Federal tax incentives for energy-efficient home improvements, including qualifying HVAC equipment, have existed in various forms for years, and high-efficiency air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces have often been included. The honest, useful answer to "does my new system qualify" is that it depends on the specific equipment's efficiency rating, the tax year, and current federal law at the time of installation, all of which change.
Why we're not quoting a specific credit amount here
Federal energy tax credit programs get adjusted, extended, reduced, or replaced by new legislation over time. A specific dollar figure or percentage that was accurate a year or two ago may not reflect current law. Rather than publish a number that could be outdated by the time you're reading this, the more useful thing we can do is tell you exactly where to check.
Where to check current, accurate information
The IRS's own energy efficient home improvement credit information (searchable directly at IRS.gov) is the authoritative source for current federal tax credit rules, income limits, and qualifying equipment standards. ENERGY STAR's website also maintains guidance on which specific equipment tiers qualify for federal incentives in a given year. A tax professional can confirm exactly how a credit applies to your specific tax situation, which isn't something a contractor is qualified to advise on regardless of good intentions.
What we can tell you before installation
What we can do is tell you the efficiency rating (SEER2, HSPF2, or AFUE depending on the equipment) of any system we quote, since that's the information you or your tax professional need to check against current credit requirements. If a specific system you're considering happens to qualify for an incentive at the time of your installation, that's worth knowing before you decide, not after.
Utility rebates are a separate, often more immediate option
Separate from federal tax credits, local utility companies frequently offer their own rebates for high-efficiency equipment, and those programs tend to change on their own schedule too. It's worth asking specifically about current utility rebates for your address at the time of your installation, since those are sometimes easier to confirm and apply than federal tax credit eligibility.
Have a question about your own system?