How do I amend my 2023 tax return to claim the Residential Clean Energy Credit?
Some TurboTax customers weren’t asked for additional information needed to determine if they were entitled to the Residential Clean Energy Credit. As a result, customers who might have been entitled to the credit overpaid their federal, and if applicable, state tax.
You won't need to amend your tax return if you aren't claiming the Residential Clean Energy Credit on your second home.
The Residential Clean Energy Credit is for improvements made to your main or second home through investments in renewable energy. You may be able to claim a credit for certain improvements made to a second home located in the United States that you live in part-time and don't rent to others. If you rent the second home, the credit can't be claimed.
Qualified expenses include the costs of new clean energy property including:
- Solar electric panels
- Solar water heaters
- Wind turbines
- Geothermal heat pumps
- Fuel cells
- Battery storage technology
If you made investments in a new clean energy property on a second home and didn't rent it, you will need to amend your tax return(s) to claim the credit. In some cases, you might not receive an additional refund but the credit will be carried forward to next year.
To correct your return, please select your version of TurboTax below and follow the instructions.
- Write down the original refund or balance due amount(s) for your Federal and, if applicable, State income taxes. We recommend you check the paper/PDF copy of your return(s), or your banking records to verify the correct amount.
- Log in to the TurboTax account where you prepared your 2023 return.
- In Tax Home, scroll down to Your tax returns & documents, and choose 2023. If you have not already done so, we recommend that you print a copy of your original 2023 tax return for your records by selecting Download/print return (PDF).
- Select Amend (change) your return and walk through the questions until you reach Here’s the info for your amended federal return screen.
- From this screen go to the upper right hand search box and enter residential energy credit. Select the Jump to residential energy credit link.
- Walk through the interview and enter the home energy details.
- When you reach the Here’s the info for your amended federal return screen, scroll down to the bottom and select Done.
- On the Tell us why you’re amending your return screen, enter “TO CLAIM RESIDENTIAL ENERGY CREDIT” as the reason for amending.
- Continue through your Federal return and do the federal review.
- Amend state return, if applicable.
- Continue through the screens and follow the instructions to efile your returns. If your state does not accept electronically filed returns, you will need to sign, date and mail the amended return. The mailing address and balance due/refund amount are included on the File by Mail Instructions for your 2023 State Amended Tax Return, if applicable.
NOTE: Be sure to Print and Save the Federal and State amended returns for your records.
- Write down the original refund or balance due amount(s) for your Federal and, if applicable, State income taxes. We recommend you check the paper/PDF copy of your return(s), or your banking records to verify the correct amount.
- Launch TurboTax and open your 2023 return.
- Before you make any changes, select File and Save As... then add Amended 2023 return to the file name to preserve your original return.
- Select Online and Check for Updates. Allow the program to update, if any are available.
- Select the Federal Taxes tab, (Personal tab if you’re using Home & Business), and then select Other Tax Situations. Scroll down to Other Tax Forms select Start next to Amend a Return.
- Continue through the screens until you reach What do you need to change on your return? screen. In the upper right hand search box, enter residential energy credit. Select the Jump to residential energy credit link.
- Walk through the interview and enter the home energy details.
- When you reach the What do you need to change on your return? screen, select Forms from the blue section at the upper right of the screen.
- From the Forms in My Return screen, scroll down to the Form 1040-X and select the form. The form will appear on the right-side of the screen.
- If you filed with a balance due, verify the balance due from the original return by scrolling down to the Original 2023 Return Payments Smart Worksheet.
- Go back to Step-by-Step in the blue ribbon on the right hand side of the screen and select the Federal Review tab.
- Run the Federal Review and continue through the screens until you reach Let’s Check These Entries screen.
- On the Check This Entry Form 1040-X: Explanation of Changes screen, enter “TO CLAIM RESIDENTIAL ENERGY CREDIT” as the reason for amending.
- When finished with the corrections, go to your state return to determine if the state has a residential energy credit by going through the interview.
- On the E-file Your Federal Return for FREE screen, follow the instructions to efile your amended Federal, and if applicable, state return.
- If you cannot efile the state return, you need to sign, date and mail the amended return. The mailing address and balance due/refund amount are included on the File by Mail Instructions for your 2023 State Amended Tax Return.
NOTE: Be sure to Print and Save the Federal and State amended returns for your records.
If you have questions, call 844-333-2161 (Monday–Friday, 5 AM to 5 PM PT) to speak with a specialist. Mention 2023 Residential Home Energy Credit on Second Home so they know what you’re calling about.
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