New York State Historic Homeownership Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program
New York State Historic Homeownership Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program
Rehabilitation of historic residential buildings may qualify for a New York State tax incentive.
The Historic Homeownership Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program offers a state income tax credit equal to 20% of Qualified Rehabilitation Expenses (QREs) associated with repair, maintenance, and upgrades to historic homes.
Qualifications:
- The applicant must own and live in the home
- The home must be listed in the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places individually or as a contributing building in a listed Historic District. Note: In some cases, a local historic district has been certified by the National Park Service to qualify for the credit.
- The home must be located in a qualifying census tract.
- The total QREs must be $5,000 or more and a minimum of 5% must be spent on exterior work.
- All projects must be approved before work begins
For more information on the Historic Homeownership Rehabilitation Credit Program, refer to the program handouts below, and to the Frequently Asked Questions at the end of this page.
- Historic Homeownership Tax Credit Program Info Sheet (pdf)
- Programa de Crédito Para La Restauración de Viviendas Históricas (pdf)
- Guidance for Co-Ops and Condominiums (pdf)
Instructions & Application
We strongly recommend that you review the Application Instructions before beginning any part of the application.
Submit your Historic Homeownership Rehabilitation Credit Application Online
The most efficient way to complete your Historic Homeownership Rehabilitation Credit Application is online via DocuSign.
The online application allows you to:
- attach your supporting documentation and photos
- enter payment information for review fees
- provide a secure signature
Once you complete the online application, it will be sent to the Division for Historic Preservation for processing and review. When the application review is complete, you will receive an email notification with a link to download the completed document. Please be sure to download and save all parts of your application for your records.
| PART 1 & 2 ONLINE APPLICATION | |
|---|---|
| AMENDMENT ONLINE APPLICATION | |
| PART 3 ONLINE APPLICATION |
Submit your Historic Homeownership Rehabilitation Credit Application as a Hard Copy
For applicants who prefer not to use the online form, hard copy applications are still accepted. You will need to download and complete the PDF forms and mail in hard copies with original signatures. We strongly recommend that you review the Application Instructions & List of Qualified Expenditures before beginning any part of the application.
- Part 1 & 2 Application for hard copy submission
- Amendment Application for hard copy submission
- Part 3 Application for hard copy submission
Part 3 for Income-Producing Homes
If you are submitting a Part 3 for a home with an income-producing component (rental unit, home office, etc.) you must complete the below project worksheet and include it with your application. For online applications, this worksheet must be uploaded as an attachment in DocuSign.
Program Contacts
If you have questions about the credit program or application process, please do not hesitate to reach out to our staff. We are happy to provide additional information and guidance.
Staff Map- Christina Vagvolgyi, Coordinator, 518-268-2217
- Zachary Salman , 518-457-9727
- Frances Stern, 518-268-2219
Frequently Asked Questions
These are some common questions people ask about the program:
- Can I make my house more energy efficient? Yes. As long as the work does not alter the house’s overall history appearance. High efficiency heating systems, solar installation, insultation, and other weatherization projects may be eligible expenses. Please note that existing wood windows can be made more energy efficient with proper repair; the installation of weather stripping and interior or exterior storm windows can also be eligible expenses.
- Can I replace my windows? Window replacement is an eligible expense if the existing windows are not historic or cannot be repaired due to severe deterioration. You must provide photographs of the windows to show their condition, and the proposed replacements must be approved by State Historic Preservation Office staff. Vinyl or vinyl-clad windows are generally not acceptable. If you are approved for replacements, SHPO staff will request the product information for the proposed windows.
- Can I install vinyl siding on my house? Replacing repairable historic material is never recommended; however, if the historic material cannot be repaired because of the extent of the damage, we recommend that the material is replaced in-kind. The use of modern materials over existing wood or masonry may lead to future moisture damage to the structure and will diminish the historic appearance of the building.
- Can I use the credit if I have a rental unit in my house? Yes. Generally, work associated with the homeowner-occupied portion of the house is covered. There is a formula to include repairs on the exterior of the home and areas that are shared with tenants. Work inside the rental unit is not covered. Please contact your DHP staff representative for more information. Additionally, your home may be eligible for Historic Preservation Tax Incentives for Commercial Properties.
- How do I get the tax credit? Upon completion of work, you must submit a Part 3 Application with photos of the completed work and final costs. DHP reviews the Part 3, then issues a Certificate of Completion (COC) to be used with your tax filing. The credit is claimed by submitting claim form IT-237 with your NYS income tax filing for the tax year that the COC is issued.
- What if I am unable to use all/any of the credit? The credit can be carried over to subsequent years until it is completely used.
- What if I have questions about my taxes or tax filing? Please note that OPRHP is a different state agency than NYS Taxation & Finance, and our staff is not able to answer tax-specific questions. Our role in your project ends when we issue the Part 3 Certificate of Completion. If you have questions about claiming or receiving the tax credit, we recommend you speak with an accountant or a tax professional.
- Can I pass the credit on to a new buyer? Yes. The seller must have completed all parts of the application and received a COC. The COC is then provided to the buyer to claim the credit. The buyer must live in the house and must claim the credit within five years of certification.