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Two federal credits have already expired. Three more are counting down. State programs have their own caps and funding cycles. This is the single resource that tracks every deadline that matters for your solar, battery, or EV charger project in 2026.
Quick Answer
Two federal tax credits have already expired: Section 25D (residential solar ITC, Dec 31, 2025) and Section 25C (heat pump/efficiency credit, Dec 31, 2025). Three deadlines remain active: Section 30C EV charger credit expires June 30, 2026 ($1,000 residential). Section 48/48E commercial solar ITC requires construction to begin before July 4, 2026 (30% base credit). The FEOC domestic content bonus (+10%) also has a July 4, 2026 deadline. State incentives — SMART 3.0, SREC-II, ConnectedSolutions, REF, REG, and net billing — are unaffected and remain available with their own capacity limits. Third-party ownership (Propel, leases, PPAs) can still access the 48/48E credit for homeowners.
Every federal solar, battery, and EV charger incentive deadline — with live countdowns for active credits and historical records for expired ones.
Deadline: June 30, 2026
Credit: Up to $1,000 residential / $100,000 commercial per unit
Who qualifies: Homeowners and businesses installing EV chargers in eligible census tracts
Deadline: July 4, 2026
Credit: 30% base ITC (up to 70% with bonus adders)
Who qualifies: Businesses, nonprofits, third-party solar owners (leases, PPAs, Propel)
Deadline: July 4, 2026
Credit: +10% ITC bonus (on top of 30% base)
Who qualifies: Projects using US-manufactured, non-FEOC equipment
Expired: December 31, 2025
Was: 30% of system cost
Applied to: Homeowners who purchase solar with cash or loan
The residential solar Investment Tax Credit expired December 31, 2025 under the OBBBA. Homeowners buying solar with cash or a loan receive $0 federal credit.
Expired: December 31, 2025
Was: 30% up to $2,000 for heat pumps
Applied to: Homeowners installing heat pumps, insulation, windows
The energy efficiency credit for heat pumps, insulation, and windows expired December 31, 2025. No federal credit remains for residential efficiency upgrades.
NuWatt can design, permit, and install your system before the deadlines hit. Get a free assessment to see which incentives you qualify for.
Get Your Free AssessmentThe One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed July 4, 2025, eliminated two major residential clean energy tax credits. If you are buying solar, a heat pump, or insulation with cash or a personal loan in 2026, you receive $0 in federal tax credits. This is not a reduction — it is a full elimination.
Previously provided 30% of system cost as a federal tax credit for homeowners who purchased solar panels.
Previously covered 30% of heat pumps, insulation, windows, and doors — up to $2,000 for heat pumps, $1,200 for other measures.
If you are buying solar with cash or a loan, your federal tax credit is $0. But solar still makes financial sense because of state incentives (SMART 3.0, SREC-II, REG, net metering) and rising electricity rates (6-8% annual increases across NuWatt's service territory). The payback period is longer without the federal credit, but the 25-year savings remain substantial.
Alternatively, third-party ownership through NuWatt Propel still accesses the commercial ITC (Section 48/48E) because the financing company — not you — claims the credit.
80 days remaining — this is the first active deadline to hit
The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit (Section 30C) covers 30% of the cost of installing an EV charger, including hardware and labor. The maximum credit is $1,000 for residential and $100,000 per unit for commercial.
Unlike the solar construction deadline, the EV charger must be installed and placed in service before June 30, 2026. There is no safe harbor provision — the charger must be physically operational by the deadline.
For a complete breakdown of this credit, see our Section 30C EV Charger Credit Deadline Guide.
84 days remaining — begin construction (5% deposit) before this date
The commercial Investment Tax Credit under Sections 48 and 48E provides a 30% base credit for qualifying solar, battery, and clean energy installations. This credit is claimed by the system owner — which means businesses, nonprofits, and third-party financing companies (not individual homeowners buying with cash).
The OBBBA set a construction-start deadline of July 4, 2026. Projects must demonstrate they began construction before this date to qualify. The IRS recognizes two methods:
Pay at least 5% of total project cost before July 4, 2026. This is the most commonly used method because it is straightforward to document. Sign a contract, put down 5%, retain records.
