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Residential Energy Credit

jskouberdis
Level 5

Hello Community,

I have a question that I am perplexed over.

I have a client who with his mother is on the title of his mother's house as a co-owner.  He does not live in his mother's house but lives with his wife and family in another house.  He paid $8000 for a new HVAC system.  His mother's only income is social security so she cannot use any energy credits.  I get conflicting research when I look to see if my client can take the energy credit.  On many items of research that I have done it states that the property has to be your main residence.  On other pieces of research that I have done it says that you can take the energy credit on HVAC systems on a second home that you own.  This seems to be conflicting.  Is there any way that I can get a credit for my client by claiming this is his second home or does the fact that he does not live at any time on the property exclude him from the credit.  Does second home definition for the energy credit mean something like a summer home that he would live in?  Or does it include co-ownership of his mother's residence.

Thank You for reading my question.

John Skouberdis

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1 Best Answer

Accepted Solutions
Camp1040
Level 11

The key word @Just-Lisa-Now-  and @Terry53029  mentioned is residence and not home.

View solution in original post

6 Comments 6
Just-Lisa-Now-
Level 15
Level 15

I think it depends on which improvement youre asking about

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/frequently-asked-questions-about-energy-efficient-home-improv...


♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥Lisa♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪
Terry53029
Level 15
Level 15

different energy saving products have different rules for qualifying home. Second homes are qualifying home for some products, but  The credit is never available for homes not used as a residence by the taxpayer. Here is IRS link.

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/frequently-asked-questions-about-energy-efficient-home-improv...

jskouberdis
Level 5

Terry,

I read that also before but I guess my question should be is what constitutes a second home.  Is that where a taxpayer owns a summer home that they live in a few weeks a year.  Or can it be as in my situation where the client co-owns a home with his mother and the mother lives in the home and he has another home that he lives in with his wife and children.  I guess you can call it a second home but he never resides in it.

What is the definition of a second home.

John

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Camp1040
Level 11

The key word @Just-Lisa-Now-  and @Terry53029  mentioned is residence and not home.

Terry53029
Level 15
Level 15

@jskouberdis A second home is one you use as a resident occasional.   The credit is never available for homes not used as a residence by the taxpayer

jskouberdis
Level 5

Thank you that was the definition that I was looking for.

John

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