A Guide to Green Energy Tax Credits Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

How to leverage income tax credits for renewable energy, home improvements and EVs

The Inflation Reduction Act (”the Act”) of 2022 marks a pivotal moment for individuals seeking to contribute to a more sustainable future, while simultaneously reducing their income tax liability.

This legislation, with a focus on reducing carbon emissions today and creating a more energy-abundant future, also includes substantial revisions and enhancements to income tax credits associated with renewable energy, home improvements, electric vehicles (EVs) and electric bikes.

Individuals stand to gain substantially from these incentives if they understand how to use them effectively. Here, we offer a high-level guide to navigating the landscape of these tax credits.

Rooftop Solar

Originally established in 2005, the Investment Tax Credit, commonly known as the Federal Solar Tax Credit, provides a tax incentive for solar photovoltaic (PV) installation. Under the Act, this tax credit was extended and enhanced. The current benefit is 30% of the value of your installed rooftop solar system.

With the cost of an average home system running around $15,000, this tax credit could be worth over $4,000 or more. The credit is uncapped, so the larger your system, the larger your benefit.

  • The solar tax credit can be paired with a similar 30% credit on the value of battery storage installation, meaning no more noisy generators during power outages.

Heating & Cooling

The Act also offers expands tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements. This includes but is not limited to, energy-efficient windows and doors, insulation, HVAC systems, and certain types of roofing. For individuals with one or more properties, this can result in substantial tax savings. It also presents an opportunity for individuals to enhance the value of their properties while reducing their carbon footprint.

  • Heat pumps: Most of us are familiar with the large condenser units associated with air conditioners. Modern condensers are called “heat pumps” and can both cool your house and run backward, heating your house using outside air. With recent advances in this technology, some heat pumps can effectively heat your home in outside temperatures down to -20° Fahrenheit. Electrifying your heating and cooling reduces your home’s reliance on natural gas and can dramatically reduce overall carbon emissions.
    • The Act provides a 30% tax credit on the value of your heat pump, up to a $2,000 cap.
  • Ground Source: like air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps can extract heat from the ground (geothermal) and funnel that into your home. The technology is newer, but costs have fallen & reliability has increased.
    • The Act provides an uncapped 30% tax credit on the value of your geothermal heating installation.
  • Energy Efficient Retrofits: If your older home needs insulation, windows, or energy-efficient appliances, you may qualify for efficiency rebates. The value of the rebate depends on the cost of your project and the estimated energy savings resulting from the retrofit. In certain circumstances, they can be quite valuable, worth up to 50% of the cost of the retrofit.

Electric Vehicle Tax Credits

The Act provides tax credits available for the purchase of new EVs and may allow an individual to upgrade their transportation method to more sustainable option while also benefiting from a tax break. While qualifying for the credit is somewhat complicated, here are a few takeaways:

  • Current or prior-year income needs to be under $300,000 for a family.
  • The EV needs to have certain components produced in the USA, and final assembly in the USA. You can find a current list of qualifying vehicles here.
  • The tax credit is worth up to $7,500, at the federal level.
  • Many states have implemented state tax credits for EV purchases – so the total value available to you may be higher than $7,500. For instance, Massachusetts has a $3,500 state rebate for certain vehicles. So, qualified buyers with qualified vehicles may be eligible for a rebate valued at $11,000 in Massachusetts.

Notably, the Act removes the manufacturer cap previously associated with the electric vehicle tax credit. Now, no matter how many electric vehicles a manufacturer sells, customers can still receive the full tax credit, which makes high-end electric vehicles a more financially attractive option.

The Act has opened new avenues for individuals to mitigate their tax liabilities, support renewable energy, and make sustainable choices in their personal lives. By investing in renewable energy, making energy-efficient home improvements, and choosing electric vehicles, these individuals can align their financial strategies with a sustainable future.

If you want to learn more about what tax credits you might benefit from, there are many websites that provide education and assistance.  Two helpful ones are Rewiring America and the IRS.

 

Crestwood Client Advisor, Nicole DellaPasqua, Speaks with Financial Planning About Financial Planners Working From Home and the Best Practices They Can Put In Place to Make Remote Work Successful

Nicole DellaPasqua, a certified financial planner at Crestwood Advisors in Boston, spoke with Financial Planning about financial planners working from home and the best practices they can put in place to make remote work successful.

 

Learn how to mitigate the remoteness of remote work by reading the full article here

Nearly Halfway to the Finish Line; 2023 Review

At the beginning of each year, individuals set personal, professional, or financial goals for themselves. How often do you revisit these goals, and what have you accomplished thus far? As we approach the second half of the year, we urge you to revisit your goals and all that you hoped to accomplish for 2023. While we may not be able to guide you with your personal goals, we can help accelerate your 2023 financial goals across the finish line.

Financial Plan: Are you on track?

Goal Review: Over time, plans may change. It is important to review your goals regularly to ensure you are still on track for your short-term and long-term objectives. Has a life-changing event occurred? Is retirement around the corner? Reevaluating what is important to you and discussing how this impacts the next 2, 5, or 10+ years is crucial. While these are evolving conversations, it is essential to make sure your financial plan accurately depicts your idea and vision of the future!

Commitments to Saving & Investments: Have you followed your plan?

Retirement Contributions: Make sure that you have adjusted your contributions to maximize your savings for 2023. The maximum amount you can contribute to your 401k in 2023 is $22,500 (plus an additional $7,500 if you are 50 or older by the end of the year). If you do not have a 401k, we can help evaluate your options for saving toward retirement.

Monthly Savings: Periodic additions to investment accounts are a great way to compound growth and take advantage of investment opportunities as they arise. Stay committed to saving above and beyond contributions to retirement accounts. This will help grow your portfolio when you need it most. Whether it is following a monthly budget or setting up an automatic transfer to your investment accounts, putting aside any amount is beneficial.

Debt Repayment: Are there changes to be made?

Given the current interest rate environment, now is the time to review your goals for paying down any outstanding debt or other liabilities. While we are uncertain of where rates will go in the future, the recent increase has affected cash flow for many individuals with fluctuating lines of credit, margin balances, or adjustable-rate mortgages. Talk to us about your perspective on maintaining a debt balance, and let’s develop a plan to pay off your liabilities strategically.

Charitable Goals: What are your intentions?

Many people have goals of gifting to charities annually. Rather than waiting until the end of the year and rushing to make gifts, consider a monthly or quarterly donation to causes you feel most passionate about. What is your tax picture for the year? Consider your intentions for gifting and review what you have accomplished. We can help you decide how to gift and what assets are most appropriate to gift.

Items to Review: What is on the back burner?

Now that the 2022 tax season is behind you, please send us a PDF copy of your 2022 tax return. With a copy of your tax return, we may identify tax planning opportunities and help facilitate conversations with your tax preparer.

If it has been a while since you last reviewed your estate plan, there may be outdated items that should be revised. Ensure that the named individuals in your estate plan are still the most appropriate choices (ex. Healthcare Proxies, Powers of Attorney, or Trustees). We can help review your current plan, identify areas of shortfall, and make changes to titling or beneficiaries as directed.

Review your insurance coverage and consider any changes that are needed. If you have policies that have not been reviewed for many years or that may need to be adjusted, we can connect you with an agent who can provide comparisons to other policies, review any shortfalls in your current coverage, and evaluate the cost-efficiency of making a change.

Improve your odds for a successful year! The first step is evaluating the goals which you set to accomplish in 2023. The second step is to let Crestwood help you! Let’s end 2023 with a bang and accomplish all that you set out to complete! Your team is here to help.