Title 26, Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-110

§25D Residential Clean Energy Credit

Title 26 › Subtitle A — Income Taxes › CHAPTER 1 — NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES › Subchapter A — Determination of Tax Liability › PART IV — CREDITS AGAINST TAX › Subpart A — Nonrefundable Personal Credits › § 25D

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

You can get a tax credit for buying and installing certain clean energy equipment for your home. The credit covers six types of property: solar electric panels, solar water heaters, fuel cells, small wind turbines, geothermal heat pumps, and battery storage. The credit equals a percentage of what you paid. For property put in service after Dec. 31, 2016 and before Jan. 1, 2020 the rate is 30%. For property after Dec. 31, 2019 and before Jan. 1, 2022 the rate is 26%. For property after Dec. 31, 2021 the rate is 30%. The credit does not apply to expenses made after Dec. 31, 2025. Fuel cell credits are limited to $500 for each half kilowatt of capacity. Solar water heaters must get performance certification from the Solar Rating Certification Corporation or a similar state-approved group. Battery systems must have at least 3 kilowatt-hours of capacity. Geothermal heat pumps must meet the Energy Star rules in effect when you buy them. Labor to install the equipment and roof-mounted panels that are part of the roof count. Costs for swimming pools or other items that mainly serve another purpose do not count. If your credit is bigger than the limit on your tax for the year, you can carry the unused part to the next year. If more than one person shares a home, the law limits how much fuel cell expense each person can claim and explains how to split the cost. Co-op or condominium owners are treated as if they paid their share of building expenses. If an item is used for business less than 80% of the time, only the nonbusiness part counts. An expense is treated as made when the original installation is finished, except for new construction where it counts when you first use the building. If you take the credit, you must reduce the tax basis of the property by the credit amount.

