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 bills—perhaps even to zero—and may boost your home’s 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 what’s involved.
Installing solar panels can be a win-win. Solar panels use the sun’s 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:
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.
The up-front cost to install solar panels has fallen significantly over the years, but it isn’t 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.
Ready to let the sun power your home? As with any home improvement project, there are benefits and drawbacks to installing solar panels.
Pros:
Cons:
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.
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 you’re 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 isn’t inspected and turned on until January 2025, you can’t claim credit until you file your 2025 tax return. The investment tax credit allows for:
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 nonrefundable—so the credit you receive can’t be more than what you owe in tax—but 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.
It’s 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 University’s NC Clean Energy Technology Center website also maintains a nationwide list of state incentives.
Some of the friendliest states for solar include:
As with any major home improvement project, taking the time to explore the pros and cons—and to understand the options available to you—can 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 don’t 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.

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