Replaced your exterior doors with Energy Star models? If they were installed by December 31, 2025, you can claim up to $500 back on your federal taxes.
Quick Summary
- Credit: 30% of costs, $250 max per door, $500 total max
- Doors must meet Energy Star requirements
- QMID required from door manufacturer
- Report on Form 5695 Part II, Section A, Line 19
- Part of the $1,200 annual cap (shared with windows, insulation)
Credit Amounts
The exterior door credit is structured differently from other 25C credits. Instead of one flat limit, you get a per-door cap plus a total cap:
Door Credit Limits
| Equipment | Credit Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Most expensive door | $250 | 30% of cost |
| Next two doors | $250 each | 30% of combined cost |
| All other doors | Varies | 30% of total cost |
| Total door credit | $500 | Maximum for all doors |
The $500 total cap means even if you replace five doors, your credit tops out at $500.
Example: You replace three exterior doors at $800, $700, and $600.
- Door 1: $800 × 30% = $240
- Door 2: $700 × 30% = $210
- Door 3: $600 × 30% = $180
- Total: $630, capped at $500
Tax Credit Calculator
This calculator provides an estimate. Your actual credit may vary based on your tax situation. The credit is non-refundable and cannot exceed your tax liability.
Credit Expired December 31, 2025
The 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit expired on December 31, 2025 due to the "One Big Beautiful Bill" (Public Law 119-21). If you installed qualifying doors by that date, you can still claim the credit on your 2025 tax return.
What Qualifies
Not every door qualifies. The IRS has specific requirements.
Energy Star Certification Required
Exterior doors must meet Energy Star requirements to qualify for the credit. Ask your manufacturer or retailer for Energy Star documentation before purchase.
Qualifying doors:
- Entry doors (front, back, side)
- Storm doors
- Sliding glass doors (patio doors)
- French doors leading to exterior
Must be installed in:
- Your main home (principal residence)
- Located in the United States
- Used by you as a residence
Non-qualifying doors:
- Interior doors
- Garage doors
- Doors for rental properties (where you don't live)
- Doors in new construction (must be installed in existing home)
Energy Star Requirements
Doors must meet Energy Star certification for your climate zone. The requirements vary by region:
Note
Energy Star divides the US into climate zones (Northern, North-Central, South-Central, Southern). Each zone has different U-factor requirements. Check energystar.gov for zone-specific requirements.
Most manufacturers label Energy Star doors clearly in product specs. If unsure, ask for the Energy Star certificate before purchase.
QMID Requirement
Starting in 2025, you need the manufacturer's QMID (Qualified Manufacturer Identification Number) to claim the credit. This is a 4-character code that proves the manufacturer registered with the IRS.
The QMID is a 4-character alphanumeric code that identifies your equipment manufacturer. Enter it exactly as shown in the IRS database or our directory.
Tip
Door QMIDs can be harder to track down than HVAC QMIDs. The QMID won't be on your invoice or the door itself — it's an IRS registration code. Search our directory first, or call the manufacturer and ask.
Where to find your QMID:
- Search our QMID directory by manufacturer name
- Contact the door manufacturer directly and ask
- Check the IRS QMID database
Form 5695 Line 19: Step by Step
Exterior doors are reported in Part II, Section A, Line 19 of Form 5695. Here's what to fill in.
Form 5695 Structure
Lines 1-16: Solar, wind, geothermal, battery storage
Insulation, doors, windows, skylights
Residential Energy Property
29a: QMID + cost, 29b-29h: calculations
Line 32: Final credit → Schedule 3, line 5b
Heat pumps are entered in Part II, Section B, Line 29
Section A Prerequisites (Lines 17a-17e)
Before completing Line 19, answer the qualifying questions in Section A:
Line 17a: Main Home in US
Were the improvements installed in your main home in the United States? (Must be Yes)
Line 17b: Original User
Are you the original user of the property? (Must be Yes)
Line 17c: 5-Year Use
Can you reasonably expect the components to remain in use for at least 5 years? (Must be Yes)
Line 17d: Property Address
Enter the address of your main home where doors were installed.
Line 17e: New Construction
Were the improvements made in connection with the construction of your main home? (If Yes, only post-construction work qualifies)
Line 19: Exterior Doors
Now complete the door-specific lines:
Line 19a: Most Expensive Door Cost
Enter the cost of your most expensive qualifying door. Include both equipment and installation labor.
Line 19b: QMID of Most Expensive Door
Enter the 4-character QMID in the boxes provided. One character per box, no spaces or dashes.
Line 19c: Credit for Most Expensive Door
Multiply Line 19a by 30%. Maximum: $250.
Line 19d: Next Two Most Expensive Doors
For each of your next two most expensive doors:
- Enter QMID in the boxes
- Enter cost in the cost field
Calculate credit as 30% of each door's cost, max $250 per door.
Line 19e: All Other Qualifying Doors
If you replaced more than three doors, enter the total cost of all remaining doors here.
Line 19f-19g: Calculations
The form walks through intermediate calculations:
- 19f: Add costs from 19d
- 19g: Multiply 19f by 30%
Line 19h: Total Door Credit
This is your final door credit. Add all door credits together (19c + 19g + calculation from 19e). Maximum: $500.
