Solar Tax Credit : After install tree trimming

[Stephen InGeorgia]

Has anybody claimed the cost of tree trimming after a solar install?

I installed my ground mount system in 2018 and since then the pine trees have grown taller. They are in a line about 120' from my array. It is impacting my winter generation so I think this would fall under site preperations but this is years after the initial install. Has anybody claimed the cost of tree trimming or system maintenance?

 

[Philip53]

Uh....not likely covered. But, if you had your installer originally include the cost of tree trimming in his install quote, then I guess you would not have had any issue claiming a credit for that - as long as the trimming was not listed as a separate item on the invoice. And no system maintenance I think would be covered either, but... maybe additional system capacity. This year, I added another array, charge controller, batteries and associated wiring and hardware to my original solar system that I installed 11 years ago. I'll be filing for that additional system tax credit this year.

 

[chrisski]

Read the IRS publication. See a tax professional.

You can claim write anything you want on the form. This only becomes an issue during an audit.

For my situation reading the guidance, I am unclear about what this publication says about getting a roof done prior to a solar install. I will go to the tax professional for that.