The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the most significant piece of climate and clean energy legislation the United States has ever signed into law. The new law allocates billions of dollars in tax credits and incentives for renewable energy projects, including commercial solar installations.
Utility-scale, commercial, industrial, non-profit, and government solar projects all stand to benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act’s solar panel incentive programs. In this article, we’ll break down the new commercial solar provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act and explain how you can take advantage of them for your commercial solar installation.
Disclaimer: This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. It is subject to change and should not be relied on for tax or financial advice of any kind. You should always consult with your own tax advisors before making purchasing, investment, or tax decisions.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, most commercial solar projects can choose either the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) or the Production Tax Credit (PTC). Both credits have potential “adders,” which can be earned by projects that are located in existing energy communities, meet domestic manufacturing requirements, or are installed on qualified low-income properties.
Keep reading to learn more about tax incentives for businesses looking to go solar.
The Inflation Reduction Act increased and extended the solar Investment Tax Credit for commercial solar panel systems. The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a federal tax credit that reduces your tax liability by a percentage of your commercial solar installation costs.
The new Inflation Reduction Act solar tax credit is worth 30% of your total project costs. It will be available at its 30% value until 2023. It will be reduced in 2033 and 2034, and eliminated for most commercial solar projects in 2035.
In addition to increasing and extending the commercial solar tax credit, the IRA also added some new provisions:
The Inflation Reduction Act resurrected the Production Tax Credit for commercial solar panels. The commercial solar production tax credit (PTC) allows owners and developers of qualifying commercial solar energy systems to claim a federal tax credit on every kilowatt-hour of electricity their systems produce for 10 years.
The production tax credit for commercial solar is worth 2.6 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2023 and will be adjusted annually based on inflation. The production tax credit will be available for commercial solar projects until 2036, though it will begin phasing down in 2034.
Like the ITC, the PTC can be transferred to a third party.
Commercial solar projects must meet certain criteria to be eligible for tax credits:
To claim the commercial solar tax credit, the taxpayer must complete and attach IRS Form 3468 to their annual tax return. To claim the production tax credit, the taxpayer must complete and attach IRS Form 8962 to their annual tax return.
The Inflation Reduction Act incentives make now a great time to install commercial solar panels. Boston Solar is the leading commercial solar company in Massachusetts and we can help you take advantage of all the benefits of solar energy for your business.
Boston Solar has been in business for over 10 years and we’ve installed more than 5,000 solar energy systems. Our portfolio includes the new solar energy system at MGM Music Hall at Fenway, and we are a Proud Partner of the Boston Red Sox. If you’re looking for an experienced, Massachusetts-based commercial solar installer near you, give us a call today!
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