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Solar Tax Credit Stepdown Calculator

IRA ITC for solar steps down over time — plan project timing against credit schedule.

$
%

ITC credit value

$600,000

Total ITC %

0.40%

Net cost after credit

$900,000

How the math works

Base 30% (2022-2032). Add: domestic 10%, energy community 10%, low-income up to 20%.

$1.5M at 30% + 10% domestic = 40% ITC = $600k credit. Net cost $900k.

How to Use

  1. Enter project cost.
  2. Enter project PIS (placed in service) year.
  3. Enter bonuses applicable (domestic content, energy community, low-income).
  4. Read ITC % and credit value.

Frequently Asked Questions

IRA ITC schedule?

Base ITC: 30% through at least 2032 for projects starting construction before 2033. Possible step-down to 26%, 22%, 10% starting 2033+ if emissions targets hit. Bonus adders: +10% domestic content (US-manufactured equipment), +10% energy community (former fossil fuel sites, retired coal communities), +10-20% low-income bonus (LMI housing, Indian land). Max ITC with stacking: 70%.

Who qualifies?

Commercial solar (business use, income-producing property): ITC 30% base + bonuses. Residential solar: 25D credit 30% (separate). Third-party ownership (solar developer owns, sells power to host): developer captures ITC. Landlord-owned on commercial building: landlord captures ITC. Multifamily landlord: same. Non-profits/tax-exempt entities: direct pay option under IRA (new 2023) — can monetize the credit via refund.

Bonus adders detail?

Domestic content: 40% threshold for components. Common for US solar panels (First Solar, Q CELLS US), inverters (SolarEdge US, Enphase partial), racking (IronRidge, UniRac). Most US-made projects qualify 2024-2028. Energy community: locations with unemployment >10% + fossil fuel dependence, or former coal power plant sites. ~25% of US eligible. Low-income: LIHTC, section 8 housing, or low-income census tracts with capacity allocation.

Credit monetization?

(1) Direct offset of federal income tax (must have tax capacity). (2) Direct pay (tax-exempt entities like housing authorities, schools): IRS refunds the credit as cash. (3) Transfer sale: sell credit to another taxpayer for 80-95 cents on dollar (new 2023 IRA). Major buyers: big banks, Fortune 500 with tax capacity. Liquid market. Sale proceeds taxable as ordinary income to transferor.

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