Learn more below about how you can receive tax credits and other incentives for increasing the energy efficiency of your home, electrifying your home, installing renewable energy or buying an electric vehicle. The intended audience for this page is individuals; if you are a business or other entity, see the Business and Other Entity page for additional information.
Learn more about the tax incentives and (future) grants for home upgrades through the IRA.
Home UpgradesLearn more about how to access IRA credits when you purchase a new or used electric vehicle (EV).
Vehicle UpgradesSummary
Homeowners can receive tax credits through the IRA to improve energy efficiency and install renewable energy. In general these opportunities apply to a taxpayer's primary residence. In some cases second homes are eligible but these are not available for rental properties occupied by tenants.
Additional grant programs for energy efficiency and electrification for both homeowners and landlords will be forthcoming, likely in early 2024 (see details below).
Because the IRA includes a mix of tax credits and other incentives, the benefits will vary based on the homeowner's specific situation. Rewiring America has a calculator that lets a user input their specific data and see estimated benefits. To see specific scenarios for how the IRA can benefit Americans go to the White House's IRA info guide and scroll to "See how these tax credits can work for families like yours" at the bottom of the page. Also see IRS FAQs about energy efficient home improvements and residential clean property credits.
Tax Credits
The Department of Energy has a summary of the available tax credits. Also see the IRS FAQ on the tax credits. What's a Tax Credit?
Grant programs
In addition to the tax credits some households will qualify for grants to make their homes more efficient and to electrify their homes. These grant programs are still being finalized and more information is expected in late 2023 with programs launching in 2024.
Energy efficiency tax credits are available on an annual basis, which means you can make new improvements each year. Learn more about all of the efficiency tax credits and download the summary table to the right for reference. In addition, this fact sheet from Rewiring America summarizes qualified electrification upgrades.
Home energy audits are a great place to begin making home efficiency improvements. After a home inspection, the audit will reveal the areas for the greatest energy efficiency improvements, and therefore the areas for the greatest potential energy savings. Then you can make a plan for how to prioritize making those upgrades over a number of years.
Up to $150 in tax credits are available for home energy audits. Learn more about home energy audits from Focus on Energy.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act there are tax credits available for transitioning to efficient all-electric air-source and ground-source (geothermal) heat pumps that will heat and cool your home.
Learn more about electrifying your home.
Several options for home efficiency tax credits exist within the Inflation Reduction Act:
Payment Assistance and Grants
In addition to tax credits some households will qualify for grants to make their homes more efficient and/or to electrify their homes. There are both new IRA-funded grant programs and existing programs with increased funding from the 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
HOMES (Home Owner Managing Energy Savings) Rebate Program
The HOMES program grants individual states funding to provide homeowners and landlords (including multifamily buildings) rebates for energy efficiency improvements. Wisconsin will receive $74,904,830 for this program. The state of Wisconsin will determine the final program design and, following federal approval of that design, launch the program.
Once launched, rebates will be available for energy efficiency retrofits ranging from $2,000-$4,000 for individual households and up to $400,000 for multifamily buildings. Up to $2,000 will be available for retrofits that reduce energy use by 20% or more, and up to $4,000 for retrofits saving 35% or more. Available rebate allowances will double for low and moderate-income homes.
More details for this program will be available in late 2023, when the State of Wisconsin creates its plan. We expect the program to launch in 2024.
High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program
The High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program grants individual states funding to provide homeowners and landlords (including multifamily buildings) rebates for home electrification, including electric panel upgrades, heat pumps, induction stoves, etc. Wisconsin will receive $74,470,200 for this program. The state of Wisconsin will determine the final program design and, following federal approval of that design, launch the program.
Once launched, rebates will be able to cover up to 100% of cost for households at or below 80% of area median income (which was $89,400 for a family of four in Dane County in 2022) and 50% for households between 80-150% of area median income. Households above 150% of area median income are not eligible for this program.
More details for this program will be available when it is launched, likely in 2024. Rewiring America has a factsheet about the program in more detail here and the Department of Energy has a list of program FAQs.