Start significant physical work on the project site before July 4, 2026. This includes manufacturing custom components or beginning on-site installation. Preliminary activities (planning, surveying) do not count.
Homeowners cannot claim Section 48/48E directly — it is a commercial credit. However, through NuWatt Propel, a solar lease, or a PPA, the financing company owns the system, claims the ITC, and passes the savings to you through lower monthly payments. This is now the only way homeowners can access federal solar incentives in 2026.
| Credit Component | Rate | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Base ITC (48/48E) | 30% | Begin construction before July 4, 2026 |
| Domestic Content (FEOC) | +10% | Non-FEOC equipment (Silfab, First Solar, Qcells) |
| Energy Community | +10% | Project in brownfield, coal closure, or fossil fuel area |
| Low-Income Bonus | +10-20% | Located in low-income community or serves low-income residents |
| Maximum Total | 70% | All qualifications met |
For a detailed breakdown of the OBBBA construction deadline, see our OBBBA Solar Construction Deadline Guide.
The Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) rule determines whether a solar project can claim the additional 10% domestic content bonus. Equipment manufactured by companies headquartered in, owned by, or controlled by entities in China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea does not qualify for the bonus.
The equipment is not banned — you can still install it. But you lose the 10% bonus credit. For a $50,000 commercial solar system, that is a $5,000 difference in tax credits.
NuWatt uses Silfab 440W panels (made in USA) for all Propel and FEOC-qualifying installations. Full domestic content bonus eligibility.
*Canadian Solar is flagged due to manufacturing ties to China. FEOC status may change — check IRS guidance for current classifications.
See our full FEOC Solar Deadline Guide for detailed compliance requirements.
State incentives are unaffected by the OBBBA. These programs have their own funding cycles, capacity limits, and enrollment windows. Some are first-come, first-served with annual budget caps — meaning they can close before the fiscal year ends.
Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target program pays per-kWh production incentives for 20 years. Capacity blocks fill sequentially — current blocks are open but filling. Once a block closes, the rate drops.
Check current SMART block availability and lock in your rate before the next step-down.
Utility battery demand response program. Eversource and National Grid pay $225-$275/kW per summer season to dispatch your battery during peak events.
Enroll your battery system with your utility to earn annual payments.
Connecticut Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program. There is an annual cap on net metering enrollment. Systems must be interconnected before the cap fills.
Submit interconnection application early to secure your net metering slot.
Low-interest financing for energy improvements. Rates as low as 2.99% APR for qualified borrowers through participating lenders.
Apply for Smart-E financing alongside your solar or heat pump quote.
Administratively Determined Incentive pays a fixed $/MWh rate for 15 years. The current energy year rate is $85.90/MWh. Rates are set annually — future years may be lower.
Lock in the current ADI rate by submitting your application in this energy year.
The RI REF provides upfront rebates for solar installations. Funding is allocated annually and historically runs out before the fiscal year ends.
Submit your REF application as soon as your system is designed. First-come, first-served.
Performance-based incentive with a 20-year contract at a fixed $/kWh rate through National Grid. Capacity is limited each program year.
Apply for REG enrollment to secure a 20-year production incentive.
Green Mountain Power offers home battery leasing and demand response. Enrollment opens and closes based on program capacity.
Check with GMP for current enrollment status and battery incentive availability.
Efficiency Maine offers rebates for heat pumps and loans for solar. Budget resets each fiscal year — funding can run low in spring.
Apply early in the budget cycle (July start) to ensure funding availability.
Maine net billing credits solar production at the retail electricity rate. No cap on system size for residential. One of the most favorable net metering policies in the Northeast.
Interconnect to start earning retail-rate credits on your solar production.
New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Texas have limited or no state-level solar incentive programs. Projects in these states rely primarily on federal credits (while available), net metering policies, and electricity savings. Contact NuWatt for a state-specific incentive analysis.
Each deadline has different requirements. The EV charger credit requires installation. The solar ITC requires a construction start. Knowing the difference determines your timeline.
The charger must be installed and operational before the deadline. No safe harbor provision.
You only need to begin construction (5% deposit) — the installation can happen later.
Same construction-start deadline as 48/48E, but requires FEOC-compliant equipment.
