ITC
IRA

How many home upgrades can you name where another party will essentially refund up to almost one-third of the total cost of the equipment for you – including the cost of installation? Not many, I bet.

But that’s the case right now with installing a solar system on your home. You may be able to claim the residential investment tax credit (ITC), a federal incentive that increased to 30% or even 40%, thanks to the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Before the passage of IRA, qualifying homeowners were to receive a 26% break this year before the incentive was set to disappear completely in 2024.

Now, the ITC has been increased to 30% for qualifying solar customers and won’t disappear for 10 years. And the incentive will be retroactively applied to anyone who installed their home solar system from the beginning of 2022 onward.*

The answer is YES. The IRS made clear in a private letter ruling in 2018, that homeowner’s batteries attached to solar systems such as home backup batteries, could qualify for the residential tax credit. If you, as the homeowner, own it yourself, and the battery is charged by your home solar panels, your battery system may be eligible for the federal solar tax credit.

Starting in 2023, you may be able to claim the 30% tax credit for stand-alone battery storage as well — meaning the battery doesn't have to be powered by renewable energy.

What equipment and appliances qualify for Inflation Reduction Act? Solar systems, battery energy storage systems, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electric stoves, electric cooktops, electric ranges, electric ovens, and electric heat pump clothes dryers are all eligible for rebates, which vary in amount depending on the product.

To qualify for the federal solar tax credit*, you must meet all of the following requirements, per the USA Department of Energy (USA DoE):

1. You must own your home.
2. Your federal tax liability must be sufficient to apply for the 30% tax credit.
3. You must own your solar panels and, if applicable, energy storage system (battery or ESS). If you sign a solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA), then a third-party owns the system, and you won’t qualify for the ITC.

All of the costs listed here may be included on your IRS Form 5695. We can help you by itemizing them for you.

1. Cost of the battery system, the EV charger, and solar PV panels (if applicable) and the cost of appliances to electrifying your entire home
2. Labor costs for onsite preparation and original installation, including permitting fees, inspection costs and developer fees
3. Additional equipment, such as wiring, inverters and mounting equipment
4. Sales tax on eligible expenses

You claim the residential tax credit when you file your yearly federal income tax return. Well, it’s relatively simple…

Seek professional tax advice first of all, to ensure that you are eligible for the credit. Then consult your tax advisor to complete IRS Form 5695 “Residential Energy Credits” and include the final results of that form on your IRS Schedule3/Form 1040.

To qualify for the federal solar tax credit*, you must meet all of the following requirements, per the USA Department of Energy (USA DoE):

1. You must own your home.
2. Your federal tax liability must be sufficient to apply for the 30% tax credit.
3. You must own your solar panels and, if applicable, energy storage system (battery or ESS). If you sign a solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA), then a third-party owns the system, and you won’t qualify for the ITC.

Some states offer additional tax incentives, rebates and property tax exemptions for installing a home solar system. With these state-level programs, you may be able to deduct a portion of the cost of your solar panel system from your state tax bill, similar to how it works with the federal tax credits. Consult your tax advisor regarding how state incentives and credits may affect your tax liability.

Solar and storage credits vary significantly by state, but your Sunnova dealer will be up to date on your local incentives and can steer you in the right direction.* You can find more state-specific incentives at www.dsireusa.org.

Many states have adopted some form of clean energy targets or renewable portfolio standards (RPS) that require utilities to generate a certain percentage of their electricity from solar power. If you live in one of these states, your rooftop solar system will generate solar Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) based on the amount of clean energy your panels produce.

These RECs (or SRECs if we are referring to solar-only) represent the environmental benefits of renewable generation, not the actual electricity. They are essentially a certificate of property rights over one unit of this “greenness.”

Now, back to those federal tax credits.

You might be eligible for the increased 30% residential ITC for a system installed earlier this year if you meet all the following criteria:*

1. Your solar PV system was installed between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2034. Your system must be turned on during the tax year for which you are claiming the credit on federal taxes.
2. The solar PV system is located at your primary or secondary residence in the United States, or for an off-site community solar project.
3. You own the solar PV system (i.e., you purchased it via a solar loan).
4. The solar PV system is new or being used for the first time. The credit can only be claimed for the original installation of the solar equipment. If you are buying a home that already has a solar system installed, for instance, you wouldn’t qualify for the ITC.

Anyone who buys their system outright or finances via a solar loan can claim the solar tax credit as long as they have tax liability in the year of installation. Therefore, the ITC is a one-time credit. However, if you don’t have enough tax liability to claim the entire credit in one year, you can carry any leftover amount forward to the next year as long as the tax credit is still in effect.

At EEI, we’re committed to providing a better energy service at a better price. As the price of electricity continues to rise, the sooner you install battery, EV charger, electrifying and solar on your home, the sooner you can protect yourself from volatile energy costs.

Eco Estates International is global, diversified and sustainable. When you choose us as your contractor, you are choosing a company that is able to weather fluctuations in our industries, ultimately ensuring our ability to provide long term service and solid warranties for our customers.