Your firm's design activities may qualify for federal and/or state research and development tax credits. Applicable tax laws and regulations do not require a business to discover something so innovative that it advances the field as a whole. They simply require that a product or process be new or an improvement for the individual taxpayer.

Because many architecture project requirements are unique, design activities often qualify for generous federal and state re¬search and development tax credits. Come to this event to:

Item Two: 179D Tax Incentive
 
In the past several years, Congress and recent administrations have placed a huge emphasis on green building initiatives. The most significant of these initiatives is the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which created a tax incentive relating to the design of energy efficient interior lighting, HVAC, hot water, or building envelope systems in commercial buildings. Through this incentive found in section 179D of the Internal Revenue Code, qualifying businesses can receive up to $1.80 per square foot in deductions for eligible projects placed into service any time from 2006 to 2013.

The deduction is available to building owners and lessees who make the energy efficient improvements to their commercial buildings. In addition, designers of government-owned buildings can also get the benefit under a special rule for public property! Eligible designers include architects, engineers, or design/build contractors who have done energy efficient design work for new government buildings or renovations/retrofits of existing government buildings.