Historic Preservation Tax Credit (HTC) Program

This resource is provided in partnership between The Wisconsin Historical Society and WEDC.

Under the program, owners of eligible buildings may receive a state income tax credit for 20 percent of the qualified rehabilitated expenditures up to $3.5 million. This program applies to rehabilitation expenditures, as defined in section 47(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, of $50,000 or more. The completed preservation or rehabilitation must substantially comply with the proposed plan. No physical work of construction or destruction can occur prior to the recommendation of the proposed preservation or rehabilitation by the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). Costs incurred to acquire any building or interest in a building or to enlarge an existing building are not eligible. The rehabilitation must be recommended by the SHPO for approval by the secretary of the interior.

Eligibility

The Historic Preservation Tax Credit only applies to income producing certified historic buildings such as hotels, bed-and-breakfast establishments and other businesses. A “certified historic structure” is a building that is listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places or is located in a registered historic district and is certified by the National Park Service as contributing to the historic significance of that district.

Related Resources