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The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law on August 16, 2022. The provisions included in this law address a wide range of financial efforts targeted at reducing the deficit while providing some tax reductions and incentives.

Contractors and building designers for both individuals and businesses can benefit from the additional energy efficiency incentives found in the IRA, but there are some drawbacks as well. Some efforts are new, but most are simply extensions or alterations of prior energy efficiency incentives.

For Business Properties: The Energy-Efficient Building Deduction

Section 179D provides a deduction for certain energy-efficient buildings. Specifically, prior to enactment of the IRA, this provision allowed a deduction based on the square footage of certain buildings designed to reduce the total annual energy and power costs of systems of the building by 50% or more. The deduction could be up to $1.80 per square foot if the building meets the highest energy efficiency standards.

Partial deductions might have also been available if the building had efficiencies in some areas but not others. Each system provides an additional deduction per square foot of space. These systems included:

• Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation (HVAC)
• Hot water systems
• Building envelope construction
• Interior lighting systems

Both building owners and designers can benefit from these deductions. Even government contractors might be able to deduct some of these costs.

If the entity owns the building, the deduction must be used in conjunction with a reduction in the basis of the building property equal to the amount of the deduction.

The Necessary Standard for Energy Efficient Buildings

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (ASHRAE) provides the standards that must be met to get the Section 179D deduction. These standards address the following aspects of energy efficiency:

• Uniform testing guideline
• Safe practices
• Proper definitions for the industry and public

These standards are also updated periodically. Specifically, ASHRAE 90.1-2001 was used from 2006 to 2015. Any building in place from 2016 to 2020 used ASHRAE 90.1-2007.

Changes in the Section 179D Deduction from the IRA

The Section 179D deduction became a permanent part of the Internal Revenue Code in 2021, when the Consolidated Appropriation Act, 2021 was passed. However, the IRA added some new features and limitations that commercial businesses should be aware of.

First, the “most recent” standards must be used, which is still ASHRAE 90.1-2007, at least until new standards are developed. Second, the IRA did away with partial deductions for some systems. Instead, the energy efficiency improvements must increase efficiencies relative to a reference standard by 25%, rather than the 50% requirement prior to the IRA.

The amount of the deduction has also changed. The deduction is set at $0.50 per square foot, but it can increase by $0.02 for each percentage point reduction in energy usage. The maximum is $1.00/foot, which is a significant reduction from $1.80 per square foot. However, if the project also meets certain apprenticeship requirements (to encourage job creation), then the base amount increases to $2.50/square foot, with a $0.10 increase per each percentage point. The maximum under those circumstances is $5.00/square foot.

The deduction has also been expanded to apply to designers of tax-exempt entities in addition to government entities.

For Residential Properties: The Energy-Efficient Home Credit

Section 45L provided an energy-efficient home credit for individuals that permitted a $2,000 tax credit for certain “eligible contractors” and those who constructed, reconstructed or rehabilitated the energy-efficient home. It also provided the same credit for “producers” of an energy-efficient manufactured home. The home must have also been acquired by someone who used the property as a home in the same tax year that the credit is taken.

It is important to note that although this credit targets individual homes, it is actually the contractor who takes the credit. The credit ended on December 31, 2021. However, the IRA reinstated the program with new requirements. For now, it extends the credit through December 2022.

Before the IRA, the home was required to be 50% more efficient than standard dwelling units, as defined by the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code standards. There was no partial credit if the 50% standard was not met.

Changes to Section 45L from the IRA

The credit itself has been extended (at $2,000 per unit) through December 2022. After 2023, the credit will increase to $2,500 per unit, but it will decrease by $500 for multiple-family homes. Instead of the prior standard, the IRA requires that the homes follow standards set out by the Energy Star New Construction program or the Energy Star Manufactured Homes program—these are both stricter standards compared to the standards used before the IRA.

The IRA also created a higher value credit ($5,000) for homes that meet the Zero Energy Ready home standards that are set out by the Department of Energy (as in effect on January 1, 2023). Multiple-family homes that meet these standards will also get an increased credit of $1,000.

Finally, if the contractor confirms that employees of the contractors and subcontractors are paid prevailing wages, then the credit for a multifamily dwelling increases to $2,500 (or $5,000 for Zero Energy Ready homes).

Get Help with New Energy Credits

Talk to us if you need more information about the new energy credits. Ensuring you meet these qualifications now will help you take full advantage of these deductions and credits at tax time.

If you have any questions or would like additional information about anything mentioned, please comment below or email us at askus@lgt-cpa.com. We would love to help!