According to the U.S. Department of Energy(DOE [http://www.energy.gov/]),
lighting represents 40% of the average commercial building’s electric
bill. While there are many different energy-efficient lighting solutions
available with as much as a 45% return on investment. The initial cost
of changing out the older lighting system is often cited as the main
reason not to upgrade. Only 20% of existing commercial buildings feature
some degree of upgraded lighting technology, while 80% continue to
operate lighting systems installed before 1986. The Energy Efficient
Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction (CBTD) was created to enhance the
financial attractiveness of investment in the most energy-efficient
lighting and other building technologies.
This special tax deduction allows building owners to write off the complete cost of upgrading a building’s indoor lighting, HVAC/hot water and building envelope in the year the new equipment is placed in service, capped at $1.80/sq.ft. Alternately, the owner could upgrade one of these three systems to earn the CBTD capped at $0.60/sq.ft. In short, with the CBTD, the cost of new lighting or other building systems can be claimed in a single tax year instead of amortized over a period of years.
What is the difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit?
Answer: The
Commercial Building Tax Deduction is a tax deduction, not a tax credit.
A tax credit is a direct dollar-for-dollar reduction of tax liability. A
tax deduction is a cost subtracted from adjusted gross income when
calculating taxable income; therefore, tax liability is not reduced
dollar for dollar, but in proportion to the taxpayer’s tax bracket.
Many
lighting projects result in tax deductions. Under current law, the cost
of the new lighting must be capitalized and depreciated over time.
Under the lighting rules in the CBTD, the owner can write off the entire
expense of the new lighting, capped at $0.60/sq.ft., in the taxable
year that the lighting is placed in service. So it is an accelerated tax
deduction.Source: http://www.lightingtaxdeduction.org/CommercialBuildingsL1Q1.html
What types of buildings qualify?
Answer: The
Commercial Buildings Deduction can be applied to any interior lighting
project in any building that is within the scope of ASHRAE/IES Standard
90.1-2001 and is located in the United States, including privately and
publicly owned buildings.
This
includes public buildings, schools and rental housing. Rental housing
must be within the scope of Standard 90.1-2001 and four stories or
higher. Troubleshooting BACnet IP / Ethernet.
Religious
buildings are covered by Standard 90.1-2001 but do not qualify for the
deduction; they do not pay taxes, but they are not government buildings.
More information can be found here
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