Publications banner
Trimerit

Claiming the 45L Tax Credit for Eligible Contractors

By: David Shereda, Director, Tri-Merit  


Since 2006, U.S. tax code allows contractors building energy efficient residences to claim the 45L tax credit. The process is a bit time-consuming for accountants and CPAs, and there are multiple steps to claim the $2,000 per home or “dwelling unit.” A dwelling unit is considered a single unit that provides living facilities for one or more persons. Dwelling units include permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation, thus providing a complete independent living arrangement.


Contractors and developers who build energy efficient homes or dwellings deserve to see if they qualify for the credit. And accounting firms who assist eligible contractors to qualify and claim the 45L credit open up the opportunity to attract more clients and reduce their tax burden.


Tri-Merit has put together this resource to explain this credit as well as how contractors and accountants claim it. 


The 45L Tax Credit 

What is it? 


This tax credit is $2,000 for each qualified new or substantially renovated energy efficient home which is constructed or manufactured by and eligible contractor and is sold/leased (initial lease) to a person for use as a residence.  There is also a credit for manufactured homes that meet a lesser energy saving requirement, that credit is $1,000 per unit.


The 45L tax credit first went into effect on January 1st, 2006, for homes built after August 8th, 2005. It is slated to end December 31st, 2021, meaning all qualifying energy efficient dwellings sold or leased by that date will be eligible for the credit on 2021 tax returns, filed in 2022. 


Who is Eligible? 

The “Eligible Contractor” is the taxpayer that constructs a qualified energy efficient home and has basis on the home during construction.   


This includes: 

  • Contractors and developers (building single family homes, subdivisions, apartments, or other multi-unit dwellings not more than three stories above grade) 
  • Other trusts, estates, companies, or individuals building dwellings that meet 45L requirements 
  • Manufactured home producers 
  • Homeowners who have their home built (including if they hire a contractor) 


Types of eligible properties include: (not more than three stories above grade)  

  • Apartment buildings 
  • Assisted living facilities 
  • Condominiums 
  • Multi-family homes 
  • Student housing 
  • Single family homes 
  • Townhomes 


Properties listed above that have undergone significant reconstruction or rehabilitation are also eligible 


What are the Requirements?


The requirements for claiming the 45L are two-fold. First, each individual home or dwelling unit must be certified to meet the energy saving requirements by an “Eligible Certifier.” An eligible certifier is a person that is not related (within the meaning of § 45(e)(4)) to the eligible contractor and has been accredited or otherwise authorized by RESNET (or an equivalent rating network) to use energy performance measurement methods approved by RESNET (or the equivalent rating network). Second, all eligible units must be sold or leased (initial lease only) to an individual during the tax year for use as a residence.


Energy saving requirements for each dwelling include:

  • A projected level of annual heating and cooling energy consumption that is at least 50 percent below the annual level of heating and cooling energy consumption of a reference dwelling unit in the same climate zone  
  • Building envelope component improvements alone account for a level of annual heating and cooling energy consumption that is at least 10 percent below the annual level of heating and cooling energy consumption of a reference dwelling unit in the same climate zone  

For manufactured homes the above requirements apply except the annual heating and cooling energy consumption must be 30 percent below the annual level of heating and cooling energy consumption of a reference dwelling unit in the same climate zone. 

In regards to certification, IRS Form 8908 explains, “An eligible contractor must obtain a certification that the dwelling unit meets the requirements of section 45L(c) from an eligible certifier before claiming the section 45L credit.”


Difficulty in Obtaining the 45L Tax Credit


This difficulty is worthwhile for those building multiple energy efficient units (no more than three-stories above grade). A project of thirty qualified dwelling units constitutes $60,000 is tax savings. And for accounting firms and CPAs, the 45L tax credit is an opportunity to better serve and attract contractor clients. 


Offering expert navigation of eligibility requirements, third-party certifiers, and of course claiming the credit is a valuable service. One not offered by many financial professionals, creating an added way to:


Market to contractors who build residential property 

  • Market to companies manufacturing homes 
  • Differentiate your firm and better serve clients 
  • Work with Tri-Merit

Even experienced CPAs sometimes struggle with these complex criteria in the construction industry. The difficulty comes from multiple layers of code regulations and obtaining third-party certification.

 

Thermal image of the house picture id153172697 1024x675
Company Tri-Merit Specialty Tax Professionals
Category FREE CONTENT;ARTICLE / WHITEPAPER
Cost FREE
Published Date 09/20/2021

Trimerit

Tri-Merit Specialty Tax Professionals
(847) 616-0432
www.tri-merit.com

Tax credit studies may not be something you do every day – luckily for you Tri-Merit does.

Tri-Merit supports CPAs, CFOs, and owners of small-to-midsize businesses by serving as an extension of their advisory team to lessen the tax burden and increase cash flow. We work with companies to uncover the engineering, manufacturing, and product development data needed to support claiming Federal and State engineering-based tax incentives such as the R&D tax credit and cost segregation.

Tri-Merit turns a complex process into a refreshingly straightforward experience, making them a preferred choice among CPAs and companies of all sizes that are looking for ways to improve cash flow.