Tax credits of up to 30% of eligible expenses for residential solar installation are available, with no dollar cap* or income qualifiers. These credits are available to all costs associated with solar installation as well as any battery storage. However, note that "the cost of roof installation is generally not eligible, except for incremental costs, or the amount over what you would have spent if the root was not used for solar. These costs could include solar shingle, solar tiles, or the incremental cost of installing a reflective roof membrane that increases electricity generation."
A typical residential rooftop installation in Wisconsin is about 7 kW and costs about $24,000 (costs will vary based on size, complexity of installation and other factors). The tax credit for a $24,000 installation is $7,200, which would reduce the installation cost to $16,800.
Learn more about solar energy installations.
Equipment Type |
Tax Credit Available for 2022 Tax Year |
Updated Tax Credit Available for 2023-2032 Tax Years |
Home Clean Electricity Products |
||
Solar (electricity) | 30% of Cost | |
Fuel Cells | ||
Wind Turbine | ||
Battery Storage | N/A | 30% of Cost |
Heating, Cooling and Water Heating |
||
Heat pumps | $300 | 30% of cost, up to $2,000 per year |
Heat pump water heaters | ||
Biomass Stoves | ||
Geothermal heat pumps | 30% of cost | |
Solar (water heating) | ||
Efficient air conditioners* | $300 | 30% of cost, up to $600 |
Efficient heating equipment* | ||
Efficient ater heating equipment* | $150 | 30% of cost, up to $600 |
Other Energy Efficiency Upgrades |
||
Electric panel or circuit upgrades for new electric equipment* | N/A | 30% of cost, up to $600 |
Insulation materials* | 10% of cost | 30% of cost |
Windows, including skylights* | 10% of cost | 30% of cost, up to $600 |
Exterior doors* | 10% of cost | 30% of cost, up to $500 for doors (up to $250 each) |
Home Energy Audits* | N/A | 30% of cost, up to $150 |
Home Electric Vehicle Charger | 30% of cost, up to $1,000 | 30% of cost, up to $1,000** |
*Subject to cap of $1,200/year
** The IRS will soon publish further information on eligibility requirements related to home electric vehicle chargers, but we know that credits are intended for residents in non-urban or low-income communities.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
Some products include labor costs as eligible expenses. Additionally, some of the tax credits are available for homeowners for their first and second homes as well as tenants.
Read more here about the details for eligible labor expenses, eligibility for secondary residences, as well as more specific information about requirements each product must meet to be eligible for the credit.
Purchasing New electric vehicles
In October 2023, the U.S. Treasury provided updated guidance on purchasing new and used electric vehicles. Beginning January 1, 2024 buyers will be eligible for a point of sale tax credit on the vehicle.
2023 guidance on EV credit for purchased vehicles and 2022 guidance for vehicles purchased before 2022.
Purchasing Used electric vehicles
2023 White House guidance on EV credit for purchased vehicles.
Leasing new electric vehicles
When you lease a vehicle the company leasing you the vehicle can access a different, commercial vehicle EV tax credit. Typically companies pass those savings onto you as the person paying for the lease. The preliminary IRS guidance indicates that leased EVs do not fall under the same Buy American requirements as purchased EVs. That means that some vehicles that are not eligible for a tax credit if you purchase the vehicle will be eligible for a tax credit at lease. (In IRS terms, it’s the difference between a Section 30D credit and a Section 45W credit.)
Electric vehicle chargers
Individuals can receive a 30% tax credit, up to $1,000, for the installation of a home electric vehicle charger. To qualify, the equipment must be placed in a low-income community or a non-urban area.
Low-income communities include population census tracts where the poverty rate is at least 20% or is a metropolitan or non-meetropolitan area census tract where the median family income is less than 80% of the state medium family income level.
A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the amount of income tax you would otherwise owe. You claim this annually as part of your annual tax return. By contrast, a rebate is an upfront discount that gives you cash back after you make a purchase, and typically happens more quickly than a tax credit.
How To Receive a Tax Credit
To apply you for tax credits you should save applicable receipts and submit for tax credits as part of your annual tax return. See IRS guidance for more detail on what forms to submit with your tax return.
If you make home updates in 2023, you can claim the relevant tax credits on your 2023 tax return (which you typically file in spring 2024).
Always check with your contractor or retailer before purchasing systems to ensure eligibility.