Start with what changed: the federal credit is gone
The federal 25C credit expired on December 31, 2025. The IRS is explicit that it is not allowed for any property placed in service after that date, so there is no federal heat pump or furnace tax credit in 2026. Most of the contractor rebate pages still ranking on Google were written in 2024 and still promise you that $2,000, and following a stale page is how you plan around money that does not exist anymore. (IRS.gov)
New Hampshire: NHSaves and the new Accelerator
New Hampshire money comes through NHSaves, the utility program, and a new regional program starting in 2026. Here is the current picture.
| Program | What it pays | On what |
|---|---|---|
| NHSaves cold-climate heat pump | About $250 per ton | A qualifying ducted or ductless heat pump |
| NHSaves, replacing electric resistance | Up to $1,250 per ton | A heat pump that replaces baseboard or electric heat |
| New England Heat Pump Accelerator | $650 per outdoor unit | Cold-climate heat pumps, at point of sale, stacks on NHSaves (Feb 2026 on) |
| NHSaves gas furnace | About $300 to $450 | A high-efficiency furnace with an ECM blower |
| NHSaves central AC | About $70 per ton | A qualifying high-efficiency central AC |
| Home Energy Performance | Up to $6,000 plus financing | Larger weatherization and efficiency projects |
Those figures are from NHSaves and the New Hampshire Department of Energy. The Accelerator is the genuinely new one for 2026: $650 per outdoor unit, applied right at the point of sale, and it stacks on top of the NHSaves rebate. (NHSaves.com)
Massachusetts: Mass Save and the HEAT Loan
If your home is on the Massachusetts side of the line, in Methuen, Haverhill, Lawrence, or the rest of the Merrimack Valley, you are in Mass Save territory, and the numbers are bigger, with more strings attached.
| Program | What it pays | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-home heat pump | $2,650 per ton, up to $8,500 | Requires removing fossil-fuel heat and weatherization |
| Partial heat pump | $1,125 per ton | When the heat pump does not fully replace the old system |
| HEAT Loan | 0% APR up to $25,000 | Interest-free financing for qualifying equipment |
| Income-based enhanced | Up to no cost | For income-qualified households |
Those are the 2026 Mass Save numbers, which came down from 2025, so a page quoting last year higher figures is another stale one to watch for. The whole-home rebate is the big one, but it requires taking out the old fossil-fuel system and doing weatherization first. (MassSave.com)
How to actually get the money
- Buy qualifying equipment. The rebates are tied to specific cold-climate models and efficiency ratings, so the equipment choice has to be made with the rebate in mind.
- Use a participating contractor. Both programs require the work go through a participating installer for the rebate to process.
- Keep the paperwork. Model numbers, invoices, and the rebate forms all have to line up, and I handle that part with you.
- Do not double-count the federal credit. It is gone for 2026, so build your budget on the state money that is actually there.
The bottom line
The federal credit expired, but between NHSaves, the new $650 Accelerator, and Mass Save up to $8,500, there is still real money on the table in 2026. The trap is planning around a stale page that still promises the federal credit. I quote the current, correct numbers for your side of the line and put them in writing for free.
