You will still see ads claiming the government pays for roofs. Here are the actual rules, in plain words, and the honest ways valley homeowners pay for a roof this year. This post is general information, not tax advice.
Is there a tax credit for new roof work in 2026?
The federal program people mean is the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, known as section 25C. Under the 2025 tax law, that credit ended for improvements placed in service after December 31, 2025. A roof installed in 2026 lands past the deadline.
The second fact matters just as much: for the past several years, traditional roofing materials such as shingles were already excluded from 25C. The credit pointed at items like insulation, exterior doors, windows, and certain heating and cooling equipment, not at a standard reroof. So even the old program rarely paid for a roof by itself.
Rules can shift again, so read the IRS page yourself and confirm with a tax professional before any project where a credit is part of your math.
Sources: IRS: Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit · DOE Energy Saver
Is roof replacement tax deductible?
For a home you live in, a new roof is a home improvement, not an expense you deduct in the year you pay for it. What it may do is raise your cost basis, the number the IRS uses to figure your gain when you sell the house someday. Keep your contract and receipts with your permanent records.
Rental properties and business buildings play by different rules, where roof costs may be recovered over time through depreciation. If that is your situation, hand your tax professional the invoice and let them place it correctly.
Can you write off a new roof on your taxes?
For most homeowners, the honest answer is no, not this year. The value shows up down the road through cost basis, or through depreciation on a rental. If a door knocker tells you the roof pays for itself at tax time, ask them to put that promise in writing and watch how fast the pitch changes.
What about Idaho state taxes?
The savings that remain are in the roof itself. We install roofs; we do not prepare returns. State rules change from year to year, so check with the Idaho State Tax Commission or your own tax professional for the current rules before you budget around any state level benefit. Be wary of any contractor who names a state program without paperwork to back it up.
The same caution applies to utility rebates and any program a salesperson mentions at your door. Real programs come with published terms you can read before you sign. Ask for the link, read the fine print, and let your tax professional confirm what actually applies to your return.
Real ways to pay for a roof in 2026
The good news: most valley roofs get paid for without any tax program.
Insurance claims for storm damage. If wind or hail hit your roof, your homeowner policy may cover storm damage roof repair, subject to its terms and your deductible. Bork Roofing photographs the damage, writes the scope, and meets your adjuster. Start at our roof insurance claims page.
Financing. Monthly payments turn a big number into a planned expense. Ask the office about current payment options.
Smart scope choices. Knowing what moves a bid keeps the price honest. Our roof replacement cost guide breaks down every driver, and adding balanced attic ventilation during a roof replacement cuts attic heat load in summer, a saving the Department of Energy’s Energy Saver guides walk through. That is comfort and shingle life, not tax advice.
Get a straight answer, not a sales pitch
Bork Roofing has served the Treasure Valley since 2004, from Boise out to Meridian, with a 5.0 Google rating built on plain talk. Call (208) 869-6674 for a roof number you can take to your lender, your insurer, or your accountant.