SMACNA Praises Congress, White House for Enacting Numerous Industry Tax Priorities

Aaron Hilger, CEO of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA) praised Congress and the White House for enacting a long list of SMACNA-endorsed business tax provisions that the association, its members, and the industry had been advocating for over many years. The Comprehensive Budget and Tax Act extends essential tax provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which were scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. It makes several other improvements to the U.S. tax code that SMACNA had urged Congress to enact or extend over the last few years.

"Without question, passing the bonus depreciation, Section 179 expensing tax treatment, boosting the CHIPS Act tax credits from 35 percent from the current 25 percent, adding R & D tax credits, continuing many energy development incentives (nuclear and manufacturing and many more vital tax initiatives, will create a more certain and predictable business environment for the HVAC construction and supplier network across the industry and nation. This is a good start, but further work is needed. We are encouraged to see the considerable bipartisan support for another tax reform package in the coming session of Congress. SMACNA will continue to advocate for greater incentives for energy-efficient building systems and retrofits to existing structures residential, public, and commercial,” Hilger added.

Just a summary of the provisions SMACNA and its members endorsed and advocated for include: 

• Bonus Depreciation - Restored the deduction of 100% of qualifying property costs in the year placed in service, including past projects, to boost cash flow and tax savings. 
• Section 179 Expensing Expanded – To allow instant expensing of up to $2.5M in equipment or property purchases with new, higher limits and inflation adjustments. 
• Section 179D Energy-Efficient Deduction – Continues to allow owners to claim up to $5.00/sq ft for energy upgrades in new builds and renovations—applies to both private owners and public building designers. The bill maintains the incentive through 2026.
• The Advanced Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit – The credit is increased from 25% to 35% for technology-related projects, often Chip plants, started by the end of 2026.
• Section 45L Home Energy Credit – Although the incentive survived efforts to repeal it, homeowners can now receive $2,500–$5,000 per unit for building energy-efficient single-family or multifamily housing until the end of 2026. 
• Section 174/174A R&E Deduction Reinstated – Provides immediate deductions for domestic R&D expenses instead of amortizing over five years, retroactive to 2022. 
• Section 41 R&D Tax Credit Enhanced – Continues option to claim 6–20% credit on qualified research while also deducting those same costs under Section 174A.
• Section 199A deduction is made permanent at the deduction rate of 20%.
• Excess Business Losses – Made permanent for excess business loss plus a threshold amount indexed for inflation ($313,000).
• Section 45U, Zero-Emission Nuclear Power PTC – Was not modified or repealed, so the credit is allowed through Dec. 31, 2032,
  

SMACNA's CEO also praised the outcome of the reconciliation process for demonstrating continued support for:

• The deductibility of employer-sponsored health insurance.
• Maintaining the current business state and local tax (SALT) deductions without changes.
• Sustaining current law concerning the treatment of the tax-free status of municipal bonds.
  

The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) is supported by more than 3,500 construction firms engaged in industrial, commercial, residential, architectural, and specialty sheet metal and air conditioning construction in both the public and private sectors throughout the United States.