Frequently Asked Questions:Q: What is a tax credit?A: Unlike a deduction, which reduces the amount of income subject to tax, a tax credit directly reduces the tax itself, or increases the amount of your federal tax refund. Q: When is the deadline?A: The tax credit applies to improvements made from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010. April 15, 2010 is the deadline to claim a credit for window, door, and skylight purchases on 2009 taxes. April 15, 2011 is the deadline for claiming a credit for window, door, and skylight purchases on 2010 taxes. Q: How much money will I receive for installing windows, doors, and/or skylights?A: By installing eligible windows and skylights, you may receive a tax credit of 30 percent of the cost. Exterior doors qualify for a tax credit of 30 percent of the cost up to $1500. Installation costs are not included. The maximum amount of homeowner credit for all improvements combined (including roofing, insulation, HVAC, and water heaters) is $1500 during the two-year period (2009 and 2010) of the tax credit. Q: What windows, doors, and skylights are eligible for the federal tax credit?A: All ENERGY STAR qualified windows and skylights that are installed in the taxpayer's primary residence and are qualified in the appropriate ENERGY STAR climate zone are eligible to receive a tax credit. Most ENERGY STAR qualified exterior doors installed in the taxpayer's primary residence and qualified in the appropriate climate zone are also eligible to receive a tax credit, with the exception of exterior doors installed in certain parts of California¹. Storm windows and storm doors are also eligible for tax credits. See www.energystar.gov/taxcredits for more information on tax credits for storm windows and storm doors. Q: What documentation do I need to provide to receive the tax credit?For exterior doors, homeowners should save:
To learn more about tax credits for other ENERGY STAR products please visit www.energystar.gov/taxcredits.
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