SPECIAL SECTION WINDOWS & DOORS
Tax-Credit Tips On Feb. 17, 2009, President Obama signed the $789 billion stimulus bill that includes tax-credit incentives for homeowners who make energyefficient home improvements, including window and door replacements. How do you get your piece of the economic-stimulus pie? Follow these steps provided by Energy Star. 1. Purchase windows or doors that have a U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient of 0.30 or lower. 2. Complete your purchase and install the product on or before Dec. 31, 2010 at your principal residence, which must be an existing home (tax credit doesn’t apply to new construction). 3. Save your receipts and the Manufacturer’s Certification Statement for your records. 4. When filing your taxes, fill out and file Form 5695. 5. Receive 30 percent of the product cost (installation not included)—up to $1,500—in your tax return. Note that this is a “non-refundable” tax credit, so you cannot get more back in tax credits than you pay in federal income tax. Also, note that the $1,500 maximum applies Photo courtesy of Pella® Corporation
Door replacement
to all energy-efficient homeimprovement products for both 2009 and 2010—you cannot earn more than $1,500 in tax
Replacing your entry doors is another way to not only increase your home’s
credits for energy-efficient home
efficiency, but also improve its aesthetic appeal. “A new entry door can dramatically
improvements in those two years.
improve a home’s curb appeal, energy efficiency and perceived value,” says Mary Nesper, marketing manager for the entry doors division of Clopay Building Products.
For more information, visit www.energystar.gov.
She adds that, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2009 Cost vs. Value report, seven of the top 10 value-yielding projects ranked by realtors involve the outside of the home. “The project with the biggest return, a mid-range-priced entry door replacement, ranks No. 1 and costs less than $1,200,” Nesper says. www.homeimprovementmag.com
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