Federal Incentives For Solar Panels

Tapping the sun for power just feels good solar power doesn t pollute reduces our use of coal and other fossil fuels and thereby helps reduce your individual carbon footprint.

Federal incentives for solar panels. The 30 tax credit applies as long as the home solar system is installed by december 31 2019. To encourage americans to use solar power the epa and the department of energy offer tax credits for solar powered systems. The federal solar energy tax credit is a tax credit that s available if you decide to install a solar system. 30 of the costs of equipment permits and installation can be claimed back via your federal tax return.

Your federal tax credit. Starting in 2020 the value of the tax credit will step down to 26 and then again to 22 in 2021. Thanks to the itc the average energysage solar marketplace shopper saves thousands of dollars on the cost of going solar in 2020. The federal solar tax credit also known as the investment tax credit itc allows you to deduct 26 percent of the cost of installing a solar energy system from your federal taxes.

The credit is applied to the following tax year so if you spend 10 000 on a new solar system you ll be able to take a credit of 3 000 the next year. Both homeowners and businesses qualify for a federal tax credit equal to 26 percent of the cost of their solar panel system minus any cash rebates. An average sized residential solar. 0 3 18 000 5 400 state tax credit state tax credits for installing solar.

Updated june 30 2020 the federal solar tax credit also known as the solar investment tax credit or itc is the single most important solar incentive available in the united states. After 2021 the tax credit for residential solar ends. The residential renewable energy tax credit as the irs calls it can be an attractive way to save on the significant cost of installing solar panels or roofing. The itc applies to both residential and commercial systems and there is no cap on its value.

For example if your solar pv system was installed before december 31 2019 installation costs totaled 18 000 and your state government gave you a one time rebate of 1 000 for installing the system your federal tax credit would be calculated as follows. The federal solar tax credit gives you a dollar for dollar reduction against your federal income tax.