History & Culture National Park Service: Tax Credits for preservation

Tax Incentives

The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program offers a 20% tax credit for the rehabilitation of income-producing historic structures. Since 1976, the National Park Service has administered the program in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service and State Historic Preservation Officers. Tax incentives are one of the nation's most successful and cost-effective community revitalization programs having leveraged more than $30 billion in private investment to rehabilitate historic buildings into rental housing, offices, and retail stores.
	About the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Learn about the tax incentives for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic buildings, one of the Federal government’s most successful and cost-effective community revitalization programs.
	Incentives A step-by-step guide to preparing a successful tax incentives application, understanding the application review process, and avoiding problems with a rehabilitation project.
	The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation Rehabilitation projects must meet these Standards to qualify for the Historic Preservation Tax Incentives.
	The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation & Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings Detailed design and technical recommendations to plan a successful rehabilitation project.
	IRS Connection An overview of the income tax aspects of the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives.

Image of railings on a historic building

Did You Know?
In 2005, the 1,101 historic building rehabilitation projects approved by the National Park Service for Federal Tax Incentives created 52,464 jobs, leveraged more than $3.1 billion in private investment, and resulted in 14,354 housing units, or which 4,863 were for low or and moderate income families.