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IRS Issues Commercial Property Energy Deduction
Guidance
6.9.2006
(WASHINGTON, DCJune 6, 2006) The Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
just released its advanced notice detailing how commercial building
owners or leaseholders can qualify for the tax deduction for making
their buildings energy efficient. The Building Owners and Managers
Association (BOMA) International welcomes these highly-anticipated
guidelines to the energy efficient commercial buildings section of
the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which will benefit the many commercial
property owners and managers who are making significant changes and
improvements to reduce energy consumption.
The Energy Policy Act, which was signed by President Bush last August,
allows taxpayers to deduct the cost of energy-efficient property installed
in commercial buildings for upgrades put into service from January
1, 2006 through December 31, 2007. The amount deductible may be as
much as $1.80 per square foot of building floor area for buildings
that achieve a 50-percent energy savings when compared to a reference
building which meets the minimum requirements of ASHRAE Standard 90.1
2001. Buildings below the 50-percent threshold may also qualify
for a deduction of up to 60 cents per square foot of building floor
area if they meet a 16 2/3-percent energy savings target.
The IRS notice is a crucial step in pushing forward the incentives
of the energy bill, remarked BOMA International Chairman, David
W. Hewett, RPA, CPM, CCIM, FMA, CFM, principal for Trammell Crow Company,
Auburn Hills, Michigan. There has been a groundswell of activity
among BOMA International members who are dedicated to conserving energy
as a way to both cut building costs and to contribute to cleaner air
and a healthier overall environment. We thank Congress, the Administration
and the Department of Energy for working with us to help meet our
energy efficiency goals.
The IRS notice also establishes a process to certify the required
energy savings in order to claim the deduction and explains how taxpayers
can obtain certification. For full details, visit www.irs.gov.
BOMA International is a recognized and committed leader in the area
of energy efficiency. BOMA International recently joined the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) to challenge building managers to reduce their
energy consumption by 10 percent in conjunction with the agencys
ENERGY STAR® program. The popular BOMA Energy Efficiency Program
(BEEP) provides groundbreaking, educational seminars designed to help
building managers reduce energy consumption and cut costs.
BOMA International and its partners in the Commercial Building Tax
Deduction Coalition are now working to pass legislation in Congress
to extend the program beyond its December 31, 2007 expiration date.
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