Tap any paragraph to write a margin note. Your notes collect in the Desk below the text and file under cases with @. The side-by-side margin rail opens on a larger screen.

Code · U.S. Code · Title 26 - INTERNAL REVENUE CODE · CHAPTER 1— NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES · Subchapter A— Determination of Tax Liability · § 45L

§ 45L. New energy efficient home credit

2,046 words·~9 min read·/usc/title-26/section-45l

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)Allowance of credit
(1)In general For purposes of section 38, in the case of an eligible contractor, the new energy efficient home credit for the taxable year is the applicable amount for each qualified new energy efficient home which is—
(A)constructed by the eligible contractor, and
(B)acquired by a person from such eligible contractor for use as a residence during the taxable year.
(2)Applicable amount For purposes of paragraph (1), the applicable amount is an amount equal to—
(A)in the case of a dwelling unit which is eligible to participate in the Energy Star Residential New Construction Program or the Energy Star Manufactured New Homes program—
(i)which meets the requirements of subsection (c)(1)(A) (and which does not meet the requirements of subsection (c)(1)(B)), $2,500, and
(ii)which meets the requirements of subsection (c)(1)(B), $5,000, and
(B)in the case of a dwelling unit which is part of a building eligible to participate in the Energy Star Multifamily New Construction Program—
(i)which meets the requirements of subsection (c)(1)(A) (and which does not meet the requirements of subsection (c)(1)(B)), $500, and
(ii)which meets the requirements of subsection (c)(1)(B), $1,000.
(b)Definitions For purposes of this section—
(1)Eligible contractor The term “eligible contractor” means—
(A)the person who constructed the qualified new energy efficient home, or
(B)in the case of a qualified new energy efficient home which is a manufactured home, the manufactured home producer of such home.
(2)Qualified new energy efficient home The term “qualified new energy efficient home” means a dwelling unit—
(A)located in the United States,
(B)the construction of which is substantially completed after the date of the enactment of this section, and
(C)which meets the energy saving requirements of subsection (c).
(3)Construction The term “construction” includes substantial reconstruction and rehabilitation.
(4)Acquire The term “acquire” includes purchase.
(c)Energy saving requirements
(1)In general
(A)In general A dwelling unit meets the requirements of this subparagraph if such dwelling unit meets the requirements of paragraph
(2)or
(3)(whichever is applicable).
(B)Zero energy ready home program A dwelling unit meets the requirements of this subparagraph if such dwelling unit is certified as a zero energy ready home under the zero energy ready home program of the Department of Energy as in effect on January 1, 2023 (or any successor program determined by the Secretary).
(2)Single-family home requirements A dwelling unit meets the requirements of this paragraph if—
(A)such dwelling unit meets—
(I)in the case of a dwelling unit acquired before January 1, 2025, the Energy Star Single-Family New Homes National Program Requirements 3.1, or
(II)in the case of a dwelling unit acquired after December 31, 2024, the Energy Star Single-Family New Homes National Program Requirements 3.2, and
(ii)the most recent Energy Star Single-Family New Homes Program Requirements applicable to the location of such dwelling unit (as in effect on the latter of January 1, 2023, or January 1 of two calendar years prior to the date the dwelling unit was acquired), or
(B)such dwelling unit meets the most recent Energy Star Manufactured Home National program requirements as in effect on the latter of January 1, 2023, or January 1 of two calendar years prior to the date such dwelling unit is acquired.
(3)Multi-family home requirements A dwelling unit meets the requirements of this paragraph if—
(A)such dwelling unit meets the most recent Energy Star Multifamily New Construction National Program Requirements (as in effect on either January 1, 2023, or January 1 of three calendar years prior to the date the dwelling was acquired, whichever is later), and
(B)such dwelling unit meets the most recent Energy Star Multifamily New Construction Regional Program Requirements applicable to the location of such dwelling unit (as in effect on either January 1, 2023, or January 1 of three calendar years prior to the date the dwelling was acquired, whichever is later).
(d)Certification
(1)Method of certification A certification described in subsection
(c)shall be made in accordance with guidance prescribed by the Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Energy. Such guidance shall specify procedures and methods for calculating energy and cost savings.
(2)Form Any certification described in subsection
(c)shall be made in writing in a manner which specifies in readily verifiable fashion the energy efficient building envelope components and energy efficient heating or cooling equipment installed and their respective rated energy efficiency performance.
