On February 17th, President Obama signed the $789 billion compromise stimulus bill that includes tax credit incentives for homeowners to make energy-efficient home improvements.  The bill extends the expanding tax credits through 2010 on energy-efficient investments - including qualifying windows and doors!

The approved bill includes the ability for homeowners to gain a tax credit of 30 percent of the cost of qualifying energy-efficient upgrades to a maximum of $1,500 per househould for 2009 and 2010.

The new regulations provide FIVE TIMES MORE TAX CREDIT to homeowners than was previously available under a similiar bill.  Additionally, the new law has some very specific restrictions, including:

1. Windows purchased must be equal to or below a U-Factor of 0.30 and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.30.
2. The purchase of the qualified windows must be made during the taxable year for which the credit is being claimed.
3. The credit is only allowed on the price of the qualified windows themselves, not on installation costs, onsite preparation, assembly or sales tax.
4. The tax credit is allowable only for qualified window units placed in service in 2009 and 2010.
5. Homeowners need to save their receipts for their windows purchased along with all window labels and stickers to apply for the tax credit.