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §25D

Internal Revenue Code, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Allowance of credit
In the case of an individual, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year an amount equal to the sum of the applicable percentages of— (1)
(2)the qualified solar water heating property expenditures,
(3)the qualified fuel cell property expenditures,
(4)the qualified small wind energy property expenditures,
(5)the qualified geothermal heat pump property expenditures, and
(6)the qualified battery storage technology expenditures,
made by the taxpayer during such year.
(b)Limitations
(1)Maximum credit for fuel cells
In the case of any qualified fuel cell property expenditure, the credit allowed under subsection (a) (determined without regard to subsection (c)) for any taxable year shall not exceed $500 with respect to each half kilowatt of capacity of the qualified fuel cell property (as defined in section 48(c)(1)) to which such expenditure relates.
(2)Certification of solar water heating property
No credit shall be allowed under this section for an item of property described in subsection (d)(1) unless such property is certified for performance by the non-profit Solar Rating Certification Corporation or a comparable entity endorsed by the government of the State in which such property is installed.
(c)Carryforward of unused credit
If the credit allowable under subsection (a) exceeds the limitation imposed by section 26(a) for such taxable year reduced by the sum of the credits allowable under this subpart (other than this section), such excess shall be carried to the succeeding taxable year and added to the credit allowable under subsection (a) for such succeeding taxable year.
(d)Definitions
For purposes of this section
(1) Qualified solar water heating property expenditure
(2)Qualified solar electric property expenditure
The term “qualified solar electric property expenditure” means an expenditure for property which uses solar energy to generate electricity for use in a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer.
(3)Qualified fuel cell property expenditure
The term “qualified fuel cell property expenditure” means an expenditure for qualified fuel cell property (as defined in section 48(c)(1), without regard to subparagraph (D) thereof) installed on or in connection with a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a principal residence (within the meaning of section 121) by the taxpayer.
(4)Qualified small wind energy property expenditure
The term “qualified small wind energy property expenditure” means an expenditure for property which uses a wind turbine to generate electricity for use in connection with a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer.
(5)Qualified geothermal heat pump property expenditure
(A)In general
The term “qualified geothermal heat pump property expenditure” means an expenditure for qualified geothermal heat pump property installed on or in connection with a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer.
(B)Qualified geothermal heat pump property
The term “qualified geothermal heat pump property” means any equipment which—
(i)uses the ground or ground water as a thermal energy source to heat the dwelling unit referred to in subparagraph (A) or as a thermal energy sink to cool such dwelling unit, and
(ii)meets the requirements of the Energy Star program which are in effect at the time that the expenditure for such equipment is made.
(6)Qualified battery storage technology expenditure
The term “qualified battery storage technology expenditure” means an expenditure for battery storage technology which—
(A)is installed in connection with a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer, and
(B)has a capacity of not less than 3 kilowatt hours.
(e)Special rules
For purposes of this section
(1) Labor costs
(2)Solar panels
No expenditure relating to a solar panel or other property installed as a roof (or portion thereof) shall fail to be treated as property described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (d) solely because it constitutes a structural component of the structure on which it is installed.
(3)Swimming pools, etc., used as storage medium
Expenditures which are properly allocable to a swimming pool, hot tub, or any other energy storage medium which has a function other than the function of such storage shall not be taken into account for purposes of this section.
(4)Fuel cell expenditure limitations in case of joint occupancy
In the case of any dwelling unit with respect to which qualified fuel cell property expenditures are made and which is jointly occupied and used during any calendar year as a residence by two or more individuals, the following rules shall apply:
(A)Maximum expenditures for fuel cells
The maximum amount of such expenditures which may be taken into account under subsection (a) by all such individuals with respect to such dwelling unit during such calendar year shall be $1,667 in the case of each half kilowatt of capacity of qualified fuel cell property (as defined in section 48(c)(1)) with respect to which such expenditures relate.
(B)Allocation of expenditures
The expenditures allocated to any individual for the taxable year in which such calendar year ends shall be an amount equal to the lesser of— (i)
(ii)the maximum amount of such expenditures set forth in subparagraph (A) multiplied by a fraction—
(I)the numerator of which is the amount of such expenditures with respect to such dwelling made by such individual during such calendar year, and
(II)the denominator of which is the total expenditures made by all such individuals with respect to such dwelling during such calendar year.
(5)Tenant-stockholder in cooperative housing corporation
In the case of an individual who is a tenant-stockholder (as defined in section 216) in a cooperative housing corporation (as defined in such section), such individual shall be treated as having made his tenant-stockholder’s proportionate share (as defined in section 216(b)(3)) of any expenditures of such corporation.
(6)Condominiums
(A)In general
In the case of an individual who is a member of a condominium management association with respect to a condominium which the individual owns, such individual shall be treated as having made the individual’s proportionate share of any expenditures of such association.
(B)Condominium management association
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “condominium management association” means an organization which meets the requirements of paragraph (1) of section 528(c) (other than subparagraph (E) thereof) with respect to a condominium project substantially all of the units of which are used as residences.
(7)Allocation in certain cases
If less than 80 percent of the use of an item is for nonbusiness purposes, only that portion of the expenditures for such item which is properly allocable to use for nonbusiness purposes shall be taken into account.
(8)When expenditure made; amount of expenditure
(A)In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an expenditure with respect to an item shall be treated as made when the original installation of the item is completed.
(B)Expenditures part of building construction
In the case of an expenditure in connection with the construction or reconstruction of a structure, such expenditure shall be treated as made when the original use of the constructed or reconstructed structure by the taxpayer begins.
(f)Basis adjustments
For purposes of this subtitle, if a credit is allowed under this section for any expenditure with respect to any property, the increase in the basis of such property which would (but for this subsection) result from such expenditure shall be reduced by the amount of the credit so allowed.
(g)Applicable percentage
For purposes of subsection (a), the applicable percentage shall be—
(1)in the case of property placed in service after December 31, 2016, and before January 1, 2020, 30 percent,
(2)in the case of property placed in service after December 31, 2019, and before January 1, 2022, 26 percent, and
(3)in the case of property placed in service after December 31, 2021, 30 percent.
(h)Termination
The credit allowed under this section shall not apply with respect to any expenditures made after December 31, 2025.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 119–21, § 70506(b)(2), substituted “30 percent.” for “and before
January 1, 2033, 30 percent,”. Subsec. (g)(4), (5). Pub. L. 119–21, § 70506(b)(1), (3), struck out pars. (4) and (5) which read as follows: “(4) in the case of property placed in service after
December 31, 2032, and before
January 1, 2034, 26 percent, and “(5) in the case of property placed in service after
December 31, 2033, and before
January 1, 2035, 22 percent.” Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 119–21, § 70506(a), substituted “with respect to any expenditures made after
December 31, 2025” for “to property placed in service after
December 31, 2034”. 2022—Pub. L. 117–169, § 13302(c)(2), substituted “clean energy credit” for “energy efficient property” in section catchline. Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 117–169, § 13302(b)(1), amended par. (6) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (6) read as follows: “the qualified biomass fuel property expenditures, and”. Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 117–169, § 13302(c)(1), inserted “, without regard to subparagraph (D) thereof” after “section 48(c)(1)”. Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 117–169, § 13302(b)(2), amended par. (6) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “(A) In general.—The term ‘qualified biomass fuel property expenditure’ means an expenditure for property— “(i) which uses the burning of biomass fuel to heat a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer, or to heat water for use in such a dwelling unit, and “(ii) which has a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75 percent (measured by the higher heating value of the fuel). “(B) Biomass fuel.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘biomass fuel’ means any plant-derived fuel available on a renewable or recurring basis.” Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 117–169, § 13302(a)(2)(A), substituted “before
