The $1500 2009 Federal Energy Tax Credits

by Steve Girardot on 7/21/09

What's covered under the 2009 Federal Energy Tax Credits?

There are a wide variety of items that will earn you money in the 2009 Federal Energy Tax Credits. You can insulate your attic, install new windows and doors, put on Energy Star rated roofing and much more.

Here are the details of the $1500 2009 Energy Tax Credits for home improvements:

must be "placed in service" (installed and ready to use) between the dates of January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010
the tax credit item must be installed on the on the tax payer's primary residence
$1500 is the maximum amount you can claim on your taxes (EXCEPT for a few things like solar panels and solar water heaters. See the 2009 Federal Tax Credits Energy Star site for more information)
must have a Manufacturer Certification Statment (a statment by the manufacturer that the product qualifies for the tax credit) to qualify. Go the bottom of this page to see the Reese products that have Manufacturer Certification Statments
keep your receipts and your Manufacturer Certification Statments in your records
home improvements made in 2009 must be claimed on your 2009 tax return (which has to be filed by April 15, 2010) and filed using IRS Tax Form 5695 (2009 version) available late 2009 or early 2010
If your building a new home you can qualify for the geothermal heat pump, photovoltaic, solar water heater, small wind energy system and fuel cell rebates, but you can't qualify for the window, door, insulation, roof, HVAC, or non-solar water heater federal energy tax credits.

2009 Federal Energy Tax Credits for home improvements has the details about the home improvement portion of the 2009 Federal Energy Tax Credits.

Other 2009 Federal Energy Tax Credits links you might want to check out are found here home builder tax credit, commerical building tax deduction, and stimulus information for State and local governments.

Windows & Doors Federal Energy Tax Credits

You get a 30% tax credit (up to $1500) on the cost of your Energy Efficient windows and doors. Here are the details about the window and door tax credit:

Exterior Windows & Skylights

Energy Efficiency Requirements:
- Installed Before June 1, 2009: The exterior window or skylight must meet Energy Star criteria
- Installed After June 1, 2009: The exterior window or skylight must have a U factor <= 0.30 & a SHGC <= 0.30
You get a tax credit of 30% of the cost of the exterior window or skylight, up to $1500
Not all Energy Star labeled windows and skylights quaify for the tax credit. See this link for more info

Storm Windows

Energy Efficiency Requirements: In combination with the exterior window over which it is installed, the U-factor and SHCG of the storm window must be <= 0.30 and meet IECC requirements
You get a tax credit of 30% of the cost of the storm window, up to $1500
Here is the Energy Star's site for storm door and storm window FAQs

Exterior Doors

Energy Efficiency Requirements:
- Installed Before June 1, 2009: The exterior door must meet Energy Star criteria
- Installed After June 1, 2009: The exterior door must have a U factor <= 0.30 & a SHGC <= 0.30
You get a tax credit of 30% of the cost of the exterior window or skylight, up to $1500
Not all Energy Star labeled windows and skylights quaify for the tax credit. See this link for more info

Storm Doors

Energy Efficiency Requirements: In combination with the exterior door over which it is installed, the U-factor and SHCG of the storm door must be <= 0.30 and meet IECC requirements
You get a tax credit of 30% of the cost of the storm window, up to $1500
Here is the Energy Star's site for storm door and storm window FAQs

Insulation Federal Energy Tax Credit

You get a 30% tax credit (up to $1500) on the cost of your insulation if the primary purpose of the insulation is to insulate (insulated siding doesn't qualify). Here are the details about the insulation tax credit:

Insulation

Meets 2009 IECC & Amendments
You get a tax credit of 30% of the cost of the insulation, up to $1500
Your insulation must "insulate" in order to qualify for the federal tax credit. Insulated siding doesn't qualify!

Roofing Federal Energy Tax Credit

You get a 30% tax credit (up to $1500) on the cost of your roofing. Here are the details about the roofing tax credit:

Metal Roofs & Asphalt Roofs

All ENERGY STAR qualified metal and reflective asphalt shingles qualify for the fedeal energy tax credit
You get a tax credit of 30% of the cost of the roofing, up to $1500
Here are the FAQ on roofs that qualify for the tax credit

Reese Suppliers with Manufacturer Certification Statments

The following list contains the Manufacturer Certification Statments we have collected from our manufacturers.