Solar Tax Credit & Incentive Calculator — Your Net Cost, 2026

See your solar cost after available incentives — updated for the expired US federal residential credit and what's still on the table.

⏱ ~15 sec📋 2026 policy accurate🔒 No signup
Verify your specific program — this varies enormously by location

Your net cost

$16,800
Estimated net cost
Gross system cost$16,800
Total incentive value$0
Effective discount0 %

Incentive programs change frequently and by jurisdiction — treat this as a planning estimate and confirm exact eligibility with a tax professional or your local incentive database before relying on it.

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Further reading: Solar Tax Credits in 2026: What's Left After the Federal Credit Expired

The 2026 US federal credit — what changed

The 30% federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025, ended early by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Homeowners who buy a system with cash or a loan in 2026 receive $0 in federal credit — a major shift from the prior decade of solar marketing. The commercial credit (Section 48/48E) is still active for business-owned systems and for lease/PPA providers, which is why some leased or PPA offers can still reflect a lower effective rate even without a direct homeowner credit. State tax credits, utility rebates, property tax exemptions and SRECs remain available in many areas and are where the real 2026 savings now come from — check a database like DSIRE for your specific state.

How net cost is calculated

Total incentive value = (Gross cost × Local incentive %) + Flat rebate
Net cost = Gross cost − Total incentive value

Frequently asked questions

I already installed solar in 2025 — do I still get the federal credit?

Yes — systems placed in service on or before December 31, 2025 remain eligible; claim it on that year's tax return using IRS Form 5695. This calculator models new 2026-and-later installations, where the credit no longer applies to owned systems.

Does a lease or PPA still save me money without the credit?

Often yes, since the installer/owner can still claim the commercial credit and may pass some of that value through as a lower rate — but you personally don't receive a tax credit. Compare the real numbers with the Lease vs. Buy vs. PPA Calculator.

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