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Author Profiles

Donna Fuscaldo

has written about personal finance for more than decade for Dow Jones Newswires, the Wall Street Journal, and Fox Business News. She's currently a freelance writer with her own home office.

BY THIS AUTHOR

Tax Credits for Solar Water Heaters

Tax Credits for Solar Water Heaters

A federal tax credit makes energy-efficient solar water heaters a more affordable and sustainable option for many homeowners. Read More

Progress $ E K
Save Money Med $160/yr (hot water bill)
Effort Med 2-4 days (install)
Investment Med $4,000 and up
Added to Binder
Tax Credits for Home Fuel Cells Residential Fuel Cells

Tax Credits for Residential Fuel Cells

While residential fuel cells are as expensive as they are energy efficient, a federal tax credit could entice more home owners to give the green technology a try. Read More

Progress $ E K
Save Money High $890/yr (energy bills)
Effort Med Up to 3 days (install)
Investment High $50,000 (plus installation)
Added to Binder
Energy Credit for Wind Energy Wind Energy Tax Credits

Tax Credits for Small Wind Energy Systems

An uncapped tax credit makes a sustainable small wind energy system more financially feasible for some green-leaning and penny-pinching home owners. Read More

Progress $ E K
Save Money High $54/mo (off avg electric bill)
Effort High 2-3 mos (plan, install)
Investment High $28,000 (after tax credit)
Added to Binder
Solar Panel Tax Credits Home Solar Panel Tax Credits

Tax Credits for Installing Solar Panels

Sky-high electric bills and a sunny climate combine to make installing solar panels attractive. Read More

Progress $ E K
Save Money High $330-$660/yr (electric bill)
Effort Low 1-2 days (install)
Investment High $22,000 (after incentives)
Added to Binder
Capital Improvement For Your Home

Did You Sell Your Home After Making Improvements?

Keeping track of the cost of capital improvements to your home can really pay off on your tax return when it comes time to sell. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money High $3,750 (cap-gains tax)
Effort Low 1 hr/mo (file receipts)
Investment Low $0
Added to Binder
Is My Vacation Home Tax Deductible

Tax Deductions for Vacation Homes

Tax deductions for vacation homes vary greatly depending on how much you use the home and whether you rent it out. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money Med $488 (on $100,000 AGI)
Effort Med 2 hrs/wk (manage property)
Added to Binder
Man working from home

What You Can and Can’t Deduct When You Work From Home

Working from home can offer many advantages including tax deductions. Just take care what you try to write off for your home office on your return. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money Med $113 (on $100,000 AGI)
Effort Low 1 hr/wk (paperwork)
Investment Low $0
Added to Binder
Tax Deduction for Rental Homes Rental Homes Tax Deductions

Tax Deductions for Rental Homes

While being a landlord certainly has its cons, tops among its pros are the tax deductions for rental homes enjoyed by owners. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money High $750 (on $100,000 MAGI)
Effort High 4 hrs/wk (manage rental)
Added to Binder
Affordable Home Refinance Options Cheap Refinance Options

How HARP Refinancing Works

If you’re eligible, the federal HARP program can help you refinance even if your home’s fall off in value is a turnoff to lenders. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money High $290/mo (refinance to 5.5%)
Effort High 2 wks (gather paperwork)
Added to Binder
How To Collect 2011 Tax Energy Credit 2011 Energy Tax Credit

How to Claim Your 2012 Energy Tax Credits

If you lamented the death of the $500 energy tax credit, perk up. It was retroactively renewed in the fiscal cliff deal. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money Low $500 (tax credit)
Effort Low 1-2 hrs (Form 5695)
Added to Binder