InstaBidsIs there a solar panels tax credit?
Not for work installed after December 31, 2025. Solar panels tax credit — IRS: “30% of the costs of new, qualified clean energy property for your home” “The credit is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025.” IRS, read October 17, 2026.
InstaBids is an AI-run marketplace for homeowners and property managers: describe a home job once, by chat or through your own AI assistant, add photos, and get multiple written quotes on the same scope, compared apples to apples, with no phone calls or home visits before you pick.
To compare written bids for a solar panel installation, you can post your project on InstaBids.
- Describe it onceBy chat, or through your own AI assistant, and add photos.
- Post it and send itContractors bid in writing on that scope.
- Compare line by lineEvery quote is written against the same scope.
- You chooseContact details stay hidden until you pick and they confirm.
At a glance
- 30%IRS credit rate for installations through December 31, 2025irs.gov, read October 17, 2026
- December 31, 2025Last installation date for the residential creditirs.gov, read October 17, 2026
- May 31, 2027Maryland FY27 deadline; portal may close earlierenergy.maryland.gov, read November 3, 2026
For your AI assistant
MCP connector · REST API · plain HTMLHand any of these to your assistant and it can help you write this job's request; you send the request yourself. What you type in the job box above goes into the prompt these buttons carry. The connector asks you to sign in to your InstaBids account the first time.
- MCP connector URL
https://instabids.ai/api/agent/mcp - Agent API (OpenAPI)
https://instabids.ai/openapi.json - Start-request link
https://instabids.ai/intake?from=rebates-solar-panels&utm_source=us&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=rebates&page_type=rebates&job=solar+panel+installation - Prompt for any AI, with your job
- ChatGPTOpens with the prompt
- ClaudeOpens with the prompt
- GrokOpens with the prompt
- GeminiCopies the prompt, then opens
Every page is plain HTML. Steps for every assistant: add to your assistant.
Programs, amounts and status
| Maryland Solar Access Program | Amount not stated by Maryland Energy Administration (read 2026-11-03) Status: open (source read 3 November 2026). “Open to new applications” Pays for: “solar photovoltaic (PV) systems”. Who it is for, in the agency's words: “FY27 Target Audience: Income-eligible households who contract with a contractor from the MSAP Participating Contractor List below. The homeowner benefitting from the solar PV installation has 3 options for participating in the program:” How to apply: mea.maryland.govMaryland Energy Administration, read 3 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Residential Clean Energy Credit | “The Residential Clean Energy Credit equals 30% of the costs of new, qualified clean energy property for your home installed anytime from 2022 through December 31, 2025.” Status: ended (source read 17 October 2026). Pays for: “Solar electric panels”. Who it is for, in the agency's words: “You may claim the residential clean energy credit for improvements to your main home, whether you own or rent it. Your main home is generally where you live most of the time. The credit applies to new or existing homes located in the United States.” How to apply: irs.govInternal Revenue Service, read 17 October 2026 |
Federal tax credit status, in the IRS's words
“The credit is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025.”
Programs by state
| Alaska | Alaska Solar for All “the Solar for All program has been terminated nationwide.”Alaska Energy Authority — Sources read: 3 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| California | Disadvantaged Communities – Single-family Solar Homes (DAC-SASH) “provides financial incentives for the installation of rooftop solar generating systems.”California Public Utilities Commission — Sources read: 3 November 2026 |
| Illinois | Illinois Shines “The Program is currently open for applications from Approved Vendors for all categories with available capacity with the exception of Community Driven Community Solar (CDCS).”Illinois Power Agency — Sources read: 3 November 2026 |
| Massachusetts | SMART 3.0 “In a given Program Year, DOER will accept applications from January 1 through December 31 of that year.”Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources — Sources read: 3 November 2026 |
| Maryland | Maryland Solar Access Program “Open to new applications”Maryland Energy Administration — Sources read: 3 November 2026 |
| New Jersey | Administratively Determined Incentive (ADI) Program “Registrations are open”New Jersey Clean Energy Program — Sources read: 3 November 2026 |
| New Mexico | New Solar Market Development Tax Credit “Welcome to the electronic application portal for the New Solar Market Development Tax Credit (NSMDTC).”New Mexico Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department — Sources read: 3 November 2026 |
| Oregon | Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program “The program is not currently accepting rebate reservation applications.”Oregon Department of Energy — Sources read: 3 November 2026 |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Solar for All “TDEC will not be administering an EPA-funded Tennessee Solar for All Program.”Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation — Sources read: 3 November 2026 |
| Utah | Utah Solar for All “the Utah Office of Energy Development is unable to move forward with its Solar for All program.”Utah Office of Energy Development — Sources read: 3 November 2026 |
Is there a solar panels tax credit?
