The 25C Window Tax Credit Is Gone: How to Sell Windows in 2026

For years, the first thing a US homeowner asked about new windows was whether they would get a tax credit back. In 2026 the honest answer is no. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed on July 4, 2025, ended the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C) for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. It had been due to run until 2032.

What the credit was, and what is different now

• The credit covered 30% of qualifying costs, with annual caps that included $600 for windows and $500 for doors.
• “Placed in service” is the date that counts, meaning installed, not the date of the contract or deposit. Jobs finished in 2026 do not qualify.
• Labor was never part of the credit, only the products.

The practical effect is that the discount you used to point to on the quote has gone. If you still mention a federal credit to a homeowner in 2026, you are mistaken, and they will find out when they file.

What you can still talk about

• Utility and state programs. Several utilities and states run window or whole-home efficiency rebates, and they change often. Keep a short, current list for the states you work in and check it each quarter.
• Comfort and noise. Drafts, cold spots and traffic noise are the real complaints. Ask about them on the survey and put them in the proposal in the homeowner’s own words.
• Energy bills, honestly. New windows reduce heat loss, but they rarely pay for themselves quickly on their own. Promising a short payback is the fastest way to lose trust.
• Financing. With the credit gone, a monthly payment framing carries more weight than a one-off discount.

Show the result instead of the saving

When the tax credit was part of the pitch, price could be softened by a number the homeowner would get back later. Without it, the sale rests on the finished look. A photoreal render of the colour and style on their own house gives the homeowner something concrete to say yes to.

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