What changed
What ended
The 30% credit with the $2,000 annual cap for heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and biomass stoves, and the $1,200 cap for windows, doors, insulation, central AC, furnaces, panels, and energy audits.
The date that matters
Installed, not quoted. The IRS says the credit is claimed for the year the property is installed, and it covers improvements made through Dec 31, 2025.
What a 2026 quote still says
“$2,000 back from the IRS on this heat pump,” “federal credit cuts your price to…,” “up to $3,200 in tax credits.” A 2026 quote built around those numbers is quoting a credit that is gone.
What can still be real
State-run Home Energy Rebates (HEAR and HOMES) from the DOE program, plus utility rebates. Those are not the 25C tax credit, they vary by state, and your state may pay less or nothing yet. If the ad does not name the state or utility program, treat it as bait.
Questions people ask
Is the heat pump rebate the same as the heat pump tax credit?
No. The tax credit was federal (25C) and has ended for 2026 installs. Home Energy Rebates are state-run programs funded through DOE and depend on your state.
My contractor says I still get $2,000 back. Who is right?
The IRS page says the credit covers improvements made through Dec 31, 2025. Ask the contractor to name the exact program and where it is published.
Got a specific ad or quote?
Paste it into the free checker. It returns Alive, Dead, or Changed with the IRS or DOE source, and says unknown when it can’t tell. If you want a person to read one ad against current law and write back with the statute, that’s the $9 sourced check.
Source
IRS: Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit · DOE: Home Energy Rebates. Checked Oct 15, 2026.