05/19/2026
BUILDLAB
6 min readSelf-Scoring Your 9% LIHTC Application: A Walk Through CTCAC §10325(c)
In the 9% round, winning applications max nearly every category. Here is how the CTCAC §10325(c) scoring breaks down — and how to estimate your total before you submit.
The 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit is the most competitive money in affordable housing. CTCAC awards it through a point system under §10325(c), and in most rounds the funded deals are clustered within a point or two of the maximum. If you are not maxing nearly every category, you are not competitive.
Where the points live
The scoring spreads across several major categories. The biggest by far is income targeting; the rest reward experience, location, services, and readiness.
- Lowest Income — the largest category, scaling with how deeply you restrict units below the maximum AMI.
- Site Amenities — proximity to transit, grocery, parks, medical, schools, and high-speed internet (the broadband line lives here).
- Service Amenities — on-site programs and staffing, capped at 10 points.
- Developer and management experience, Housing Needs, Readiness to Proceed, and miscellaneous state policies round out the total.
Technology shows up in two scored categories
This is where many applications quietly leave points behind. High-speed internet to every unit is a Site Amenity line, and the infrastructure that supports on-site services — community-room WiFi, computer labs, security — underpins the Service Amenities score. Reviewers want to see the building physically supports what you commit to on paper.
Estimate your score before you submit
Our TCAC 9% Scoring Estimator walks every major §10325(c) category and totals your estimated points, so you can see where you stand and which categories still have room before you finalize the application.
