I filed for the 30% solar energy credit when I filed my 2011 taxes in 2012. I had unused credit I forgot to use in subsequent years. Can I take the unused credit now?

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

No, you cannot take the carryover credit on the 2018 tax return.  Any carryover of the credit had to be used on the 2012 tax return.  Any carryover of the credit from 2012 would be used on the 2013 tax return and so on until the credit was depleted.

[dmertz]

If you still have credit remaining after properly calculating the credit that applied to 2013, 2014 and 2015 but you failed to claim, that remaining credit can be applied to the 2016 through 2018 tax years that are still open for amendment to claim a refund by amending those tax returns.  However, the portion of the credit that was applicable to 2013 through 2015 is lost.  You'll have to do pro forma 2013, 2014 and 2015 amendments to see if you have any credit left that carried into 2016.