Additionally, a taxpayer can claim the credit only for qualifying expenditures incurred for an existing home, or for an addition to or renovation of an existing home, but not for a newly constructed home.
Residential Clean Energy Property Credit
One of the FAQs mentions that this credit is a nonrefundable personal tax credit. A taxpayer claiming a nonrefundable credit can only use it to decrease or eliminate tax liability.
The credit is generally limited to 30 percent of qualified expenditures made for property placed in service between 2022 and 2032. However, the credit allowed for qualified fuel cell property expenditures is 30 percent of the expenditures, up to a maximum credit of $500 for each half kilowatt of capacity of the qualified fuel cell property.
