New York Solar Tax Credit

New York property owners are eligible for a personalState Energy Research and Development Authority
tax credit of up to 25% off a solar systemsolar incentive is equal to $1.75/watt DC. The solar
installation. The maximum incentive for solar energysystem is subject to shading, system orientation, tilt
system is $5,000.angle, and other losses of solar performance.
System sizes cannot exceed 10kW for residentialProduction output may not exceed 110% of the
photovoltaic solar systems. Condominium andrequired annual energy load. The maximum New York
cooperative housing associations are allowed up toState Energy Research and Development Authority
50kW per photovoltaic solar system.solar incentive amounts and system capacities are as
If the tax credit exceeds your taxable liability, it mayfollows:
be carried forward for the next five tax years.Residential: $13,750, 5kW
To take advantage of this personal tax credit, solarNon-residential: $112,500, 50kW
systems must meet the New York net metering lawNon-profit, government, schools: $56,250, 25kW
which limits photovoltaic systems to 10kW. However,There are also local options to help property owners
the law was expanded in August 2008 with S.B. 7171;install solar. Photovoltaic systems have a 100%
it allowed net-metering on residential photovoltaicproperty tax exemption for up to 15 years. Another
solar systems less than 25kW. The state has notlocal option is a Municipal Sustainable Energy Program
clarified whether or not the new net-metering lawwhere property owners use Property-Assessed
limits can be applied to this personal tax credit forClean Energy (PACE) financing to pay for renewable
solar systems.energy upgrades. In July 2005, New York made all
The New York State Energy Research andsales and installations of residential solar-energy
Development Authority (NYSERDA) also offerssystems 100% exempt from the state sales tax and
rebates to photovoltaic installers. This New Yorkuse tax.