2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Burke, VA - Tax Credits & Rebates

What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Burke?

Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/

Solar incentives are intended to encourage people to switch their home over to renewable energy by providing financial incentives that lower the burden of solar panel installation and use. Incentives can include things like discounts, cash back or credit towards your monthly utility bill. Some incentives are handled federally, while others are handled by the Virginia government or your utility company, county or municipality. Categories of solar incentives include:

• Net Metering: Net metering is an incentive you can get once your solar panels are up and running. If you have in place a net metering agreement with your Burke utility company, it will subtract the value of the excess energy your solar system produces from your utility bill each month. In some locations, this credit is dollar-for-dollar, while in others you might receive a refund equivalent to a percentage of the value.
• Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions go into effect at the point of sale for your solar system. Property tax exemptions allow you to exclude the value that your solar panels add when you calculate the amount of property tax you need to pay.
• Tax Credits: Tax credits lower, dollar-for-dollar, the amount of income tax you owe the federal government. Tax credits differ from tax deductions.
• Rebates: Solar companies may help you claim a rebate, or partial refund of your purchase, for your solar panels. States or counties will also sometimes offer limited-time rebates. The value of a rebate will usually be deducted from your total price before any tax credits are calculated.
• Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): In most cases, solar systems that produce more than a specified (normally small) amount of electricity can qualify for SRECs or other similar performance-based incentives. SRECs and similar incentives are typically provided by your state government. SRECs can be sold to your utility company or another buyer, and the money you receive is normally considered part of your taxable income.

Federal Solar Incentives

When you think about solar incentives, you probably think of federal incentives first. You may have heard of the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC. This is a tax credit equal to a predetermined percentage of the money you spend on solar panels for your home.

The ITC can be applied to solar panels installed on your primary or secondary residence in the United States. The solar panels must have been installed after January 1, 2006 on a property you own for you to claim the credit. Originally, the ITC covered 30% of all system installation costs (panels, equipment, accessories and labor), although the covered amount has fluctuated slightly over the years between 26-30%. The installation date of your solar system will determine what percentage you are eligible for. There is no cap on the amount you can claim.

To know exactly how much the ITC could save you, get in touch with your local Burke solar panel installer.

In August 2022, the ITC (now referred to as the Clean Energy Credit) was bolstered by the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act. The Clean Energy Credit is valid until 2035. Your solar installation project undertaken between 2022 and 2032 may qualify for a 30% tax credit; this amount will then decrease slightly on a yearly basis until the end of the current program. Starting in 2023, it will also be easier to get credits for energy storage systems with the new act.

More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. The easiest way to learn more about how the new Clean Energy Credit will apply to you is to talk with your local Burke solar panel installation expert.

State & Local Solar Incentives

There are often state solar incentives available in addition to federal ones. Rebates, tax credits and more may be available at a more local level. Incentives might be given by your county or municipality, or by the state of Virginia. Certain incentives may be available for only a limited time, while others are ongoing.

Next Steps for Installing Solar in Burke

You can apply for and receive solar incentives from the federal government and the Virginia government, as well as from your local utility company. The increased availability of solar initiatives in the past 15 years has helped greatly increase nationwide adoption of solar energy. Speak with your local solar panel installer today to find out more information and to save the most money possible on solar panels for your Burke home.