Despite all of the political headwinds…
Democrats passed a spending and tax plan. The Inflation Reduction Act is a slim version of what President Biden and Democratic lawmakers wanted, but in their eyes, it was this or nothing. Let’s take a deep dive into the tax changes.
Start with the health premium tax credit…
The Obamacare subsidy available to eligible individuals who purchase health coverage through an exchange. Most people choose to have the credit paid in advance to the insurance firm to lower their monthly premiums. Prior to 2021, the credit was available to people with household incomes that range from 100% to 400% of the poverty level, who met other rules. Last year’s stimulus law expanded the credit for 2021 and 2022 by letting some people with incomes over 400% of the poverty line get credits and upping the credit amount. The enhancements to the health premium credit now go through 2025. Democrats wanted the expansions made permanent, but that was too costly.
The break for adding solar panels and the like to your home is extended through 2034.
Individuals get a tax credit for installing an alternative energy system that relies on a renewable energy source, such as solar, wind, geothermal or fuel cell technology. The cost of wind turbines, solar panels, solar electric equipment, and solar-power water heaters is eligible for the credit, whether they are installed in a primary residence or vacation home. Starting in 2023, the credit is expanded to cover battery storage technology that is installed in your residence. The credit equals 30% of the cost of the equipment and installation for 2022 through 2032. It falls to 26% in 2033, 22% in 2034 and ends after 2034.
The credit for adding energy-efficient improvements to your main home is back.
For 2022, the credit applies to 10% of the cost of certain types of insulation, plus external windows, doors and skylights. The credit also includes 100% of the cost of electric heat pumps and water heaters, some central air-conditioning systems and similar energy-saving investments. There is a lifetime credit limitation of $500. And the credit is capped for many items: No more than $150 for hot water boilers and furnaces, $200 for a window and $50 for a furnace circulating fan, for example. This credit originally expired at the end of last year, but Congress has now revived it.
And the credit is bigger and better for 2023 through 2032.
First, the credit percentage increases to 30% of costs. Second, the $500 lifetime limit is replaced with a $1,200 annual limit. This annual limit is lowered to $600 in the aggregate for exterior windows and skylights and $500 for exterior doors, and for other items. The annual limit increases to $2,000 for a biomass stove or hot water boiler, or an electric or natural gas heat pump put in the home. And third, you can take a credit for up to $150 of the cost of a home energy audit.
Buyers of electric vehicles get a revamped tax credit, starting in 2023.
Presently, for new electric vehicles that are bought and placed into service in 2022, the federal income tax credit taken on the 1040 ranges from $2,500 to $7,500. Some car brands don’t qualify for the credit because it starts to phase out for vehicles manufactured by a car company that has sold over 200,000 plug-ins in the U.S. As of Aug. 17, final assembly of the vehicle must take place in North America.
Many changes to the newly named clean vehicle credit take effect next year.
The maximum break is still $7,500, but the components that make up the credit are different. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price can’t exceed $55,000 for sedans or $80,000 for vans, SUVs and pickup trucks. Fuel cell vehicles qualify. The credit is not available to taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes over $300,000 for joint filers, $225,000 for household heads, and $150,000 for others. The 200,000 plug-in-sales threshold limitation by manufacturers is removed. And buyers of certain used electric vehicles can get a credit equal to the lesser of $4,000 or 30% of the car’s sales price, provided the buyer’s modified AGI isn’t over $150,000 for joint filers, $112,500 for heads of household or $75,000 for all other filers.
One big change begins in 2024:
The option for the buyer to monetize the credit by transferring it to the dealer at the time of purchase, thus lowering the amount that the buyer pays for the car. This allows buyers to take immediate advantage of the tax credit instead of waiting for the next year, when they file their tax returns. The clean vehicle credit is slated to last 10 more years and end after 2032.