Two credits, split by how the property is used
North Carolina runs two separate historic rehabilitation tax credits, and which one applies depends entirely on how the property is used:
- Owner-occupied residence → a 15% North Carolina state credit. No federal credit.
- Income-producing (rental, B&B, commercial) → the federal 20% credit plus a tiered NC state credit, with possible bonuses depending on the property's location.
Both programs are administered by the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), with the National Park Service handling the federal side.
Bertie County's historic assets
Bertie County has two well-known National Register-listed historic assets that anchor its historic preservation landscape:
- Windsor Historic District — National Register-listed. Historic homes within the district are candidates for either credit, but contributing status is parcel-specific and should be confirmed with SHPO before relying on the credit.
- Hope Plantation — a well-known National Register-listed historic site in Bertie County.
The Tier 1 bonus for income-producing projects
Bertie County is a North Carolina state-designated Tier 1 county — the most economically distressed development tier under the NC Department of Commerce's annual county tier rankings. Because of that designation, an additional 5% bonus applies to income-producing rehabilitation in Tier 1 counties like Bertie, on top of the standard NC credit tiers. That means income-producing projects in Bertie County can reach a higher NC state credit percentage than the base rate available elsewhere in North Carolina.
Confirm the exact combined percentage
This page does not state a confirmed combined final percentage for the Tier 1 income-producing bonus. Before relying on a specific number for project financials, confirm the exact combined percentage with SHPO or the NC Department of Revenue.
The Tier 1 bonus applies only to income-producing rehabilitation. The owner-occupied 15% state credit applies in Bertie County the same way it does statewide — there is no special Bertie bonus for an owner-occupied project.
The owner-occupied credit's cap and five-year limit
The owner-occupied 15% credit isn't unlimited. Under NCGS 105-129.106(b), it's capped at $22,500 per discrete property parcel, and a taxpayer can claim it no more than once in any five-year period. For most rehab budgets in Bertie County that cap won't bind on its own — $22,500 covers $150,000 of qualifying rehabilitation expenses at 15% — but a homeowner planning a larger project in phases should plan around the five-year reset rather than assume a second phase qualifies for a second credit right away.
Carryforward: unused credit isn't lost
Under NCGS 105-129.108(c), if your credit — either the owner-occupied 15% credit or the income-producing federal-plus-state stack — exceeds what you owe North Carolina in a given tax year, the unused portion can be carried forward for up to nine years. That carryforward applies to both programs, not just one.
Confirm before filing
The $22,500 cap, five-year claim limit, and nine-year carryforward above are quoted directly from NCGS 105-129.106(b) and 105-129.108(c). Statutes change and individual circumstances vary — confirm current figures and how they apply to your specific filing with SHPO or the NC Department of Revenue before relying on them.
| Program | Owner-Occupied | Income-Producing |
|---|---|---|
| NC state credit | 15% flat | 15% to $10M, then 10% from $10M–$20M |
| Federal credit | None | 20% (over 5 years) |
| Bertie Tier 1 bonus | Not applicable | +5% bonus applies — confirm exact combined percentage with SHPO/NCDOR |
| Minimum rehab spend | More than $10,000 in 24 months | Greater of adjusted basis or $5,000 in 24 months |
| Per-parcel credit cap | $22,500 (NCGS 105-129.106(b)) | This page does not state a cap for the income-producing side — confirm with NCDOR |
| Claim frequency | Once per 5-year period (NCGS 105-129.106(b)) | Not stated on this page — confirm with NCDOR |
| Unused credit carryforward | Up to 9 years (NCGS 105-129.108(c)) | Up to 9 years (NCGS 105-129.108(c)) |
| Reviewing agency | NC SHPO | NC SHPO + National Park Service |
| Standards reviewed against | Secretary of the Interior's Standards | Secretary of the Interior's Standards |
Estimate your own credit stack
Plug in your qualifying rehabilitation expenses and property use below for a real estimate. Note: this calculator shows the base federal 20% + NC 15% stack — it does not add Bertie County's Tier 1 income-producing bonus described above. An income-producing estimate here is a floor, not the final number; confirm the exact combined percentage with SHPO or NCDOR.
Bertie County Historic Tax Credit Calculator
Plug in your qualifying rehabilitation expenses and property use to see your real federal + NC credit estimate.
Total documented rehabilitation cost, incurred within a 24-month period. A $10,000 minimum applies for NC credit eligibility.
- Federal Historic Tax Credit (20%)$0
- NC Historic Rehabilitation Credit (15%)$0
Estimate only — not tax advice. NC credit carries forward for 9 years if not fully used in the year earned; the owner-occupied cap applies once per 5-year period, per property. Consult a CPA and historic tax credit advisor before making financial decisions.
National Register status is the threshold requirement
For either credit, the property must be listed in the National Register of Historic Places — individually, or as a contributing building in a National Register district. The Windsor Historic District and Hope Plantation are both National Register-listed, which makes properties connected to them candidates for the credit. Contributing status is still parcel-specific — confirm a given address with SHPO before relying on either credit.
Considering a renovation of a historic home in Windsor specifically? See Historic Downtown Renovation in Windsor for a closer look at what a project in the district actually involves.
Considering a specific address?
Get the Field Guide, plus a property-specific read before you write an offer.
Send the address and Travis will check contributing status within the Windsor Historic District, and give you a rough sense of the owner-occupied vs. income-producing math, free, before you commit to a tax credit advisor.
Frequently asked questions
Does Bertie's Tier 1 status affect my owner-occupied credit?
No — the Tier 1 bonus only applies to income-producing rehabilitation projects. If you're rehabilitating a home you live in, you qualify for North Carolina's standard 15% owner-occupied credit, the same as anywhere else in the state.
Is Windsor's historic district eligible for these credits?
The Windsor Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which is a threshold requirement for both the owner-occupied and income-producing NC historic tax credits. Contributing status is still parcel-specific — confirm a given address with SHPO before relying on the credit.
What is Hope Plantation, and does it qualify?
Hope Plantation is a well-known National Register-listed historic site in Bertie County. National Register listing is a threshold requirement for the state historic tax credit programs, though specific eligibility for a rehabilitation project still depends on the scope of work and SHPO review.
How big is the Tier 1 bonus, exactly?
An additional 5% bonus applies to income-producing rehabilitation in Tier 1 counties like Bertie, on top of the standard NC credit tiers. This page does not state a combined final percentage with confidence — confirm the exact combined percentage with SHPO or the NC Department of Revenue before relying on it for a specific project.
Do I get the federal 20% credit on a home I live in?
No. The federal 20% historic tax credit applies only to income-producing certified historic structures. If you live in the home, you qualify for North Carolina's 15% owner-occupied state credit instead, not the federal credit.
Is the owner-occupied credit capped, and can I claim it more than once?
Yes to both. Under NCGS 105-129.106(b), the owner-occupied 15% credit is capped at $22,500 per discrete property parcel, and a taxpayer can claim it no more than once in any five-year period. If your credit exceeds what you owe NC in a given year, NCGS 105-129.108(c) lets you carry the unused portion forward for up to nine years — that carryforward applies to both the owner-occupied and income-producing credits.