Take advantage of green tax breaks

Filing your taxes can be a stressful and complicated experience. One way to help reduce that stress is to make sure you get all the tax credits you’re eligible for.

If you made updates to your home to improve its energy efficiency — like getting a new air conditioning system or water heater — you may be eligible for tax credits. If you purchased a new or used electric vehicle, installed solar panels or invested in weatherizing your home, you could also be eligible.

In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act created or enhanced more than 20 clean energy-related tax credits. This legislation is part of the Biden administration’s clean energy plan, which is not only saving taxpayers money now, but also projected to lower electricity rates by up to 9% by 2030. The plan includes both tax credits that reduce Americans’ tax burdens, and rebates, which discount the price of many of the same products and services also eligible for tax credits.

Rewiring America can help you calculate what tax credits you’re eligible for while the EPA’S Energy Star program lets you look up specific products, like refrigerators and dishwashers, to see if they’re eligible for rebates.

If a new administration takes over the White House next year, these benefits might be rolled back, along with much of the progress our country has made in transitioning to clean energy. Be sure to take advantage of these tax credits while you still can.

Deidre Radford, Las Vegas

The writer is a board member of the Nevada Conservation League.