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Bpex
Level 3

Battery installed into work truck for running power tools for business. Federal Business Solar Tax Credit?

Edit: Still have this question if the laws have become any more clear?

In 2023,  I purchased over 5kwh (and under 1 megawatt) of Lifepo4 batteries along with a charger and inverter setup; installed them inside my work box-truck myself (self-employed) for running my tools off of; and for now recharge only from my home AC outlet (with hopes of adding solar panels down the line). Can this be claimed under the solar tax credit/storage investment tax credit for businesses on 2023 taxes?
I am pretty sure not being attached to solar is ok, but I am not sure being installed in a vehicle (though being used for business) is ok. Or if it is only applicable if installed into a residence or building. Anything else I need to look out for or things I should do for claiming this credit? Any accessories like cables and such would be included I assume? More relevant info posted in my reply below.

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5 Replies

Battery installed into work truck for running power tools for business. Federal Business Solar Tax Credit?

Bpex
Level 3

Battery installed into work truck for running power tools for business. Federal Business Solar Tax Credit?

Bump in case anyone can help. I know this is a tough one because the current policy statements are so vague.

Battery installed into work truck for running power tools for business. Federal Business Solar Tax Credit?

Interesting ... my first thought was "no", but looking through the definitions in Tax Code Section 48, I'm not seeing anything that would disqualify it (well, it isn't "solar" credit; it is the Investment Tax Credit for "qualified battery storage technology").

 

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/48

 

Bpex
Level 3

Battery installed into work truck for running power tools for business. Federal Business Solar Tax Credit?

Thanks! I am going to install myself, the battery with an inverter and charger into my work truck. It will be over 5kw, but well under 1 megawatt. I do not understand if the "prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements" are pertinent in my case or even what they are. If this doesn't seem like a credit I could use for my business, I will be getting less than 5kw storage to save some cash. Here is some more info that I've been reading, much of it pulled from the section you posted but put into layman's terms.

https://www.energysage.com/blog/inflation-reduction-act/#commercial-solar :
"Energy storage:

Currently, for storage (aka battery) systems to qualify for the ITC, they need to be paired with solar and have to be powered by solar at least 75 percent of the time for five years. However, starting in 2023, all residential storage systems (regardless of whether they're paired with solar) will be eligible for the full 30 percent tax credit as long as they're over 3 kWh in size.

Commercial storage projects must be larger than 5 kWh in size and are subject to the same prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements as commercial solar projects to receive the full 30 percent ITC."

"Things get a bit more confusing if a commercial solar system is over 1 megawatt (MW) in capacity. The Department of Treasury is currently trying to define metrics around prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements to support projects using union labor. When these metrics are defined, after 60 days, commercial projects over 1 MW will receive a six percent base credit. The remaining 24 percent relies on the project meeting the necessary labor requirements."

https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/federal-solar-tax-credits-businesses#_edn9 :

"What projects are eligible for the ITC or PTC?

To be eligible for the business ITC or PTC, the solar system must be:

  • Located in the United States or U.S. territories[6]
  • Use new and limited previously used equipment[7]
  • Not leased to a tax-exempt entity (e.g., a school), though tax exempt entities are eligible to receive the ITC themselves in the form of a direct payment.[8]

What expenses are eligible for the ITC?
......

  • Energy storage devices that have a capacity rating of 5 kilowatt hours or greater (even if not charged with solar)[9]

......"

https://southfacesolar.com/solar-blog/do-solar-batteries-qualify-for-tax-credits/ :

"How to Get the Solar Tax Credit for Solar Batteries 

....To qualify for the credit, you must: 

  • Own your battery system 
  • Own the property your system is installed at
  • Have taxable income 

You don’t have to apply for the solar battery tax credit—you just need to claim it on your federal taxes. To get the credit, make sure you keep all receipts associated with your installation. Then, obtain and complete IRS Form 5695 (for commercial taxpayers, IRS Form 3468). Finally, add your credit information to your typical IRS Form 1040."

Bpex
Level 3

Battery installed into work truck for running power tools for business. Federal Business Solar Tax Credit?

bump

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