Replacement Roof Tax Credits

Interested in New Roof Tax Credits in Orange County?

Are you considering replacing or repairing your roof in 2016? Or did you make some improvements in 2017? If so, you might qualify for tax credits from either your federal or state income taxes.

Not all home improvements are eligible for tax deductions or credits, but many that make your home more energy efficient are. Here’s what you need to know about possible roofing related tax credits if you’re considering hiring an Orange County roofing contractor to make energy-efficient roofing improvements this year.

Federal Tax Credits

In 2016, you can claim 10% of costs--up to $500--or a specific amount from $50 to $300 on certain ENERGY STAR products. You must make the repairs or upgrades on your existing home, which must also be your principal residence. Vacation and rental homes, and new construction homes don’t count.

For roofs, the tax rebate applies to metal roofs with certain pigmented coatings, and asphalt roofs with appropriate cooling granules. You can also include costs for items like weather stripping, spray foam, house wrap, and caulk to seal air leaks.

Note that for this federal credit, you can only claim the cost of the materials, not the cost of the installation. So if you do hire an Orange County roofing contractor to make the energy efficiency upgrades for you, ask for an itemized invoice, so that you can claim the cost of materials.

California Tax Credits

At this time, California isn’t offering any statewide tax credit programs for energy efficiency improvements. However, many localities and local utilities companies have specific energy-efficiency programs.

For instance, Anaheim Public Utilities offers incentives for heat pumps, HVAC improvements, and new construction projects. And Glendale Water and Power offers incentives for several energy efficiency retrofit projects, including projects for business customers.

Saving Money, Every Day

Whether or not you can get a tax rebate from improving your roofing and making other energy efficiency upgrades on your home, these upgrades can certainly save you money over time. When you spend less money keeping your home comfortable in hot weather, especially, you’ll find that you save money each month on your energy bills.

What order should you tackle projects in when your goal is to save money on your energy bills?

Start with air sealing. This is one thing that a good roofing contractor can do for you. Your contractor will check for air leaks around pipes, chimneys, and wiring that goes from the inside of your home to the outside. Leaks can be particularly common around the roof areas, in spaces where the roofing material meets a gap or crack. Even if these sections were once sealed, the sealant can crack and dry out over time, leaving more leaks. Sealing leaks will keep cool, air-conditioned air from getting to the outside of the house.

Next, you can make improvements by insulating your home on the outside. In general, you want at least 10 inches of insulation in your attic. Blowing insulation into the attic is a relatively simple job. If you don’t want to do it yourself, ask your roofing contractor if they handle the job for you, or if you need to hire an alternative contractor to do it for you.

Finally, if you really want to insulate your home well, consider sealing and insulating the ductwork. If your ducts are what get the cool air throughout the house, you’ll be wasting energy as they lose air during the process. Insulating ductwork is typically a job for an HVAC professional, though there are some steps you can take on your own to seal up the ductwork.

Taking these steps can help save you money over time, and you can save a bit on the cost of materials by claiming the federal tax deduction, as allowed. If you’re not sure how to claim potential local deductions, consider talking to your local roofing contractor. They should be able to advise you in which programs and deductions will work best for your needs.

If you have any questions, be sure to reach out to Luke Roofing. A long-established Orange County roofer, we provide prompt, reliable expertise for every residential roofing need and situation. Wherever and whenever you need roofing services in Rancho Santa Margarita or anywhere else in OC, you definitely can count on Luke Roofing.