Historic Tax Credit Program   The Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit (RITC) Program is the most widely used incentive program for historic preservation in the United States. The current tax incentives were established by the Tax Reform Act of 1986. They allow a 20% tax credit for the certified rehabilitation of a certified historic structure and a 10% tax credit for the rehabilitation of non-historic, non-residential buildings built before 1936. To be eligible for the 20% Tax Credit: The building must be listed on the National Register of Historic Places either individually or as a contributing building within a district, or be a contributing building to a Local Certified District. It must be used for income producing purposes. The rehabilitation work itself must be undertaken according to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. The project must meet the "substantial rehabilitation test." This test is where the amount of the money to be spent on the rehabilitation is greater that the adjusted basis of the buildings or at least $5,000. Generally, projects must be finished within a 24-month period. In Pennsylvania, two government agencies review all RITC projects. They are the Bureau for Historic Preservation of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the National Park Service. For more information about the RITC program or if your project qualifies, please contact Historic York, Inc.