(e)Basis adjustment For purposes of this subtitle, if a credit is allowed under this section in connection with any expenditure for any property, the increase in the basis of such property which would (but for this subsection) result from such expenditure shall be reduced by the amount of the credit so determined. This subsection shall not apply for purposes of determining the adjusted basis of any building under section 42.
(f)Coordination with investment credit For purposes of this section, expenditures taken into account under section 47 or 48(a) shall not be taken into account under this section.
(g)Prevailing wage requirement
(1)In general In the case of a qualifying residence described in subsection (a)(2)(B) meeting the prevailing wage requirements of paragraph (2)(A), the credit amount allowed with respect to such residence shall be—
(A)$2,500 in the case of a residence which meets the requirements of subparagraph
(A)of subsection (c)(1) (and which does not meet the requirements of subparagraph
(B)of such subsection), and
(B)$5,000 in the case of a residence which meets the requirements of subsection (c)(1)(B).
(2)Prevailing wage requirements
(A)In general The requirements described in this subparagraph with respect to any qualified residence are that the taxpayer shall ensure that any laborers and mechanics employed by the taxpayer or any contractor or subcontractor in the construction of such residence shall be paid wages at rates not less than the prevailing rates for construction, alteration, or repair of a similar character in the locality in which such residence is located as most recently determined by the Secretary of Labor, in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code.
(B)Correction and penalty related to failure to satisfy wage requirements Rules similar to the rules of section 45(b)(7)(B) shall apply.
(3)Regulations and guidance The Secretary shall issue such regulations or other guidance as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection, including regulations or other guidance which provides for requirements for recordkeeping or information reporting for purposes of administering the requirements of this subsection.
(h)Termination This section shall not apply to any qualified new energy efficient home acquired after June 30, 2026.
(Added Pub. L. 109–58, title XIII, § 1332(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 1024; amended Pub. L. 109–432, div. A, title II, § 205, Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 2945; Pub. L. 110–172, § 11(a)(7), Dec. 29, 2007, 121 Stat. 2485; Pub. L. 110–343, div. B, title III, § 304, Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3845; Pub. L. 111–312, title VII, § 703(a), Dec. 17, 2010, 124 Stat. 3311; Pub. L. 112–240, title IV, § 408(a), (b), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2342; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title I, § 156(a), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4021;
Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title I, § 188(a), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3074; Pub. L. 115–123, div. D, title I, § 40410(a), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 150; Pub. L. 116–94, div. Q, title I, § 129(a), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3232; Pub. L. 116–260, div. EE, title I, § 146(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3055; Pub. L. 117–169, title I, § 13304(a)–(e), Aug. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 1952–1954; Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 70508, July 4, 2025, 139 Stat. 251.)
Connections1 cite this · traces to 8
31 references not yet in our index
  • Pub. L. 109–58, title XIII, § 1332(a)
  • 119 Stat. 1024
  • Pub. L. 109–432, div. A, title II, § 205
  • 120 Stat. 2945
  • Pub. L. 110–172, § 11(a)(7)
  • 121 Stat. 2485
  • Pub. L. 110–343, div. B, title III, § 304
  • 122 Stat. 3845
  • Pub. L. 111–312, title VII, § 703(a)
  • 124 Stat. 3311
  • Pub. L. 112–240, title IV, § 408(a)
  • 126 Stat. 2342
  • 128 Stat. 4021
  • 129 Stat. 3074
  • 132 Stat. 150
  • 133 Stat. 3232
  • 134 Stat. 3055
  • 136 Stat. 1952–1954
  • 139 Stat. 251
  • Pub. L. 109–58
  • Pub. L. 112–240, § 408(b)
  • Pub. L. 112–240, § 408(a)
  • Pub. L. 111–312
  • Pub. L. 110–343
  • Pub. L. 110–172
  • Pub. L. 109–432
  • 136 Stat. 1954
  • 128 Stat. 4022
  • Pub. L. 112–240, title IV, § 408(c)
  • Pub. L. 111–312, title VII, § 703(b)
  • section 1332(f) of Pub. L. 109–58
Citation graph
cites case law
§ 45L
New energy efficient home credit
U.S.C.×1
Pub. L.Pub. L. 109–58, title XIII, § 1332(a)
Stat.119 Stat. 1024
Pub. L.Pub. L. 109–432, div. A, title II, § 205
Stat.120 Stat. 2945
Cites 39 · showing 12Cited by 1 across 1 source
★   the supreme law of the land   ★
Don't Tread on Me
E Pluribus Unum — out of many, one

"If you don't know your rights, you don't have any."

Marginalia · a citizen's law index
A research desk, not legal advice. Always read the cited source before relying on a summary.
Questions or an issue? support@self-law.org
disclaimerMarginalia is a research index, not a law firm. Nothing on this site is legal, tax, or financial advice and no attorney–client relationship is formed by using it. Statutes, regulations, and case law change; summaries, search results, AI output, and member posts may be incomplete, out of date, or wrong. Any interpretation drawn from material on this site should be validated by a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before you act on it.