Understanding the installation timeline helps you plan around deadlines. For the Section 48/48E construction deadline, you only need to sign and deposit 5% before July 4 — the installation can happen afterward. But for Section 30C (EV chargers), the equipment must be installed and operational before June 30.
Remote or on-site evaluation, shade analysis, system design, and proposal.
Building permits, electrical permits, and HOA approvals (if applicable). Timeline varies by municipality.
Crew installs racking, panels, inverters, and electrical connections. Battery adds 1 day.
Municipal electrical and building inspections. Some towns schedule within days; others take weeks.
Utility reviews interconnection application, installs net meter, grants Permission to Operate.
8-16 Weeks
From contract to Permission to Operate. Varies by municipality and utility.
3-6 Months
Larger systems, more complex permitting, utility interconnection studies.
NuWatt operates installation crews across 9 states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Here is where things stand for deadline-critical projects:
Yes — capacity available. The safe harbor test only requires a signed contract and 5% deposit before July 4, 2026. The physical installation can happen over the following months. NuWatt can process contracts in all 9 states before the deadline.
Limited — act immediately. The EV charger must be installed and operational by June 30. With 8-16 weeks for a typical electrical project, customers need to sign by mid-April 2026 at the latest to ensure completion.
For the 48/48E construction deadline, you do not need a completed installation by July 4. You need proof that construction began — which the 5% safe harbor satisfies. The IRS then gives you 4 years to place the system in service. This means a customer who signs and deposits in June 2026 can have their system installed as late as June 2030 and still claim the ITC.
Yes. Solar economics in NuWatt's service territory are driven by electricity rates, not tax credits. Across the 9 states we serve, the average residential rate ranges from $0.15/kWh (Texas) to $0.35/kWh (Massachusetts). Even without a federal credit, the math works:
Without Any Credit
7-10 yr
Payback (cash purchase)
With State Incentives
5-8 yr
Payback (SMART, SREC, REG)
25-Year Savings
$40-80K
Depending on system size & rates
For a detailed analysis, see our guide on Solar Without the Tax Credit in 2026. The economics vary by state — NuWatt models your specific utility rate, usage pattern, roof exposure, and available incentives.
Federal and state incentives are independent — you can stack them. The combination varies by state, project type, and equipment choice. Here is what a maximum stack looks like for a commercial solar project with Propel in Massachusetts:
NuWatt models the complete incentive stack for every project. Different states unlock different combinations — NJ adds SREC-II, RI adds REG, CT adds RRES, and each has its own net metering policy. The goal is to capture every available dollar before deadlines close.
The Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) allows businesses to depreciate solar systems over 5 years. The bonus depreciation component — which lets you deduct a large percentage in year one — is phasing out:
| Year Placed in Service | Bonus Depreciation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 60% | Passed |
| 2025 | 40% | Passed |
| 2026 | 20% | Current — last year with bonus |
| 2027+ | 0% | No bonus — standard 5-year only |
For commercial buyers, the combination of losing the ITC (after July 4 construction start deadline) and bonus depreciation (after December 31, 2026) makes 2026 the last year with meaningful federal incentives. The total financial gap between acting now and waiting until 2027 can be 30-50% of total system cost.
The Section 30C EV charger credit expires June 30. The Section 48/48E solar ITC construction deadline is July 4. State programs have finite capacity. NuWatt can model every incentive you qualify for and get your project moving before time runs out.
No. The residential solar ITC under Section 25D expired on December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Homeowners who purchase solar with cash or a loan in 2026 receive $0 federal tax credit. The only way to access remaining federal solar credits is through a third-party ownership structure (lease, PPA, or NuWatt Propel), which uses the commercial ITC under Section 48/48E.
Everything you need to know about the June 30, 2026 EV charger credit expiration.
How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act changed solar credits and what the July 4 deadline means.
Why solar still makes financial sense without the 25D credit and how to maximize ROI.
Which panels qualify for the domestic content bonus and how to lock in the 10% ITC adder.
How Propel lets homeowners access the commercial ITC even though the residential credit expired. $0 down, day-one savings.
All state and utility incentives still available in 2026 after Section 25D expired.
Which panels, inverters, and batteries are FEOC-compliant and qualify for the domestic content bonus.
How tariffs affect panel pricing and which domestic manufacturers offer the best value.