Tax Credits For Solar System Purchase

When you install a solar system 26 of your total project costs including equipment permitting and installation can be claimed as a credit on your federal tax return.

Tax credits for solar system purchase.

Federal solar tax credit. Filing requirements for solar credits. If you spend 10 000 on your system you owe 2 600 less in taxes the following year. The itc applies to both residential and commercial systems and there is no cap on its value.

First enacted in 2005 as part of the energy policy act of 2005 the solar tax credit began as a tax credit of 30 percent of the cost to install a solar panel system with a maximum credit of 2 000. In 2008 the itc was reauthorized and the cap was lifted. The solar tax credit expires in 2022. If you end up with a bigger credit than you have income tax due a 3 000 credit on a 2 500 tax bill for instance you can t use the credit to get money back from the irs.

To claim the credit you must file irs form 5695 as part of your tax return. You calculate the credit on the form and then enter the result on your 1040. If say your federal taxes are 6 000 for 2020 and you re eligible for a 7 000 tax credit for installing a solar system at your house you can claim the leftover 1 000 as a credit toward your. For example if your solar pv system was installed before december 31 2019 cost 18 000 and your utility gave you a one time rebate of 1 000 for installing the system your tax credit would be calculated as follows.