2025 Solar Incentives Guide for Taylorville, IL - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Taylorville.
You'll learn about:
- Local & State Solar Incentives
- Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2024 and beyond)
- Ways to optimize your solar investment
Solar installers are experts in maximizing your solar tax credits and rebates.
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Taylorville?
Special Assessment for Solar Energy Systems
Solar Renewable Energy Credits
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are designed to make renewable energy usage more affordable via financial incentives for individuals who install solar panels on their homes. Different types of incentives, including discounts, cash back or credit towards your monthly utility bill, might be available to you. Certain incentives may be provided via the Illinois government, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while other incentives are federal. Some solar incentives you might qualify for are:
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs can be sold to your utility company (or other buyers) for money that typically becomes part of your taxable income. Typically, a certain (small) threshold of energy production must be met before your solar system qualifies for SRECs or similar performance-based incentives. These kinds of incentives are generally handled at the state level.
- Tax Exemptions: These could come in the form of property tax exemptions, which allow you to ignore the value of your solar system when paying property tax on your house. They may also include exemptions on sales tax at the time of purchase.
- Tax Credits: These credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in how much in taxes you owe the federal government.
- Net Metering: Net metering factors in after your solar system is up and running. If you have a net metering agreement with your Taylorville utility company, the company will subtract the value of the excess energy produced by your solar system from your monthly utility bill. In some locations, this credit is dollar-for-dollar, while in others you may receive a refund equivalent to a percentage of the value.
- Rebates: Solar rebates might be offered by your local utility company, or by your county or state. These rebates work as cash back that is applied after you pay for solar panels and before tax credits are calculated.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal solar incentives are likely to be the first thing that you think of when you think about solar incentives. It's likely that you've heard of the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC. This is a tax credit that reduces your taxes by a predetermined percentage of the money you spend on solar panels for your home.
The ITC applies to solar panels installed after January 1, 2006, on a primary or secondary residence that you own in the United States. The credit initially covered 30% of the total cost – for panels, labor, accessories and equipment – although that amount may range from 26-30%, depending on when your solar project was undertaken. There is no cap on the amount you can claim.
To better understand exactly how much the ITC could save you, get in touch with your local Taylorville solar panel installer.
The ITC was both renewed and expanded by the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022. It's also now called the Clean Energy Credit. The Clean Energy Credit runs until 2035. Your solar installation project undertaken between 2022 and 2032 may qualify for a 30% tax credit. The amount will decrease slightly each year until the current program ends. Starting in 2023, the expansion to the program will also make credits for energy storage systems even easier to claim.
Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. To fully understand how the new Clean Energy Credit will apply to you, get in touch with your local Taylorville solar installation expert.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives are often also provided at the state and local level. Like with federal incentives, these may include tax credits, rebates and more. These incentives may be handled by the Illinois government, or by your county or municipality. Certain incentives are ongoing, while others are available for a limited time.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Taylorville
Nationwide solar energy use has significantly increased in the last 15 years, in part thanks to the increase in availability of solar incentives. You may get these incentives from your local utility company, the federal government or the Illinois government. Your local Taylorville solar panel installation company can give you more information about which incentives you might qualify for, and get you feeling good about making the change to renewable energy today.
EcoWatch's Taylorville, IL Solar Incentives FAQs
Who installs solar panels near me?
To find the best solar panel installer in your area, check out our guide to Taylorville's best solar panel companies.
What are some environmental benefits of adding solar panels to my home?
You can reduce your carbon footprint by 500 pounds of CO2 a year when you switch to solar panels. This adds up to roughly 13,000 pounds over 20 years. In addition, solar power is a renewable energy source, which means that switching your home over lessens the drain on our planet's resources.
How long until the federal solar tax credit ends?
The Clean Energy Credit (formerly named the federal solar tax credit, or the ITC), currently ends on January 1, 2035. Currently set at 30%, the credit will drop to 26% in 2033 and to 22% in 2034.
If I change out my appliances for ones that use solar energy, are there any credits that I can claim?
The new Inflation Reduction Act creates several new financial incentives to encourage you to make eco-friendly improvements to your home. More details regarding these incentives, including information about incentives for purchasing new appliances, can be found here.
Can I apply for incentives both towards the up-front cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
Yes, you can claim both tax credits and rebates towards the cost of your solar panels. Depending on precisely which incentives you are applying for, they may apply in a different order. Make sure that you speak with your solar installer or a local tax professional to verify that you are claiming the correct incentives and that you're getting the most money you can.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert's opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Solar incentive research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.