Did You Buy Energy Star Windows In 2013? Here’s A Tax Credit

If you are a homeowner that had purchased and installed Energy Star rated windows or doors in 2013 then you may be able to claim some sort of tax credit for making your home more energy efficient.  Before we go any further, we would like to properly disclose that we are not tax or legal professional, so this information is not intended as legal or tax advice, you should consult with your tax professional to see if you will qualify for these tax credits.

If you purchased energy efficient windows and doors, then here are some of the guidelines to see if you are eligible to receive the credit on your tax return for 2013:

  • The windows and doors must have been purchased and installed no later than December 31, 2013 and on or after January 1, 2012.
  • The home you purchased and installed the impact windows must have been your primary residence, so no second home or investment properties, which also include commercial buildings.
  • The window and door products must have been Energy Star certified

If you are not sure whether or not your doors or windows were Energy Star qualified, here is how you can figure it out:

  • The impact windows and doors must have been manufactured by an Energy Star partner such as AWP Windows, Custom Window Systems, Lawson Windows or PGT Industries.
  • The NFRC or National Fenestration Rating Council must have certified the new windows, as well as they should have been independently tested.
  • In addition the NFRC rating must have met some of the DOE or U.S. Department of Energy strict energy efficient guidelines.

It is also important that you had selected the right windows for the particular region of the country that you live in, as some impact resistant windows are best for warmer climates to keep you cool and other energy efficient windows are ideal for colder climates to keep you warm in the winter months.

Framing materials that are Energy Star approved are:

Aluminum – These frames usually contain 15% recycled materials so it is recyclable, low maintenance and durable.  To reduce the heat loss that may be conductive because of the metal, manufacturers use thermal breaks.

Vinyl – These frames gives great thermal insulation and they have low maintenance.  Some frames can be filled with some type of foam insulation and other could be hollow.  If the vinyl window sills are wider, then they can be reinforced with wood or metal.

Fiberglass – Good insulation, low maintenance, durable and strong, similar to the vinyl frames they can either be filled with some type of foam insulation or it can be hollow.

Composite – these are manufactured by blending several different types of material to create a well-insulated, low maintenance and durable window or door.

Combination – the sash and frame of these windows are made of different materials to provide optimal performance.  It is not uncommon to see this type of frame with having wood as the interior half and the exterior half may be made of vinyl.

Wood – these are still popular, especially in historical neighborhoods and they are great for providing better insulation and they are strong.  Nowadays, however, these wood frames are covered or clad with either vinyl or aluminum to minimize the amount of maintenance.

Now that we have that part covered to see if your impact windows and doors will qualify, let us now get back to how you can get the tax credit.  While you cannot include the cost of the installation of your hurricane windows you can get up to 10 percent of the purchase price or up to $200 for hurricane impact windows or $500 for eligible impact doors.  Visit the Internal Revenue Service or IRS website for more details and to get a copy of the Form 5695 as you will need to fill this out and attach it to your Federal Tax Return to receive your Residential Energy Credits.

Check the Locations in Miami-Dade County We Service:

Homestead FL, Sweet Water FL, Coral Gables FL, Miami Shores FL, South Miami FL, Impact Windows and Doors Miami, Coconut Grove FL, Miami Lakes FL, Aventura FL, Key Biscayne FL, Kendall FL, Opa Locka FL, Florida City FL, North Miami Beach FL, Hialeah FL, Cutler Bay FL, Miami Beach FL, Golden Beach FL, Doral FL, Palmetto Bay FL, Pinecrest FL, Bal Harbour FL, Miami Gardens FL

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