Federal Tax Incentives For Building/Elevator Restoration Work

August 4th, 2009

Did you know that if you have an old historic building preserving the historic look of it can qualify it for a tax credit? What are the basic requirements that determine whether a project will be eligible for the 20% tax credit?

Answer
There are 4 factors that can help you decide whether your rehabilitation project proposal would meet the basic application requirements for the 20% tax credit.

1. The historic building must be listed in the National Register of Historic Places or be certified as contributing to the significance of a “registered historic district.”

2. After rehabilitation, the historic building must be used for an income-producing purpose for at least five years. Owner-occupied residential properties do not qualify for the federal rehabilitation tax credit.

What expenses are eligible and what expenses are ineligible to receive credit for which the 20% tax credit can be claimed in a rehabilitation project?

Answer

Some eligible items include:
Walls
Partitions
Floors
Ceilings
Permanent coverings, such as paneling or tiles
Windows and doors
Components of central air conditioning or heating systems
Plumbing and plumbing fixtures
Electrical wiring and lighting fixtures
Chimneys
Stairs
Escalators, elevators, sprinkler systems, fire escapes
Other components related to the operation or maintenance of the building

Some ineligible items include:

Appliances
Cabinets
Carpeting (if tacked in place and not glued)
Decks (not part of original building)
Demolition costs (removal of a building on property site)
New construction costs or enlargement costs (increase in total volume)
Fencing
Feasibility studies
Financing fees
Furniture
Landscaping
Leasing expenses
Outdoor lighting remote from building
Parking lot
Paving
Planters
Porches and porticos (not part of original building)
Retaining walls
Sidewalks
Signage
Storm sewer construction costs
Window treatments

3. The project must meet the “substantial rehabilitation test.” In brief, this means that the cost of rehabilitation must exceed the pre-rehabilitation cost of the building. Generally, this test must be met within two years or within five years for a project completed in multiple phases.

4. The rehabilitation work must be done according to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. These are ten principles that, when followed, ensure the historic character of the building has been preserved in the rehabilitation.

http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/tax/incentives/index.htm

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