Warning
Even if your calculated credit exceeds $500, Line 19h cannot be more than $500. This is a hard cap.
The $1,200 Annual Cap
The $500 door credit is part of a larger $1,200 annual limit that includes:
- Insulation and air sealing (Line 18)
- Exterior doors (Line 19)
- Windows and skylights (Line 20)
- Central air conditioners (Line 22)
- Natural gas/propane/oil water heaters (Line 23)
- Furnaces and boilers (Line 24)
- Electrical panel upgrades (Line 25)
- Home energy audits (Line 26)
If you claim credits for multiple items in this category, the total on Line 28 cannot exceed $1,200.
Note
Heat pumps and heat pump water heaters are NOT part of the $1,200 cap. They have a separate $2,000 combined cap on Line 29h. You can theoretically claim $3,200 total: $1,200 for building envelope/standard HVAC + $2,000 for heat pumps.
What Costs Are Included
The 30% credit covers:
Yes, included
- Door hardware (door slab, frame, hinges)
- Door installation labor
- Storm door equipment and labor
- Glass inserts for storm doors
- Weather stripping installed with door
- Delivery charges (if itemized)
No, not included
- Painting or finishing costs
- Decorative hardware (non-functional)
- Locksets or deadbolts (security, not energy)
- Frame repairs unrelated to energy efficiency
Labor costs matter. If you paid $600 for the door and $200 for professional installation, your total qualifying cost is $800. At 30%, that's $240 credit for that door.
Combining With Other Improvements
Installing doors alongside other efficiency upgrades? You can claim multiple credits, but watch the caps.
Example scenario:
- Exterior doors: $1,500 total → $450 credit (30%), capped at $500
- Windows: $3,000 total → $900 credit (30%), capped at $600
- Heat pump: $8,000 total → $2,400 credit (30%), capped at $2,000
Total credits:
- Doors + windows: $500 + $600 = $1,100 (under $1,200 cap ✓)
- Heat pump: $2,000 (separate cap)
- Grand total: $3,100
All three credits can be claimed in the same year if installations occurred by December 31, 2025.
Documentation You Need
Keep these records for at least 3 years after filing:
Purchase Invoice
Invoice showing door model, purchase price, installation date, and itemized costs. Should identify the door as Energy Star certified.
Energy Star Certificate
Certification document confirming the door meets Energy Star requirements for your climate zone.
QMID Documentation
Record of manufacturer's QMID. Look it up in our directory or get it from the manufacturer directly.
Payment Proof
Receipts, cancelled checks, or credit card statements showing payment for doors and installation.
Completed Form 5695
Your filed Form 5695 showing Line 19 calculations and final credit claimed.
The IRS can audit returns up to 3 years after filing. Clean documentation prevents problems.
Common Mistakes
Warning
Wrong door type: Garage doors and interior doors don't qualify. Only exterior doors meeting Energy Star requirements count.
Missing QMID: Without the manufacturer's 4-character QMID, you cannot claim the credit. Look it up in our directory or call the manufacturer before filing.
Exceeding per-door limit: Each door's credit maxes at $250 (30% of cost). If you spent $1,000 on one door, your credit for that door is $250, not $300.
Forgetting the $500 total cap: Even if you replaced six doors and calculated $900 in credits, Line 19h cannot exceed $500.
Including non-qualifying costs: Painting, decorative hardware, and locksets don't count toward the credit. Only the door itself and energy-related installation labor qualify.
Wrong residence type: The credit only applies to your main home. Doors installed at rental properties or vacation homes don't qualify (unlike heat pumps, which can be claimed on second homes).
Using Tax Software
Most tax software handles Form 5695 automatically. Look for sections labeled:
- "Energy credits"
- "Energy efficient home improvement"
- "Residential energy credit"
The software will prompt you for:
- Type of improvement (select "exterior doors")
- Number of doors installed
- Cost per door
- Manufacturer QMID for each door
It calculates the 30% credit, applies the per-door and total caps, and transfers the result to Line 19h automatically.
Double-check that it correctly applies both the $250 per-door limit and the $500 total limit.
Timeline and Deadlines
Installation Date Matters
The credit applies to doors installed between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2025. Purchase date doesn't matter. Installation date determines which tax year you claim the credit.
Example:
- Purchased doors: December 2024
- Installed: January 15, 2025
- Claim on: 2025 tax return (filed in 2026)
The credit expired December 31, 2025. Doors installed in 2026 or later do not qualify.
Official Resources
IRS overview of the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit
IRS.govDownload Form 5695 for the current tax year
IRS.govFind Energy Star certified doors and requirements by climate zone
ENERGY STARNext Steps
Ready to claim your door credit? Gather your invoices, confirm Energy Star certification, get your manufacturer's QMID, and complete Form 5695 Line 19.
The $500 credit won't make you rich, but it's real money back for an upgrade that also lowers your heating and cooling costs year after year.
If you also installed other efficiency improvements (windows, insulation, heat pumps), make sure to claim those credits too. See our complete Form 5695 guide for all credit types and how to maximize your savings.