Solar Tax Credit 2021 By State: What You Need To Know

Installing your own photovoltaic system can be a difficult process, especially for your budget. Installing solar panels is a big investment: the average cost of solar panels is about $16,000.

Solar Tax Credit 2021 By State: What You Need To Know

But if you install solar panels on your home, you can save a lot of money in the long run. In addition, there are a number of incentives and tax credits that encourage homeowners to choose renewable energy. There are federal, state and local grants that will reimburse you for the cost of installing an eligible system.

What is the federal tax credit for photovoltaic systems?

You can get a federal tax credit by installing solar panels. This means you get a tax credit that will actually reduce your tax bill.

In 2006, the federal government introduced the solar investment tax credit (ITC). Since then, the U.S. solar industry has grown by more than 10 000%, with an average annual growth rate of 50% over the past decade. The sector has created hundreds of thousands of jobs and given the U.S. economy an injection of billions of dollars.

You can claim the ITC in the tax year in which you install the solar panels, if the system produces electricity for a U.S. household.

In 2021, the ITC tax credit is 26% for systems installed in 2020 through 2022 and 22% for systems installed in 2023. When deciding whether to install solar panels, consider the credit from 22% to 26%.

How to qualify for the solar energy tax credit

You can apply for the ITC if your solar system is new or was first placed in service between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2023. Unless Congress extends the ITC, it will expire in 2024.

Other requirements are:

You must own the system (you cannot lease it).
The system must be installed in the United States.
The system must be installed at a primary or secondary residence in the United States, or at a community solar project outside the country.

Government incentives for solar energy

In addition to the federal ITC, many states and Puerto Rico offer incentives for the installation of solar panel systems. Each state offers different incentives, but there are some common ones: tax credits, rebates, and renewable energy certificates. States with a large number of solar incentives include California, Texas, Minnesota and New York.

Each state has its own incentives for solar PV, which vary widely. Different governments offer different financial incentives for PV installations. Consult your installer and the National Database of Renewable Energy and Efficiency Incentives for details.

State tax advantages

State tax credits work similarly to the federal ITC, but apply to state taxes. The exact amounts vary widely from state to state and generally do not reduce the federal tax credit.

State refunds

Some states offer a down payment for the installation of a PV system. They are usually available only for a limited time, until financing becomes available. Check your state’s rebates and take advantage of them before they expire. A national rebate can reduce the cost of solar by 10-20%.

Renewable Energy Certificate

Another type of state incentive for PV systems is the solar renewable energy certificate (SREC), also known as a solar renewable energy credit. Once your PV system is installed and registered with the relevant national authorities, the system’s energy production is recorded and you receive periodic SREC rebates. You can sell your SREC units to your local energy company (or other buyer) and receive remuneration, which is usually treated as taxable income.

Other incentives

Rebates from local utilities

Local utilities often offer financial rebates to encourage homeowners to install PV systems. Some offer rebates on energy bills based on the amount of energy produced by the system, while others offer one-time grants for installing a solar PV system.

Incentives that give credit per kilowatt-hour for the energy your system produces are called PBI, or performance-based incentives.

Subsidized loans

Your state or local utility or other non-profit organization may offer subsidized loans to finance the purchase of a solar PV system. Before purchasing a system, discuss subsidized loan options with your local installer; he or she is likely to know about local solar programs.

Tax Credits

In addition to tax incentives, you may also qualify for certain tax credits when installing a solar panel system. Although these systems increase the value of your property, in some states and municipalities they are not taken into account when calculating property taxes, meaning that your property taxes will not increase as a result of installing a solar system.

In some states, there are also programs that ensure that all components of a solar panel system are exempt from sales tax, which can save hundreds of dollars when the system is installed.

Summary of

By combining various tax and other financial incentives, you can save money by installing a solar PV system. Installing a solar panel system requires significant upfront costs, but these programs significantly reduce the total cost of the system.

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