Solar panels installed after December 31, 2025 fall outside the Residential Clean Energy Credit’s installation window, according to the IRS.
Historical IRS rate for new, qualified home property installed from 2022 through December 31, 2025:
“30%”
Source: irs.gov, read .
For the solar panel installation itself, you can compare written bids through InstaBids.
solar panels tax credit
“Qualified solar electric property costs are costs for property that uses solar energy to generate electricity for use in your home located in the United States.”
Source: irs.gov, read .
Describe your solar panel project on InstaBids so contractors can respond with written bids.
solar panels incentives
Maryland Solar Access Program:
“FY27 Application Deadline: 3:00 PM Eastern Time May 31, 2027 through the My MEA portal. The My MEA online application portal may close to new applications prior to the Application Deadline, if the total budget requested exceeds the available Program Budget”
Source: energy.maryland.gov, read .
On InstaBids, your solar installation request can specify the equipment and installation scope.
solar panels rebate
“The program is not currently accepting rebate reservation applications.”
“Contractors and interested participants: please note that a request for reservation is required before starting construction or installation of solar, storage, or a solar and paired storage system.”
Source: oregon.gov, read .
Use InstaBids to request solar panel bids that list equipment and installation separately.
federal tax credit solar panels
“Enter the amounts you paid for qualified solar electric property. See Qualified solar electric property costs, earlier.”
Source: irs.gov, read .
Your InstaBids solar request can ask contractors to describe roof attachments and panel installation.
Before you apply
- “Upfront Rebate Reservation (Step 1): Applicants must apply for an upfront rebate reservation and the rebate reservation must be approved by MEA before installation of the solar PV system.”
- “Execute a contract with the homeowner (referred to as the “Executed Solar PV Agreement”);”
- “Sign the MSAP Authorizations & Disclosure Form; and”
Find the IRS rule for your home improvement
| Question to review | Project record | Agency document | Sources read: | Official rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit end date | Timing of the home improvement | irs.gov | Read the IRS credit page | |
| Credit rate | Qualified expenses | irs.gov | Read the IRS credit page |
Sources read:
- irs.gov: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/residential-clean-energy-credit, read 17 October 2026.
- irs.gov: https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i5695, read 21 October 2026.
- oregon.gov: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Incentives/Pages/Solar-Storage-Rebate-Program.aspx, read 3 November 2026.
- energy.maryland.gov: https://energy.maryland.gov/residential/Pages/incentives/Maryland-Solar-Access-Program.aspx, read 3 November 2026.
- mass.gov: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/smart-30-program-details, read 3 November 2026.
- cleanenergy.nj.gov: https://cleanenergy.nj.gov/programs/solar, read 3 November 2026.
- energy.utah.gov: https://energy.utah.gov/homepage/programs/solar-for-all/, read 3 November 2026.
- tn.gov: https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/energy/state-energy-office/programs-projects/inflation-reduction-act/solar-for-all.html, read 3 November 2026.
- cpuc.ca.gov: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/electrical-energy/demand-side-management/customer-generation/solar-in-disadvantaged-communities, read 3 November 2026.
- emnrd.nm.gov: https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/ecmd/tax-incentives/solar-market-development-tax-credit-smdtc/, read 3 November 2026.
- illinoisabp.com: https://illinoisabp.com/vendor-faqs/, read 3 November 2026.
- akenergyauthority.org: https://www.akenergyauthority.org/What-We-Do/Renewable-Energy-and-Energy-Efficiency/Solar/Solar-for-All, read 3 November 2026.