Choose an improvement type and install year, enter the project cost, then check to see the federal credit that applied.
About the home energy credit checker
The home energy credit checker maps an improvement type, the year it is placed in service, and the project cost to the federal residential energy credit that applied to it. Pick the improvement, choose the install year, enter the cost, and it shows the credit rate, any dollar cap, an estimated credit, and a link to the IRS source so you can plan a project before hiring a contractor.
Two federal credits are in scope. The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Internal Revenue Code section 25C) covers items like insulation, exterior doors, windows, central air conditioners, furnaces, electrical panels, heat pumps, and biomass stoves, with annual dollar caps. The Residential Clean Energy Credit (section 25D) covers solar, wind, geothermal, battery storage, and fuel cells with no annual dollar cap. This tool is informational only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Confirm your own situation on IRS Form 5695 or with a tax professional.
How to use
- Choose the improvement type. Section 25C items have per-item dollar caps; section 25D clean energy items do not.
- Choose the year the improvement is placed in service. This is the year installation is completed, not the year you sign a contract or pay a deposit.
- Enter the total project cost in dollars.
- Select Check credit to see the credit rate, any dollar cap, and the estimated federal credit, plus the IRS source links.
- Verify your own eligibility on IRS Form 5695, since the actual credit depends on your tax liability and manufacturer documentation.
Worked examples
Solar panels placed in service in 2025, $20,000 project
The section 25D credit was 30% with no annual dollar cap, so the estimated credit is about $6,000. Unused credit can carry forward to a later year.
New windows placed in service in 2024, $5,000 project
The section 25C credit was 30%, but windows are capped at $600 per year, so the estimated credit is limited to $600 inside the $1,200 annual limit.
Any qualifying improvement placed in service in 2026 or later
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act ended both credits for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, so the estimated federal credit is $0.
Frequently asked questions
- Which federal home energy credits does this cover?
- Two credits. The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit under section 25C covers efficiency upgrades like insulation, doors, windows, central air conditioners, furnaces, water heaters, electrical panels, heat pumps, and biomass equipment. The Residential Clean Energy Credit under section 25D covers solar, solar water heating, wind, geothermal, battery storage, and fuel cells.
- Did these credits really end after 2025?
- Yes. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Public Law 119-21 signed on July 4, 2025, terminated both the section 25C and section 25D credits for property placed in service or expenditures made after December 31, 2025. An improvement placed in service in 2026 or later does not qualify for these federal credits.
- What is the placed-in-service date?
- It is the date the original installation of the item is completed, not the date you sign a contract or pay a deposit. The credit follows the year the improvement is placed in service, which is why the 2025 cutoff matters for projects that finish late.
- What are the section 25C dollar caps?
- Section 25C had a $1,200 combined annual limit, with per-item caps such as $600 for windows, $500 total for exterior doors, $150 for a home energy audit, and $600 each for central air conditioners, furnaces, and electrical panels. Heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and biomass equipment drew on a separate $2,000 annual limit.
- Is this tool financial or tax advice?
- No. This is a free informational lookup of published IRS credit rules. It does not determine your actual credit, account for your tax liability, or replace IRS Form 5695 or guidance from a tax professional.
- Do you store the project details I enter?
- No. The lookup runs entirely in your browser, and the improvement, year, and cost you enter are not saved or sent to a server.
- Is the home energy credit checker free?
- Yes. It is free to use and does not require an account.
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