January 1, 2022, 26 percent,” for “before
January 1, 2023, 26 percent, and”. Subsec. (g)(3) to (5). Pub. L. 117–169, § 13302(a)(2)(B), added pars. (3) to (5) and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: “in the case of property placed in service after
December 31, 2022, and before
January 1, 2024, 22 percent.” Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 117–169, § 13302(a)(1), substituted “
December 31, 2034” for “
December 31, 2023”. 2020—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 116–260, § 148(b)(1), added par. (6). Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 116–260, § 148(b)(2), added par. (6). Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 116–260, § 148(a)(2)(A), substituted “
January 1, 2023” for “
January 1, 2021”. Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 116–260, § 148(a)(2)(B), substituted “after
December 31, 2022, and before
January 1, 2024” for “after
December 31, 2020, and before
January 1, 2022”. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 116–260, § 148(a)(1), substituted “
December 31, 2023” for “
December 31, 2021”. 2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–123, § 40402(b)(1), substituted “the sum of the applicable percentages of—”, pars. (1) to (5), and concluding provisions for “the sum of— “(1) the applicable percentage of the qualified solar electric property expenditures made by the taxpayer during such year, “(2) the applicable percentage of the qualified solar water heating property expenditures made by the taxpayer during such year, “(3) 30 percent of the qualified fuel cell property expenditures made by the taxpayer during such year, “(4) 30 percent of the qualified small wind energy property expenditures made by the taxpayer during such year, and “(5) 30 percent of the qualified geothermal heat pump property expenditures made by the taxpayer during such year.” Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 115–123, § 40402(b)(2), struck out “paragraphs (1) and (2) of” before “subsection (a),” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 115–123, § 40402(a), substituted “
December 31, 2021.” for “
December 31, 2016 (
December 31, 2021, in the case of any qualified solar electric property expenditures and qualified solar water heating property expenditures).” 2015—Subsec. (a)(1), (2). Pub. L. 114–113, § 304(a)(1), substituted “the applicable percentage” for “30 percent”. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 114–113, § 304(a)(4), added subsec. (g). Former subsec. (g) redesignated (h). Pub. L. 114–113, § 304(a)(2), inserted “(
December 31, 2021, in the case of any qualified solar electric property expenditures and qualified solar water heating property expenditures)” before period at end. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 114–113, § 304(a)(3), redesignated subsec. (g) as (h). 2013—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 112–240 amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) related to limitation based on amount of tax and carryforward of unused credit. 2009—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–5, § 1122(a)(1), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) related to maximum credit with respect to qualified solar water heating property expenditures, qualified fuel cell property, qualified small wind energy property expenditures, and qualified geothermal heat pump property expenditures. Subsec. (e)(4). Pub. L. 111–5, § 1122(a)(2)(A), added par. heading and introductory provisions and struck out former heading and introductory provisions. Former introductory provisions read as follows: “In the case of any dwelling unit which is jointly occupied and used during any calendar year as a residence by two or more individuals the following rules shall apply:”. Subsec. (e)(4)(A). Pub. L. 111–5, § 1122(a)(2)(A), added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A) which related to maximum amount of expenditures allowed for credit in jointly occupied dwelling units with respect to qualified solar water heating property expenditures, qualified fuel cell property, qualified small wind energy property expenditures, and qualified geothermal heat pump property expenditures. Subsec. (e)(4)(C). Pub. L. 111–5, § 1122(a)(2)(B), struck out subpar. (C) which read as follows: “Subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall be applied separately with respect to expenditures described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (d).” Subsec. (e)(9). Pub. L. 111–5, § 1103(b)(2)(B), struck out par. (9). Text read as follows: “For purposes of determining the amount of expenditures made by any individual with respect to any dwelling unit, there shall not be taken into account expenditures which are made from subsidized energy financing (as defined in section 48(a)(4)(C)).” 2008—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 110–343, § 106(c)(1), added par. (4). Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 110–343, § 106(d)(1), added par. (5). Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 110–343, § 106(b)(1), amended par. (1) as amended by Pub. L. 110–343, § 106(c)(2) and (d)(2), by redesignating subpars. (B) to (E) as (A) to (D), respectively, and striking out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: “$2,000 with respect to any qualified solar electric property expenditures,”. Subsec. (b)(1)(D). Pub. L. 110–343, § 106(c)(2), added subpar. (D). Subsec. (b)(1)(E). Pub. L. 110–343, § 106(d)(2), added subpar. (E). Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–343, § 106(e)(1), amended heading and text of subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) related to carryforward of unused credit. Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 110–343, § 106(c)(3)(A), added par. (4). Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 110–343, § 106(d)(3), added par. (5). Subsec. (e)(4)(A). Pub. L. 110–343, § 106(b)(2), amended subpar. (A) as amended by Pub. L. 110–343, § 106(c)(4) and (d)(4), by redesignating cls. (ii) to (v) as (i) to (iv), respectively, and striking out former cl. (i) which read as follows: “$6,667 in the case of any qualified solar electric property expenditures,”. Subsec. (e)(4)(A)(iv). Pub. L. 110–343, § 106(c)(4), added cl. (iv). Subsec. (e)(4)(A)(v). Pub. L. 110–343, § 106(d)(4), added cl. (v). Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 110–343, § 106(a), substituted “
December 31, 2016” for “
December 31, 2008”. 2006—Subsecs. (a)(1), (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 109–432, § 206(b)(1), substituted “solar electric property expenditures” for “photovoltaic property expenditures”. Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 109–432, § 206(b)(2), substituted “solar electric property expenditure” for “photovoltaic property expenditure” in heading and text. Subsec. (e)(4)(A)(i). Pub. L. 109–432, § 206(b)(1), substituted “solar electric property expenditures” for “photovoltaic property expenditures”. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 109–432, § 206(a), substituted “2008” for “2007”. 2005—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–135, § 402(i)(1), inserted “(determined without regard to subsection (c))” after “subsection (a)” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–135, § 402(i)(3)(E), reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “If the credit allowable under subsection (a) exceeds the limitation imposed by section 26(a) for such taxable year reduced by the sum of the credits allowable under this subpart (other than this section), such excess shall be carried to the succeeding taxable year and added to the credit allowable under subsection (a) for such succeeding taxable year.” Subsec. (e)(4)(A), (B). Pub. L. 109–135, § 402(i)(2), amended subpars. (A) and (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpars. (A) and (B) read as follows: “(A) The amount of the credit allowable, under subsection (a) by reason of expenditures (as the case may be) made during such calendar year by any of such individuals with respect to such dwelling unit shall be determined by treating all of such individuals as 1 taxpayer whose taxable year is such calendar year. “(B) There shall be allowable, with respect to such expenditures to each of such individuals, a credit under subsection (a) for the taxable year in which such calendar year ends in an amount which bears the same ratio to the amount determined under subparagraph (A) as the amount of such expenditures made by such individual during such calendar year bears to the aggregate of such expenditures made by all of such individuals during such calendar year.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2022 Amendment Pub. L. 117–169, title I, § 13302(d), Aug. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 1947, provided that: “(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to expenditures made after December 31, 2021. “(2) Residential clean energy credit for battery storage technology; certain expenditures disallowed.—The

