Energy efficient home improvement tax break might be back

It's that brief time of year here in Central Texas when there's a bit of chill in the evening air, but the days warm up nicely.

That means for a few days while Mother Nature is trying to decide which season to wear, we use both our heater and our air conditioner.

Click image to watch the classic Walter Lantz cartoon on YouTube.

Of course, if we replaced our windows or at least caulked them, the indoor temperature might be steady enough that we'd not need either our heating or cooling units for this transitional time of the year. I'll put that on the hubby's to-do list.

Coming up with more work for the hubby also has a tax bonus. It prompted today's Daily Tax Tip, which is a reminder that the energy-efficient home improvement tax credit was still in effect in 2013.

That means if you made qualifying energy upgrades to your home last year, you might be able to claim a tax credit of up to $500.

Since I've blogged about this tax break many times before — and since it's a Saturday and I'm planning to relax the rest of the day — instead of repeating the earlier info here, let me refer you for details to:

• Home improvements provide warmth, tax savings and
• Energy efficient home improvement tax break is back … until Dec. 31, 2013

If you made any home improvements that qualify for the energy-saving credit — and if you haven't already hit the $500 maximum for all combined prior tax year claims — then be sure to file Form 5695 with your 2013 return and get your money.

Extension through 2015 possible: Now this is where I would usually say if you didn't take advantage of the home energy tax credit by the end of last year, you're out of luck.

But this tax credit might be back on the books sometime this year.

The Senate Finance Committee last week approved a bill to renew most of the extenders, those tax provisions that expire periodically unless Congress agrees to keep them for a while longer.

A last-minute addition to the measure, officially named the Expiring Provisions Improvement Reform and Efficiency (EXPIRE) Act by the committee's chairman Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), was re-authorization of the energy-efficient home improvements tax credit.

It would continue, for the most part, just as it did in 2013.

One enhancement, however, would be an expansion of the types of roofs that would qualify for the tax credit.

Previously, you could claim the cost of, and I quote the Energy Star website page on this tax credit, metal roofs with appropriate pigmented coatings and asphalt roofs with appropriate cooling granules.

EXPIRE would include in the tax credit's eligible improvements list all roof and roof products that meet Energy Star program guidelines. If you want energy efficiency, but not the sound of hail banging off your metal roof (or a tin roof, rusted), this would give you options … if it stays in the bill and is eventually enacted.

So if you're thinking about sprucing up your house in an energy efficient manner and you've not claimed $500 under the credit in prior tax years, check out what energy upgrades qualify.

If the Finance-backed bill makes it through the House and into law, the tax credit would be back on the tax books for 2014 and 2015 and your foresight would pay off next tax filing season.

You also might find these items of interest:

• Spaniards hot under the collar over sun tax
• Summer is here! Time to PACE your energy use
• Home improvements that can pay off on your taxes when you sell