We had insulation installed last fall that is eligible for the 30% energy efficiency tax credit. However, being an idiot, I neglected to actually claim the credit on my 2009 taxes. Assuming I don’t have any other claims counting against my maximum efficiency tax credit, can I put the claim on my 2010 taxes instead?
Instead of filing an amended return and taking it now?
IIRC, when I use TurboTax, the last year or two they have asked me if there were any energy tax credits I needed to carryover from the previous year.
If any tax mavens come around, I do believe the relevant tax code is 25D(c)(2)
Carryover tax credits is completely different than simply making a mistake on your 2009 tax return, which I think is what the OP is talking about. In the latter case the only recourse is to file an amended return, which he should do as soon as possible.
You need to file an amended 2009 return. The credit claimed for a year relates to expenditures made “during such year.” So, even though you’d be doing the IRS a favor by waiting to take the credit, the credit could be disallowed simply because the expenditures were made in a different tax year.