Turbotax mentions we can enter the energy credit for asphalt shingles with qualified coatings, but doesn't give a prompt to enter. Where is the 2023 Roof Tax Credit?

[jive987]

At the beginning of Energy Saving Home Improvements it states we can enter asphalt shingles with qualified coatings.  This matches the 2023 Energy Star Roof Tax Credit.  However, non of the questions/prompts address roof/shingle costs.  Where do we enter the 2023 Energy Star Roof Tax Credit?

[Opus 17]

Not quite.  Sounds like the description needs to be updated.

Specific mention of roofs was removed from the law by the Inflation Reduction Act.  However, it might be possible that a roof would still count as a "building envelope component."  

A building envelope component is "any insulation material or system, including air sealing material or system, which is specifically and primarily designed to reduce the heat loss or gain of a dwelling unit when installed in or on such dwelling unit".

To be eligible, the component or system must meet these efficiency standards:  the prescriptive criteria for such component established by the most recent International Energy Conservation Code standard in effect as of the beginning of the calendar year which is 2 years prior to the calendar year in which such component is placed in service.

So if the roof is rated by the IECC, and if the roof meets or exceeds the standard for energy saving roofs that were published in 2021, then a roof could qualify.  If IECC doesn't rate roofs, or if your roof doesn't meet the IECC standard, then the roof doesn't qualify.

If you believe your roof qualifies, enter it under "insulation system."  You can only claim the cost for materials, not labor and installation.  If you don't know the cost of materials, you must make a "reasonable allocation" from your bill. 

[jive987]

Thanks for your reply.  TurboTax mentions asphalt shingles on the first page of Energy-Saving Home Improvements.  It again refers to roofs on the "tell us how much you paid for Energy-Savings Improvements" page.  However, that page has no section to enter roof costs.  Are you saying it was removed but the software isn't updated or are you saying we enter it into the Insulation Materials?

[Opus 17]

---

@jive987 wrote:

Thanks for your reply.  TurboTax mentions asphalt shingles on the first page of Energy-Saving Home Improvements.  It again refers to roofs on the "tell us how much you paid for Energy-Savings Improvements" page.  However, that page has no section to enter roof costs.  Are you saying it was removed but the software isn't updated or are you saying we enter it into the Insulation Materials?

---

Specific mention of "roofs" was removed from the law by Congress, so the IRS took it off the form, and Turbotax's data entry screen follow the IRS form, even if the comments sometimes don't. 

The form has a line for "Insulation air sealing material or system".  This is where you can enter a roof, but only if the roof qualifies as a "system which is specifically and primarily designed to reduce the heat loss or gain of a dwelling unit" and if it meets the requirements of the IECC 2021 standards for insulation systems.  

Although the program says "tell us how much you paid for doors, windows, roofing and insulation", the specific mention of roofing should probably be removed, or at least the phrase "qualified improvements to doors, windows, etc." should be added.  

[jive987]

That makes sense.  Thank you.