Energy Efficient Commercial Building Deduction Extended Through 2020

On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed a $1.4 trillion spending bill that funds the government through fiscal year 2020. The bill also extends the Energy Efficient Commercial Building Deduction (179D) through December 31, 2020. Prior to the extension, 179D had expired on December 31, 2017. As a result, taxpayers claiming 179D deductions for 2018 may be required to file amended returns.

The spending bill retains the majority of the prior law, including the maximum deduction of $1.80 per square footage of the building, as well as the definition of an “energy-efficient commercial building property,” which retains the 2007 ASHRAE standard.

What are the Tax Benefits of 179D?

179D allows taxpayers to take a federal tax deduction (up to $1.80 per square foot) for the installation of energy-efficient interior lighting, HVAC and building envelope systems.

Who Qualifies for the Deduction?

The deduction is available to building owners and lessees who make energy-efficient improvements to their commercial buildings located in the United States before December 31, 2020.

Designers of government-owned buildings may also be assigned a 179D deduction if they’re the “primary designer” of the applicable system and the government agency in question allocates the deduction to them by signing a “municipal allocation letter.” Examples of the type of public projects that may qualify for the assignment include:

  • Schools, including state universities
  • Libraries
  • Airports
  • Government offices
  • Post offices
  • Courthouses

How the 179D Deduction Works

A building is eligible for the entire $1.80 per square foot federal tax deduction if it saves at least 50% in energy and power costs for improvements in lighting, HVAC and building envelope (as compared to a building that meets the 2007 ASHRAE standards), based on the date the building is placed in service. If a building doesn’t meet the full 50% energy savings standard, a partial deduction of $0.60 per square foot is available for each subsystem that meets certain energy-saving requirements.

To claim the 179D deduction, the property must be certified by a qualified independent third party, and is generally available in the year the property is “placed in service.” If the property is certified in a year after the building is placed in service, the taxpayer may be required to amend prior returns to claim the deduction. However, if the taxpayer owns or leases the commercial building (as opposed to being allocated the deduction from a government agency), the IRS will allow the filer a “change in accounting method” to claim the deduction in the year the accounting method is changed, which then allows them to avoid costs and other issues associated with amending tax returns.

It’s important to note that taxpayers who own or lease a commercial building must reduce their tax basis of the building by the amount of the 179D deduction. In addition, a taxpayer allocated 179D deductions from a government agency must reduce his or her stock basis for the 179D deductions.

If you have any questions about the potential benefits of 179D, don’t hesitate to contact us or check out the Schneider Downs Construction Industry Group.

You’ve heard our thoughts… We’d like to hear yours

The Schneider Downs Our Thoughts On blog exists to create a dialogue on issues that are important to organizations and individuals. While we enjoy sharing our ideas and insights, we’re especially interested in what you may have to say. If you have a question or a comment about this article – or any article from the Our Thoughts On blog – we hope you’ll share it with us. After all, a dialogue is an exchange of ideas, and we’d like to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

Material discussed is meant for informational purposes only, and it is not to be construed as investment, tax, or legal advice. Please note that individual situations can vary. Therefore, this information should be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice.

© 2024 Schneider Downs. All rights-reserved. All content on this site is property of Schneider Downs unless otherwise noted and should not be used without written permission.

our thoughts on
Building Innovation: Navigating the Terrain of R&D Tax Credits for Real Estate Developers
Postcard from the 38th annual AICPA & CIMA Construction and Real Estate Conference
Construction, ESG BY Matt Hartman
ESG in the Construction Industry: Electrification
“Constructing” Your Estate to Meet Your Needs
New Research and Development Capitalization Requirement Shuffles System
Contractors May Benefit From SALT Cap Workaround
Register to receive our weekly newsletter with our most recent columns and insights.
Have a question? Ask us!

We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a note, and we’ll respond to you as quickly as possible.

Ask us
contact us
Pittsburgh

This site uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best user experience. Cookies assist in navigation, analyzing traffic and in our marketing efforts as described in our Privacy Policy.

×