Understanding Commercial Solar Depreciation in Solar Power Projects Depreciation is an accounting principle enabling businesses to distribute the cost of a tangible asset over its anticipated lifespan. As components like solar panels and inverters age, their value diminishes.
When it comes to solar panels, businesses have several options for depreciating their investment. In this article, we will focus on the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) depreciation, which offers accelerated benefits in the first year.
Depreciation Schedule: The IRS publishes depreciation schedules that outline the recovery period for different types of solar assets. Solar panels generally fall into the 5-year property category, allowing for accelerated depreciation deductions.
The IRS stipulates a five-year depreciation period for solar projects at the federal level. State-by-state depreciation rules differ, but solar, like all hardware, can be used to offset state taxes. For instance, Massachusetts solar projects follow a five-year depreciation schedule that aligns with IRS guidelines.
Depreciation is a valuable financial incentive that allows businesses and farms to recover the costs of their solar investments over time. By depreciating their solar panels using the MACRS schedule, businesses can take advantage of accelerated benefits in the first year.
Applying Depreciation to a Solar Power Project: Determine the asset’s cost: Include all costs to make the solar system operational: equipment costs, installation charges, and other direct expenses. Identify the asset’s useful life: Solar panels generally last 25-30 years, but over time, that efficiency may decline.