WA incentive guide
Washington solar incentives in 2026
Last updated · every WA program below is verifiable against the sources at the foot of this page.
The most valuable solar incentive in Washington right now is Sales tax exemption on qualifying systems. Overall, the state's incentive stack rates as moderate compared with the rest of the country.
The federal credit is gone — start here
The 30% federal residential clean energy credit (Section 25D) ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. If you are buying a system in Washington this year, there is no federal credit. That is a roughly $8,160 swing on an $27,200 system compared with 2025 pricing, and it is why state programs matter more now than they did a year ago.
What Washington offers at a glance
| Incentive | Available? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax credit | No | — |
| Rebate or performance payment | No | — |
| SREC market | No | — |
| Sales tax exemption | Yes | Qualifying solar equipment is exempt from state sales tax. |
| Property tax exemption | No | — |
| Federal tax credit | No | Section 25D ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. |
Reviewed September 2026. Incentive programs change frequently and several are funding-capped — verify current status with the administering agency or DSIRE before relying on any figure.
Washington solar tax credit
There is no Washington solar tax credit in 2026, and no federal one either — Section 25D ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. What Washington does offer on the tax side is sales tax exemption, covered below.
Washington solar rebates and grants
Washington runs no statewide solar rebate or grant program in 2026. Individual utilities and municipalities sometimes do, and those are rarely advertised well — ask your utility directly what they pay toward a residential install.
Washington exempts qualifying residential solar systems from sales tax — significant given the rate — but offers no current state production incentive for new customers.
Net metering and export rates in Washington
Washington requires retail-rate net metering with annual true-up (credits zeroed each spring) for systems up to 100 kW at most utilities.
Compare this with net metering in every other state.
Export rules deserve to be read as an incentive. In a retail net metering state, every exported kilowatt-hour is worth the full retail rate; under net billing or avoided-cost compensation, the same kilowatt-hour can be worth a third of that. For a Washington home at an assumed $0.12/kWh, that difference compounds across a 25-year system life.
What this means for your numbers
A typical 8 kW system in Washington costs roughly $20,800–$27,200 installed before incentives, producing about 8,400 kWh a year and saving around $831 in year one — a simple payback near 25–33 years with no incentives applied. Anything in the table above shortens that.
Frequently asked questions
What are Washington solar tax credits worth in 2026?
Washington offers no residential solar income tax credit in 2026, and the 30% federal credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. What remains on the tax side is sales tax exemption, which lower cost indirectly rather than paying you back.
Does Washington have solar rebates?
No. Washington has no statewide solar rebate or upfront grant program in 2026. Individual utilities and municipalities occasionally run their own, so it is worth asking your utility directly.
Is there a Washington solar property tax exemption?
No. Washington does not exempt residential solar from property tax assessment, so a system that increases assessed value can increase your property tax. Washington does exempt solar equipment from state sales tax. Assessment practice varies by county — ask your local assessor how they treat rooftop solar.
What solar incentives are available in Washington in 2026?
Washington exempts qualifying residential solar systems from sales tax — significant given the rate — but offers no current state production incentive for new customers. Because the federal Section 25D credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025, these state, local and utility programs are now the entire incentive picture for a purchased system.
Is there still a 30% federal solar tax credit in Washington?
No. The 30% federal residential clean energy credit (Section 25D) ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Any quote or website still applying 30% to a 2026 purchased installation is out of date. Leased and PPA systems can still benefit indirectly, because the third party that owns the system may claim the commercial 48E credit through 2027 and pass some of the value through in pricing.
Does Washington have net metering?
Washington requires retail-rate net metering with annual true-up (credits zeroed each spring) for systems up to 100 kW at most utilities. Export rules are effectively an incentive — often the largest one — because they set what every kilowatt-hour you do not use on site is worth.
How much do incentives change the cost of solar in Washington?
Before incentives, a typical 8 kW system in Washington runs roughly $20,800–$27,200. With no state credit or rebate available, that figure is close to what you would actually pay. See our full Washington cost breakdown for payback math.
Verify before you rely on any of this
Incentive programs open, close, deplete their funding and change their caps — often mid-year. This page is a starting point reviewed September 2026, not tax advice. Confirm with: