Residential energy credits

[um]

I installed energy efficient windows a few years back, but never energy took the credit. Turbo tax asks me if I received any credits back to the year 2006. I did not. I answered that I did make these improvement BEFORE 2022 - and that I did not have a carry over from 2021. The last question in the software asks me if I made these improvements to my main home in 2022. Can I still take the credit for the windows I installed several years ago?

Thank you

[DawnC · Accepted solution]

No, you would have to amend your return for the year you installed the windows.  If you installed them in 2019 but could not take the credit for some reason such as you had no tax liability, the credit would carry over to 2020 and if you could not use it in 2020, it would go to 2021...until you used the full credit.   I believe TurboTax was trying to determine if you had carry-over credits to apply to this year.   If you correctly answer NO, that you did not make these improvements to your home in 2022, you won't qualify for the credit.    You take the credit for the year the windows are installed.   See Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit

If you made energy-efficient improvements to your home like energy-saving roofs, windows, skylights, and doors, you'll be able to claim the  Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit for 10% of amounts paid for qualified energy efficiency improvements, up to a lifetime cap of $500.  

[um]

Thank you, DawnC, for confirming my intuition on how I need to proceed with this issue.