Amendments

made by subsection (b) [amending this section] shall apply to expenditures made after December 31, 2022.”

Effective Date

of 2020 Amendment Pub. L. 116–260, div. EE, title I, § 148(c)(1), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3056, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2020.” Amendment by section 148(b) of Pub. L. 116–260 applicable to expenditures paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2020, see section 148(c)(2) of div. EE of Pub. L. 116–260, set out as a note under section 25C of this title.

Effective Date

of 2018 Amendment Pub. L. 115–123, div. D, title I, § 40402(c), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 148, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2016.”

Effective Date

of 2015 Amendment Pub. L. 114–113, div. P, title III, § 304(b), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3040, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on January 1, 2017.”

Effective Date

of 2013 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 112–240 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2011, see section 104(d) of Pub. L. 112–240, set out as a note under section 23 of this title.

Effective Date

of 2009 AmendmentAmendment by section 1103(b)(2)(B) of Pub. L. 111–5 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2008, see section 1103(c)(2) of Pub. L. 111–5, set out as a note under section 25C of this title. Pub. L. 111–5, div. B, title I, § 1122(b), Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 324, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008.”

Effective Date

of 2008 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 110–343 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2007, except that amendment by section 106(b) of Pub. L. 110–343 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2008, see section 106(f)(1), (2) of Pub. L. 110–343, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2008 Amendment note under section 23 of this title. Effective and Termination Dates of 2005 AmendmentAmendment by section 402(i)(3)(E) of Pub. L. 109–135 subject to title IX of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, Pub. L. 107–16, § 901, in the same manner as the provisions of such Act to which such amendment relates, see section 402(i)(3)(H) of Pub. L. 109–135, set out as a note under section 23 of this title. Title IX of Pub. L. 107–16 was repealed by Pub. L. 112–240, title I, § 101(a)(1), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2315.

Amendments

by Pub. L. 109–135 effective as if included in the provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. 109–58, to which they relate, except that amendment by section 402(i)(3)(E) of Pub. L. 109–135 is applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2005, see section 402(m) of Pub. L. 109–135, set out as a note under section 23 of this title.

Effective Date

Section applicable to property placed in service after Dec. 31, 2005, in taxable years ending after such date, see section 1335(c) of Pub. L. 109–58, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2005

Amendments

note under section 23 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

26 U.S.C. § 25D

Title 26, Internal Revenue Code

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110