Solar Energy Credits For Rental Property

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.

Solar energy credits for rental property.

You calculate the credit on the form and then enter the result on your 1040. Filing requirements for solar credits. To claim the credit you must file irs form 5695 as part of your tax return. 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 itc applies to both residential and commercial systems and there is no cap on its value. For the business energy credit solar energy equipment qualifies if it is equipment that uses solar energy to generate electricity to heat or cool or provide hot water for use in a structure or to provide solar process heat except property used to generate energy to heat a swimming pool sec. 48 provides for a solar energy tax credit for the installation of solar panels as part of the general business credit under sec. 48 is more favorable.

On rental properties this is called the energy credit and it is part of the investment tax credit general business credit. They are only available for your principal residence the one exception is if you have a second home that is rented part of the year then you can claim the credit only for the 4 products listed below for the portion of time in which you occupy the residence. Many rental property owners are not aware that these credits are available on their investment properties.