Administered by the National Park Service and the Internal Revenue Service, the federal historic rehabilitation tax credit supports projects that rehabilitate income-producing historic buildings – commercial and industrial buildings, hotels, apartment buildings, residential rentals, etc. – while maintaining their historic character. Since the credit was enacted in 1976, over 43,000 completed projects have leveraged $89.97 billion in private investment in the rehabilitation of historic properties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A number of states also have created their own state historic rehabilitation credits. 

The ACHP joined preservationists across the country in advocating for retention of the 20% historic rehabilitation tax credit when it was targeted for elimination during reform of the federal tax code in 2017. In the final legislation that was passed, the credit was retained, with a new phase-in requirement.

The following studies provide detailed documentation of the benefits of the federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits. 

National Studies

Annual Reports on the Federal Historic Tax Credit (2004-2022)

Catalyst for Change: The Federal Historic Tax Credit: Transforming Communities (2014) 

State Tax Credits for Historic Preservation: A Policy Report  (2018)

The Economic Benefits of State Historic Preservation Investment Tax Credits (2007) 

State Historic Tax Credits: Maximizing Preservation, Community Revitalization, and Economic Impact (2018) - Full Report and Executive Summary

State and Local Studies

 

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