**Important Notice about the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program**
As of August 15, 2023, all applications for the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program must be submitted in
electronic format to the Alabama Historical Commission. Hard copies of the Historic Preservation Certification Application, photographs, drawings, and other supporting materials will no longer be accepted.
Applications and supporting documents must follow National Park Service electronic File Format Standards and Naming Conventions.
Please see the NPS website for more information on the electronic application submission process
HERE.>
Historic Preservation Certification Applications for properties in Alabama must be submitted electronically
HERE for review and processing by the Alabama Historical Commission.
Contact Chloe Mercer at Chloe.Mercer@ahc.alabama.gov with questions about the electronic submission process.
The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program is the largest Federal program that specifically supports historic preservation and is one of the nation's most effective programs to promote historic preservation and community revitalization.
The National Park Service is the federal agency that administers the program, and the AHC is the point of contact for anyone who applies for tax credits for properties in Alabama. The Historic Preservation Certification Application must be submitted to the AHC to certify that the property is eligible for the program and that proposed work meets historic rehabilitation guidelines.
- Properties must be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Part 1 of the application determines if the property is eligible for the program.
- Properties must be income-producing after rehabilitation.
- Rehabilitation expenditures must be substantial.
- Rehabilitation work must follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Part 2 of the application determines if proposed work follows preservation guidelines. Part 3 is submitted after completion of the project.
- Properties must remain income-producing for five years.
Applicants meeting these requirements may earn an income tax credit that equals 20% of qualified rehabilitation expenditures. Property owners interested in these tax credits are advised to consult an accountant, tax attorney, or other professional tax adviser, legal counsel, or the Internal Revenue Service to ensure this program is beneficial to them.
Visit the National Park Service website for more information https://www.nps.gov/subjects/taxincentives/index.htm.