Solar panels: A bright idea that might save you money.
© Andy Dean/stock.adobe.com
Federal and (depending on where you live) state incentives make installing solar panels on the roof of your house a fairly affordable, money-saving home improvement project. But new federal legislation has accelerated the expiration of the 30% tax credit for homeowner-owned solar systems, moving the deadline up by seven years to the end of 2025.
Solar panels can still reduce your monthly electricity billsâperhaps even to zeroâand may boost your homeâs resale value over time. But with federal incentives ending soon for homeowner-owned systems, the financial benefits now depend more heavily on your energy use, local rates, and available state programs.
Whether solar is worth the up-front cost depends on several factors. As with any major home improvement, it pays to sketch out a budget and research whatâs involved.
Key Points
- The time it takes to recoup your investment by adding solar panels depends on how much you pay per kilowatt for electricity.
- Factors such as roof pitch, trees, and how much sun your region receives annually may affect how much power your system can produce.
- Federal and state incentives will help cut installation costs, but be prepared to pay the entire amount up front.
Is solar right for your home?
Installing solar panels can be a win-win. Solar panels use the sunâs rays to produce free energy while reducing the amount of carbon and other pollutants emitted by producing energy derived from fossil fuels. Federal tax incentives of up to 30% are available in 2025 for homeowner-owned systems, and many states offer incentives that may help offset costs.
But there are several factors to consider before having solar panels installed:
- Review a yearâs worth of utility bills to determine how much energy your household uses and how much you spend on electricity by looking at the cost per kilowatt hour (kWh). If the rate you pay for electricity is high and/or you use a lot of electricity, installing solar panels may make sense.
- How long do you want to stay in your home? It takes an average of eight years to break even on your solar panel installation costs, even with incentives. Residential solar systems are designed to last 20 years or more, so itâs a long-lasting home improvement that may add resale value to your home.
- The age of your roof is important. Before you add a long-lasting addition like a solar panel, you may need to install a new roof, which adds to the overall cost.
- How big is your roof, what is the design, and what is the slope? Solar panels perform best on sunny, south-facing roofs with a slope of 15 to 40 degrees. Gables, skylights, and other features may reduce the total available area.
- Shade trees can reduce solar panel viability. How much direct sunlight your roof gets annually determines how much power your system can produce.
- Consult a solar map. Several mapping services are available to estimate how well-suited your home is for producing solar energy.
- You may need to upgrade or rewire your electrical panel, which adds to the cost. To go solar, your electrical panel, or breaker box, should provide at least 200-amp service.
- If you live in a neighborhood governed by a homeowners association, there may be rules about the installation of solar panels. You may need to provide the HOA with a project proposal, sketch, or other documentation to get approval.
Timing matters. To qualify for the federal tax credit on a homeowner-owned system, your panels must be installed and operational by December 31, 2025. Delays in inspection or permitting could make you ineligible. Leased systems or power purchase agreements (PPAs) may still qualify for a federal credit through 2027, and leased home battery systems through 2032.
Cost to install solar panels
The up-front cost to install solar panels has fallen significantly over the years, but it isnât cheap. The average U.S. homeowner requires an 11-kilowatt solar panel system to cover their electricity usage. For a system that size, you can expect to spend just over $22,000 in 2024, after federal tax credits. Starting in 2026, that same system may cost about $28,000 if the tax credit expires.Homeowners who take out a loan pay more, since financing adds interest costs.
The average cost per watt in the U.S. to install solar systems is $2.86 before any incentives are applied. That figure matters, as solar installers often charge per watt for systems. The bigger the system, the less installers charge per watt. How much a system costs you depends on the quality and brand you select, the type of panel, and labor costs. High-quality, highly efficient systems and panels typically cost more.
If you plan to install a system in the second half of 2025, expect long wait times for scheduling. High demand ahead of the tax credit deadline may lead to installation bottlenecks.
Pros and cons of going solar
Ready to let the sun power your home? As with any home improvement project, there are benefits and drawbacks to installing solar panels.
Pros:
- The energy produced by your solar system is free, and if your utility uses net metering, it credits you for any excess electricity that is added to the grid, helping you to break even more quickly on the projectâs cost.
