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If you're considering solar or you already have a solar system on your property, you've probably heard about the federal solar tax credit, also known as the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The ITC is one of the best ways to save money when you go solar because it reduces your overall costs by thousands of dollars.
That's because it makes going solar significantly more affordable for homeowners and businesses by granting a dollar-for-dollar reduction to your tax bill equal to 30% of the total cost of a solar energy system. There's plenty of information out there about the value of the ITC, but figuring out how to claim the credit when it comes time to file your taxes is another story. In this article, we'll walk you through the step-by-step instructions of how to claim your federal solar tax credit in 2024.
There are three main steps you'll need to take to benefit from the ITC:
1. Determine if you're eligible
2. Complete IRS Form 5695
3. Add to Schedule 3 and Form 1040
This article is intended to provide an informational overview of the federal solar tax credit for interested homeowners. It is not intended to serve as official financial guidance. Readers interested in installing solar products should use their best judgment and seek advice from a licensed professional before purchasing or investing.
Find out what solar panels cost in your area in 2024Form 5695 is the official IRS tax form you must use to claim the federal solar tax credit when you file your taxes. You can download a copy of Form 5695 (PDF) on the IRS website. The form is updated every year, so make sure you use the most recent version available.
What’s new on Form 5695 this year is the ability to claim credit for qualified battery storage technology. As long your costs for installing battery storage were incurred after Dec. 31, 2022, they are eligible to qualify for the ITC.
The federal government recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which bumped the ITC up to 30% for all systems installed in 2023 through 2034.
You are eligible for the Federal ITC if you own your solar energy system rather than lease it. If you sign a lease agreement, the third-party owner gets the solar tax credit associated with the system. This is also true for the vast majority of state and local incentives for solar. In some special cases, a lease will grant you the financial benefits associated with the sale of solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs). You're also eligible even if the solar energy system is not on your primary residence – as long as you own the property and live in it for part of the year, you can claim the solar tax credit.
Suppose your federal tax liability is lower than the total amount of your ITC savings. In that case, you can still use it by carrying over any remaining credits to the following year. For example, let's say you spend $25,000 to install a solar system on your home in 2023, which means you are eligible for a $7,500 federal solar tax credit. If your federal tax liability for 2023 is only $5,000, you will owe no federal taxes that year, and in 2024, you'll reduce your tax liability by $2,500.