Solar Rebate Eligibility Calculator

Enter your state, system size, and income status — get every federal, state, and utility incentive you qualify for, ranked by priority, with required documentation.

Your installation details

State?

System size?

Adding battery storage?

Low-income household?

Annual household income?

Are you the homeowner?

System status?

Rebates & incentives you likely qualify for

6 incentives found in California

federalFederal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

30% of system cost = $7,440

Claim in the tax year installation is complete. Carries forward up to 22 years if you can't use it all in one year.

Docs needed: Form 5695 • Contractor invoice • Installation address proof

stateSGIP Battery Incentive

$150–$1,000+/kWh for battery storage

Equity tier available for low-income — much higher incentive.

Docs needed: SGIP application • Battery specs • Utility interconnection

stateCA Solar Initiative — MASH (Multifamily)

$500–$1,000/kW for low-income multifamily

Docs needed: Income verification • Contractor license

stateCA Property Tax Exclusion

100% property tax exclusion on added system value

Docs needed: None required — automatic

stateCA Sales Tax Exemption

100% — no sales tax on solar equipment

Docs needed: None required — automatic

utilityPG&E / SCE / SDG&E Solar Incentive

$0 (rebates ended, net metering active)

Utility rebates ended 2021. NEM 3.0 now applies — check export rate.

Docs needed: Interconnection application • Single-line diagram

Additional automatic exemptions in California: Property tax exclusion | Sales tax exemption

CLAIM IN THIS ORDER

1. Federal ITC (Form 5695) — claim in your installation tax year, before state
2. State tax credits — file with your state return same year
3. Utility rebates — apply before or during installation (some have waitlists)
4. Verify property tax exemption with your county assessor after installation

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How to Use This Calculator

Enter your state and system details

Select your state — incentives vary enormously between states. New York residents can stack 5+ programs simultaneously; Texas residents primarily rely on the federal ITC and property tax exemption. Enter your system size in kilowatts to estimate your installation cost and ITC amount. The calculator uses $3.10/W as the national average installed cost — update your estimate when you have actual quotes.

Indicate battery, income status, and ownership

Battery storage unlocks additional incentives in California (SGIP up to $1,000/kWh), Hawaii (GEMS up to $7,500), and the federal ITC applies to batteries charged 100% from solar. Low-income status unlocks significantly higher incentives in NY (LMI program covers most install cost), California (SGIP equity tier), and the IRA's 10-20% bonus credit adder. Homeownership is required for ITC and most property-based incentives.

Review the prioritized incentive list

The calculator outputs every applicable incentive in your situation, ranked by priority. Federal ITC comes first — always claim it before state credits. Application deadlines and required documentation are listed for each incentive. Some utility rebates have waitlists or limited capacity — apply early, especially for CA SGIP and NY-Sun.

The Stacking Framework

Federal ITC = System Cost × 30% (+ 10% or 20% bonus for low-income) State Tax Credit = Cost × state rate (15% MA, 25% NY, 35% HI) Utility Rebate = Per-watt or per-kWh amount (varies by utility) Net Cost = System Cost - Federal ITC - State Credit - Utility Rebates Property Tax: excluded from taxable home value in ~40 states Sales Tax: exempt at point of sale in ~25 states

Solar incentives are designed to stack — the federal ITC does not reduce your state tax credit base in most states. You claim the state credit on the full system cost in most states, then separately claim the federal 30% ITC. Some states (Maryland, South Carolina) explicitly add a state credit on top of federal. Always consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

Example

Maria — Low-income homeowner in New York City

Maria earns $48,000/year and wants a 6 kW solar system in Queens. As a low-income homeowner, she qualifies for NY's LMI tier through the NY-Sun program, state tax credit, and federal ITC.

StateNew York

System size6 kW

Estimated cost~$18,600 (before incentives)

Low-incomeYes (<80% AMI)

Incentives Applied

Federal ITC (30%)-$5,580

NY-Sun LMI Program-$9,650

NY State Tax Credit (25%)-$1,000 (capped)

Property tax exemption$0 added to tax bill (15 yr)

Sales tax exemption$0 sales tax on equipment

Net cost after incentives~$2,370

Maria's $18,600 system costs her about $2,370 after all stacked incentives — an 87% reduction. The LMI program is the key differentiator: without it, her net cost would be ~$12,020. The program has limited capacity and income documentation requirements — she should apply immediately through a NY-Sun approved installer.

FAQ

Can I stack the federal ITC with state rebates? ▼

Yes — federal and state incentives are designed to stack. You claim the federal 30% ITC on your total system cost on Form 5695. State tax credits are typically claimed on your state return using the same cost basis. The exception: if a state rebate is paid directly to you (not to the installer), it may reduce your ITC basis — consult a tax professional. Utility rebates paid to you also typically reduce your federal ITC basis dollar-for-dollar, while rebates paid to the installer typically don't affect your ITC.

What is the federal solar ITC and who qualifies? ▼

The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) lets you deduct 30% of your solar system's total installed cost from your federal income taxes. To qualify: you must own the system (not lease it), it must be installed at your US property, and you must have federal tax liability to use the credit against. If your credit exceeds your liability in year 1, the remainder carries forward to future tax years — up to 22 years through 2032. Renters do not qualify. The 30% rate applies through 2032; it decreases to 26% in 2033 and 22% in 2034.

Do solar rebates affect my home's property taxes? ▼

In most states, no — not because of the rebate, but because most states have a property tax exemption specifically for solar. About 36 states exclude the added value of a solar system from your property tax assessment. Without the exemption, a solar system that adds $15,000 to your home's value would increase your annual property tax bill by $150-400. With the exemption, your property taxes don't change. The exemption must typically be applied for — it's not always automatic. Check with your county assessor's office after installation.

What rebates are available for adding a battery without solar? ▼

A standalone battery (not paired with solar) generally doesn't qualify for the federal solar ITC. However, if the battery is charged exclusively by solar panels (even solar panels already installed), it qualifies for the 30% ITC. State-level battery incentives vary: California's SGIP is available for standalone batteries and pays $150-1,000+/kWh depending on your income tier and utility. Hawaii's GEMS program requires solar pairing. Massachusetts has a standalone storage incentive through National Grid and Eversource. Check your state's utility commission for current battery-specific programs.

What is the IRA low-income bonus credit and how do I apply? ▼

The Inflation Reduction Act created two bonus credit adders for low-income solar installations. Category 1 (10% adder) applies to solar installed in low-income communities or on affordable housing. Category 2 (20% adder) applies to solar installed for households earning below 80% of Area Median Income in Qualified Census Tracts or Energy Communities. Combined with the base 30% ITC, qualifying households can get a 40-50% federal tax credit. You must apply to the IRS in advance for an allocation — capacity is limited annually. Your installer should be familiar with the IRS pre-approval process (Revenue Procedure 2023-27).

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