Heat pump rebates after 25C, and how to check the AHRI certificate
Updated 2026-10-24 · 4 min read · Figures are computed from our sourced data at publish time.
For a few years, heat pump buyers could count on a federal tax credit. That changed, and plenty of quotes have not caught up. Here is what is and is not available for a heat pump installed now, with links to the primary sources, plus a step-by-step check of the AHRI certificate, the document that decides whether your system is rated what the quote says and whether it qualifies for rebates.
The federal 25C tax credit: ended
The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C) paid up to $2,000 a year for a qualifying heat pump (IRS). The One Big Beautiful Bill Act ended it early. The IRS now lists 25C as "Not allowed for any property placed in service after Dec. 31, 2025". The date that matters is when the system was installed and working, not when you paid. A heat pump installed in 2026 does not qualify. If a quote subtracts a federal tax credit, ask the contractor to remove it and re-total.
HEAR / HEEHR rebates: income-qualified, state-run
The Inflation Reduction Act also created point-of-sale rebates for electrification, called HEAR or HEEHR (Section 50122). Under the statute (42 U.S.C. § 18795a):
- A heat pump for space heating or cooling can receive up to $8,000.
- Total rebates are capped at $14,000.
- Households under 80% of area median income can be covered for up to 100% of project cost; households from 80% to 150% for up to 50%.
- Households above 150% of area median income are not eligible.
The program is administered by state energy offices, and each state decides how and when to run it, which measures to cover and which contractors may participate. The DOE program page tells homeowners to contact their state energy office for status. Find yours in the NASEO directory. Do not count on a HEAR rebate until your state program has confirmed your eligibility in writing; in many states it must be applied at the point of sale through a participating contractor.
Utility and state rebates
Many electric utilities and some states run their own heat pump rebates, separate from HEAR. They often require ENERGY STAR certified or cold-climate equipment and sometimes a participating contractor or pre-approval. Search by ZIP in the ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder and DSIRE. Read the terms before you sign: some programs cannot be combined with others, and some must be reserved before installation.
Why the AHRI certificate matters
A split heat pump's efficiency rating (SEER2 for cooling, HSPF2 for heating, EER2 at peak heat) belongs to a specific combination of outdoor unit and indoor coil or air handler, tested and listed by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute. Change the indoor unit and the rating can change. Rebate programs and ENERGY STAR certification are tied to that certified combination, usually identified by an AHRI reference number.
ENERGY STAR's key product criteria for split-system heat pumps are at least 7.8 HSPF2, 15.2 SEER2 and 11.0 EER2. The cold-climate designation for ducted systems requires at least 8.1 HSPF2, plus a COP of at least 1.75 at 5°F and at least 70% of rated heating capacity at 5°F.
How to check the AHRI certificate, step by step
- Get the model numbers of the outdoor unit and the indoor coil or air handler (and furnace for a dual-fuel system) from the quote.
- Ask the contractor for the AHRI certificate or reference number for that exact combination. Any contractor quoting a rebate-eligible system should be able to produce it in minutes.
- Look it up yourself in the AHRI Directory. Search by reference number or by the outdoor model, then confirm the indoor model on the certificate matches the quote, not a different coil.
- Check ENERGY STAR status in the ENERGY STAR heat pump database, which lists the AHRI reference number for each certified pairing. Our system pages link the exact ENERGY STAR record for 13 of the systems we track.
- Compare the ratings on the certificate (SEER2, EER2, HSPF2) with what the quote or brochure claims.
- Keep a copy with your paperwork. Rebate applications usually ask for it.
Example from our data: the Trane 3-ton system pairs outdoor unit A5HL5036A1000AA with indoor unit A5AHV004A1D3. Its ENERGY STAR record lists AHRI reference 216439108 at 16 SEER2, 11.7 EER2 and 8.1 HSPF2, with a COP of 1.75 at 5°F, and it is designated cold climate. Pair the same outdoor unit with a different coil and those numbers no longer apply.
Common certificate problems in quotes
- Mismatched coil. The quote names a premium outdoor unit but a cheaper or existing indoor coil. The certified rating may not apply.
- Outdoor-only replacement. Replacing just the condenser and keeping an old coil rarely produces a certified match, especially across a refrigerant change.
- "Up to" ratings. Brochures quote the best pairing in a product line. Your pairing may be lower.
- Rebate promised, certificate missing. No certificate, no rebate. Ask before you sign, not after.
Putting it together
For a heat pump installed now, assume no federal tax credit, check HEAR eligibility with your state energy office if your household income is under 150% of area median, look for utility rebates by ZIP, and make the contractor show the AHRI certificate for the exact pairing on the quote. Then run the price through the TonnageCheck quote auditor, which also lists the rebate links for your ZIP.