- You may be able to get a loan to help pay for the costs of installing solar panels.
- Panels start working immediately, saving you money as soon as theyâre installed.
Cons:
- Solar panel installation can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and any rebates or incentives can take months to arrive.
- Panels require professional installation.
- An excessively shady or dusty area could affect the viability of installing a system or how well your panels perform.
Federal solar tax incentives
Homeowners are eligible for a 30% federal solar tax credit for photovoltaic systems they install in their primary residences and/or vacation homes, but the incentive ends for homeowner-owned systems after December 31, 2025, under federal legislation passed in July 2025. Leased systems may still qualify through 2027.
Tax credits arenât the same as tax deductions
Although both can be used to lower your tax bill, tax deductions reduce your amount of taxable income, while credits decrease the amount of tax due. Learn more about tax credits, deductions, and refunds.
A tax credit reduces the amount of income tax you otherwise would pay, dollar for dollar. It is sometimes referred to as an investment tax credit (ITC). The credit applies only to new solar panel systems that are purchased and operational by the deadline. Homeowners must have their system turned on by December 31, 2025, to qualify. If youâre leasing panels, the installation company may still be able to claim the credit through 2027 and pass the savings along to you.
The solar panel system must be turned on during the tax year in which the credit is being claimed. For example, if the panels are installed in December 2024, but the system isnât inspected and turned on until January 2025, you canât claim credit until you file your 2025 tax return. The investment tax credit allows for:
- Solar panel costs
- Labor costs for on-site preparation, assembly, and installation, including permitting fees, inspection costs, and developer fees
- Balance-of-systems equipment, including wiring, inverters, and mounting equipment
- Sales tax
- Energy storage devices, such as home battery systems, qualify only if installed by the end of 2025, unless included as part of a leased system or PPA, which may remain eligible through 2032
To claim the tax credit, homeowners can fill out IRS Form 5695 on their federal tax returns and add the credit value to Schedule C and IRS Form 1040. The credit is nonrefundableâso the credit you receive canât be more than what you owe in taxâbut you can carry forward any excess unused credit and apply it to your future tax liability.
The changes to incentives for homeowner-installed systems are the result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law July 4, 2025, that scaled back clean energy incentives in favor of expanding fossil fuel development. Homeowners weighing solar should factor in both timing and ownership structure to determine what incentives still apply.
State solar tax incentives
Itâs worth looking for state and local savings to defray the costs, especially since federal incentives are winding down for homeowner-owned systems much sooner than initially proposed. States provide a variety of tax incentives; some utilities, installers, and solar equipment manufacturers may also offer rebates.
State power agencies or governmental departments post information about solar incentives on their websites. Some states are more generous than others, but all states offer incentives. North Carolina State Universityâs NC Clean Energy Technology Center website also maintains a nationwide list of state incentives.
Some of the friendliest states for solar include:
- New York. The Empire State offers net metering, a solar equipment tax credit of 25%, property tax exemption for solar panels, and financing options. The stateâs NY-Sun initiative lists other solar incentives as well.
- Rhode Island. Homeowners can take advantage of a grant program, property and sales tax exemptions, net metering, and a program that pays consumers for each kilowatt hour their panels generate for the first 15 years.
- Maryland. The state offers a $1,000 rebate to install a system, net metering, property and sales tax exemptions, tax credits for energy storage, and a solar renewable energy credit program allowing homeowners to sell solar credits for cash to their utility companies.
The bottom line
As with any major home improvement project, taking the time to explore the pros and consâand to understand the options available to youâcan help you save money and ensure you get the best deal. Get bids from vetted solar installers so you can compare multiple quotes. With federal tax credits ending after 2025 for homeowner-owned systems, now may be the time to act.
If you find solar panels donât make economic sense, there may be other ways you can benefit from solar energy, such as community solar projects, which allow you to get credits toward your electricity bill. To cut your electricity costs overall, evaluate how you use energy, buy energy-efficient appliances, and weatherize your home.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Debbie CarlsonThis article was most recently revised and updated by David Schepp
