Regarding 2018 IRS Form 5695: 1) Will any unused 30% solar tax credit originating in 2018 carry forward? 2) If the answer to Q1 is Yes, then for how many years?

[TaxGuyBill · Accepted solution]

1) Yes.

2)  There is no stated time in the law.  That likely means it can carry forward forever (until it can be used), or until they change the law to state a carry forward limit.

[ScruffyCurmudgeon]

The original Congressional bill would have seen an expiration at the end of 2016, as I remember, and then Congress started the annual extension process so that the latest bill, in 2018 retroactive for 2017, seems to not envision an expiration at all at any time.

[TaxGuyBill]

Solar expenses up until December 31st, 2021 qualify for a credit.  But the law is silent about how long the carry forwards last.

[ScruffyCurmudgeon]

To date, year by year, I've found that they have been allowable carry-forwards (in my own regard).