Updated June 2026
The federal 30% solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025. If your website still says "save 30% with the federal tax credit," you are actively misleading prospective customers in 2026. Here is exactly what solar installers need to remove from their site, what to replace it with, and which trust signals now carry the conversation that the ITC used to close.
This is based on GrowLocal's proprietary research into top-ranking solar installation sites across Austin, Denver, and Phoenix — every site we analyzed built its messaging around the federal 30% Investment Tax Credit. That messaging layer needs a full rewrite.
What exactly happened to the federal solar tax credit?
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed July 4, 2025, eliminated the Section 25D Residential Clean Energy Credit for systems installed after December 31, 2025. There was no phase-down from 30% to 26% — the credit went from 30% to zero overnight.
One important nuance: the IRS uses a "when expenditures are made" test, not a "placed in service" test. If a homeowner paid for their system in 2025, they may still claim the credit even if installation finished in early 2026. But anyone who signs and pays in 2026 for a customer-owned system gets $0 federal credit.
Any installer whose website still promises a 30% federal credit for new customers is now running misleading copy. That is a trust problem, not just a marketing problem.
Can my customers still get any federal incentive in 2026?
Yes — through one specific path: Section 48E (the commercial Investment Tax Credit).
Under Section 48E, solar companies that own a system via a lease or power-purchase agreement (PPA) can still claim a 30% tax credit through end of 2027. The installer or financing partner takes the credit and passes the savings to the homeowner through lower monthly payments.
| Ownership structure | Federal credit available? | Through when? |
|---|---|---|
| Homeowner purchase (cash or loan) | No | Expired Dec 31, 2025 |
| Solar lease (third-party owns system) | Yes — installer claims it | Dec 31, 2027 |
| Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) | Yes — installer claims it | Dec 31, 2027 |
If your company offers leases or PPAs — or works with a financing partner who does — that is now the primary federal-credit angle for your website. After July 4, 2026, even this pathway phases, so surfacing it now matters while the window is open.
What should you remove from your website right now?
Walk your site with this checklist. Every item below is an active liability in 2026:
- "Save 30% with the federal tax credit" in any headline, subheading, or bullet about customer-owned systems
- Payback calculators that include the 30% federal credit — the math is now off by tens of thousands of dollars on a typical install
- "Take advantage of the ITC before it expires" urgency language — it has expired; this now reads as either incompetent or dishonest
- Hardcoded federal incentive amounts in "how much does solar cost" sections (e.g., "$30,000 system → $21,000 after the federal credit")
- Any FAQ answer explaining how homeowners claim the 30% credit as if it remains available for new purchases
In GrowLocal's proprietary research into top-ranked solar installation sites, every competitor site we analyzed framed its value proposition around the federal ITC. That is not one section to swap — it is the core sales message that needs replacing across every page. See the full local business website research.
What should replace the tax credit on your website?
The federal 30% credit was doing several jobs at once: making solar affordable, creating urgency, and giving homeowners a clear "first win." You need to replace each of those jobs separately.
| Old ITC-era message | 2026 replacement |
|---|---|
| "Save 30% with the federal tax credit" | "Find out which state rebates apply to your address" |
| "$30,000 system costs you $21,000" | "Electricity you generate now costs less than what the grid charges" |
| "Claim before the deadline" | "Utility rates keep rising — every year you wait costs more" |
| Generic payback period | "15 years of near-zero electricity bills after your system pays for itself" |
State incentives now carry the messaging weight your site needs. Thirty-four states still have active solar incentive programs in 2026. New York (25% state credit plus NYSERDA NY-Sun rebate), New Jersey (ADI program: $85/MWh for 15 years), and Massachusetts (SMART 3.0: fixed rate per kWh for 20 years) have programs that actually matter more now that the federal credit is off the table.
Your website does not need to detail every program. It needs one clear message: "The federal credit is gone — but [your state] still has incentive programs that bring down your cost. We'll show you exactly what applies to your address when you get a quote."
For a broader look at local installer websites built for the 2026 environment, see our solar installation website breakdown.
Which trust signals carry the conversation now?
The 30% credit used to do most of the persuasion work. Homeowners saw "save $9,000 instantly" and the math was easy. Without it, your website's trust signals have to carry more of the load.
NABCEP certification, prominently placed. Across GrowLocal's proprietary research into top-ranking solar installation sites, NABCEP certification appears on the majority of sites and functions as the de facto industry trust anchor — solar contractors that omit it lose the category's primary credibility signal. Display it near the top of your homepage, not buried in a footer.
The in-house crew pledge. An explicit "no subcontractors" statement appears verbatim on half of the top-ranked solar installer sites we analyzed — and is the most trusted differentiator against national installers. Local installers who can promise "the team you meet is the team on your roof" have a bigger advantage now than ever, because skeptical buyers will look harder for that reassurance when a free-money incentive no longer shortcuts the trust question.
Review count and star rating, above the fold. The strongest solar installer sites in our research embed 642–910+ verified five-star reviews directly on the homepage. Two hundred or more reviews is the minimum expectation in this category; fewer than that looks thin when a customer is committing to a $20,000+ purchase.
Real installation photography. Every top-ranked solar site we analyzed uses only real installation photos — actual rooftops, actual crews, actual homes. Post-ITC, buyers are more skeptical and will scrutinize every trust signal more carefully. Stock imagery is a red flag that compound-hurts you now.
Key takeaway: In our proprietary research into top-ranked solar installation sites, NABCEP certification and an explicit in-house crew pledge are the two differentiators most directly tied to customer trust. With the ITC gone, these are your first line of persuasion. See the data: GrowLocal local business website research.
For a full checklist of what a solar installer website needs in 2026, see our solar installation website checklist. For a cross-industry comparison, the GrowLocal website directory shows the patterns that hold across every home-services trade.
Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Installer Websites in 2026
What happened to the 30% federal solar tax credit?
The Section 25D Residential Clean Energy Credit was eliminated by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, and expired December 31, 2025 — with no phase-down. Homeowners who purchase solar with cash or a loan in 2026 receive zero federal credit. If a homeowner paid for their system before December 31, 2025, they may still claim it on their 2025 taxes.
Can my customers still get a federal incentive if they lease?
Yes. Under Section 48E, the financing company that owns the system (for leases and PPAs) still qualifies for a 30% commercial tax credit through end of 2027. The installer or financier claims it and can pass the savings to the homeowner via lower monthly rates. After July 4, 2026, this pathway begins to phase. For a full breakdown of whether solar still pencils out for your customers, see is a solar installer website worth it.
What state solar rebates should my website mention?
Thirty-four states still have active programs. Mention that you will identify what's available at the customer's specific address as part of the free quote. For state-level detail, the DSIRE database (dsireusa.org) is the authoritative source — it's worth linking from your FAQ page as a trust signal that you know the landscape.
Does NABCEP certification help convert customers now that the ITC is gone?
More than ever. In GrowLocal's research into top-ranked solar installation sites, NABCEP certification appears on the majority of sites as the de facto trust anchor. Without a clear "free money" incentive shortcutting the decision, buyers have to trust the company more. NABCEP, an in-house crew pledge, real installation photos, and a visible review count now collectively carry the persuasion weight the ITC used to share.
Where do I start if my website still references the 30% federal credit?
Audit every page for the outdated language using the checklist in this article. The highest-priority fixes are the homepage hero, the cost/savings section, and any FAQ that walks homeowners through claiming the credit. Then add state-incentive language and refresh your trust signals. For a cost estimate on getting those updates done professionally, see solar installer website cost in 2026.