§45L New energy efficient home credit

Summary

Gives a tax credit to a builder or manufactured‑home producer for each new energy‑efficient home they build and sell as a residence in the tax year. The credit amount is $2,500 or $5,000 for single‑family or manufactured homes that meet Energy Star or the Department of Energy zero‑energy‑ready standards, and $500 or $1,000 for units in eligible multifamily buildings. If the builder follows federal prevailing‑wage rules for the project, the larger $2,500 or $5,000 amounts apply to those multifamily units instead of $500 or $1,000. The credit only applies to homes finished after the law was passed and not to homes bought after June 30, 2026. Key terms and rules in one line each: "eligible contractor" = the person who built the home or the manufactured‑home producer; "qualified new energy efficient home" = a U.S. dwelling mostly finished after enactment that meets the energy‑saving rules; "construction" = includes major rebuilding or rehab; "acquire" = includes buying. Energy‑saving standards must follow Energy Star or DOE zero‑energy‑ready program versions tied to dates (including Jan 1, 2023, Jan 1, 2025, and lookbacks of two or three calendar years as the law specifies). Certifications must follow Treasury guidance (after consulting the DOE), be in writing, and list the energy‑efficient envelope parts and heating/cooling equipment and their rated performance. The credit reduces the tax basis increase from the same expenditure (except for certain low‑income housing basis rules), and costs already claimed under other investment or energy credits cannot be used again. Federal rules require wage, recordkeeping, and reporting steps when the higher wage‑based credit applies.