Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission

Tax Credit Information

Tax Credits for Historic Property Owners

Read below for an overview of tax credit opportunities available to you! 

At the
Federal Level

Historic structures certified by the National Park Service (those listed on the National Register of Historic Places or contributing structures within a National Register historic district) may apply for a credit of 20% toward qualifying expenses. This credit only applies to income-producing properties. All rehabilitation work is subject to review and must comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

You can read more about federal tax credits here.

There are also tax benefits available to owners who donate a historic preservation easement on their property to a preservation or conservation agency. Easements are complicated, and making use of these credits would require the aid of a tax attorney or accountant.

You can read more about the benefits of preservation easements here.

At the
State Level

For income-producing properties certified by the National Park Service, WV offers a state income tax credit of 25% (as of January 1, 2018) of the capital investment in the rehabilitation of a structure. Together with the federal credit, the total benefit is 45% of the investment. For provisions, procedures, and rules, click here.

    • The total project costs must be at least $5,000 or the adjusted basis of the property.
    • There is a state review fee: the lesser of .5% of the tax credit or $10,000
    • Non-taxpaying entities (like non-profits) may transfer their credits to a tax-paying entity.
    • The applicant must be current on all taxes.
    • The tax credit may be carried forward 10 years.

For residential properties certified by the National Park Service, WV offers a 20% state income tax credit. For provisions, procedures and rules, click here.

The project must meet the material rehabilitation test: an amount greater than 20% of the assessed value of the building, not including the value of the land. 

Again, these credits apply only to qualifying expenses and must conform to The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. For an overview of these credits and a list of forms, click here. For application procedure and checklist, click here.

Potential applicants can feel free to reach out to the Tax Credit Coordinator at the SHPO and/or their own tax advisor for more information or to see if they may qualify.

To view the West Virginia Department of Art, History, and Culture’s webinar, “Window of Opportunity – West Virginia’s Historic Residential Tax Credit w/ WVSHPO and PAWV,” click here.