Scottsdale, AZ Solar Panels

Arizona’s Residential Solar Energy Tax Credit allows homeowners to claim 25% of the total cost of a qualifying solar or wind energy device installed at their primary or secondary residence, up to a maximum credit of $1,000. Qualifying systems include photovoltaic (solar panel) systems, solar domestic water heating systems, solar pool and spa heating systems, passive solar building systems, solar daylighting systems, and wind turbines. This credit is applied directly against your Arizona state income tax liability.

If the credit exceeds your tax liability in the year it is claimed, the unused portion can be carried forward for up to five consecutive tax years — so you won’t lose the benefit if you don’t owe enough taxes in a single year. There is no expiration date on this program, and it is currently active for 2026 installations.

To claim the credit, complete Arizona Form 310 and attach it to your state income tax return for the year the system was installed. The official form and instructions are available through the Arizona Department of Revenue at azdor.gov. Note that the $1,000 cap applies regardless of how many solar devices are installed, so the maximum benefit per household is $1,000 total.

Arizona provides a full sales tax exemption on the purchase of qualifying solar energy devices and equipment, including solar panels, inverters, mounting hardware, and installation labor. This exemption is applied automatically at the point of sale by the seller — homeowners in Scottsdale do not need to file any paperwork to receive this benefit. The state sales tax rate is approximately 5.6%, though local jurisdictions may add additional taxes, so actual savings will vary by location.

Eligible equipment includes photovoltaic systems, solar water heating systems, solar space heating systems, solar thermal electric systems, passive solar systems, wind energy devices, solar pool heating systems, and daylighting systems. The exemption applies to both residential and commercial installations with no maximum dollar cap, making it a valuable savings tool for larger systems.

It is important to note that the sales tax exemption does not automatically extend to standalone battery storage systems, controls, or accessories that are not considered an integral part of the solar energy system. If you are pairing a battery with a new solar installation, confirm with your installer which components qualify. This exemption is authorized under Arizona Revised Statutes and has been in effect since 1997.

Under Arizona Revised Statutes §42-11054, the increase in a residential property’s assessed value resulting from the installation of a solar energy system is fully excluded from property tax calculations. This means that even though solar panels can significantly increase your home’s market value, your annual property tax bill will not go up as a result of the installation. This exemption is permanent and applies statewide to residential, commercial, and industrial properties.

For most Scottsdale (Maricopa County) homeowners, this translates to an estimated savings of $100–$300 per year in property taxes, depending on the size of the system and the local tax rate (millage rate). In counties with higher millage rates, the annual savings can be even greater. Over the life of a solar system (25+ years), this exemption can represent thousands of dollars in cumulative tax savings.

The exemption is generally applied automatically, but homeowners may be required to submit documentation of system costs and equipment to their county assessor. It is recommended to contact your local county assessor’s office to confirm the process in your jurisdiction and ensure the exemption is properly recorded. No annual renewal is required once the exemption is in place.

The federal Battery Storage Investment Tax Credit allows homeowners to claim 30% of the total installed cost of a qualifying battery storage system directly against their federal income tax liability. To qualify, the battery must have a minimum capacity of 3 kWh. Critically, the battery does not need to be paired with solar panels — standalone battery installations also qualify for the full 30% credit. The credit covers the cost of the battery unit, inverter, installation labor, and any necessary electrical panel upgrades.

As a practical example, a Tesla Powerwall 3 with a fully installed cost of approximately $16,000 would generate a federal tax credit of $4,800. For a typical home battery system costing between $12,000 and $16,000, homeowners can expect a credit of $3,600 to $4,800. This credit is currently set at 30% through 2032, making 2026 an excellent time to take advantage of it. If the credit exceeds your tax liability in the year of installation, the unused portion can be carried forward to future tax years.

To claim the credit, file IRS Form 5695 (Residential Energy Credits) with your federal tax return for the year the battery system is placed in service. Note that this credit applies to the battery storage component specifically — the federal residential solar panel tax credit (Section 25D) has expired as of December 31, 2025, and is no longer available for new solar panel installations. Always consult a qualified tax professional to confirm your eligibility and maximize your benefit.

Arizona Public Service (APS) offers the Storage Rewards Pilot program, which pays residential battery storage owners for contributing stored energy back to the grid during high-demand periods. Enrolled homeowners earn approximately $110 per average kilowatt of battery output released during the event season, which runs from May 1 through October 31. APS may call up to 60 discharge events per season, each lasting one to four hours. A typical 13.5 kWh battery with 6 kW of output capacity can earn approximately $660 per season.

This program replaces the original APS Residential Battery Pilot, which offered an upfront rebate of up to $3,750 and is now closed to new applicants. The Storage Rewards Pilot is an ongoing, performance-based program open for enrollment. The pilot is designed to run for five years with up to 5,000 participants, so enrollment capacity may be limited. Participants must have a qualifying battery storage system installed at their APS-served home.

To enroll, contact APS directly through their website or customer service line. This program is separate from the APS Cool Rewards smart thermostat program and is specifically designed for battery storage owners. Because APS operates under a net billing structure (not net metering), pairing a battery with solar and enrolling in Storage Rewards is one of the most effective ways for Scottsdale homeowners to maximize the financial return on a solar-plus-storage investment in the APS service territory.

Arizona has transitioned from traditional net metering to net billing across its major utilities. Under net billing, when your solar panels produce more electricity than your home uses, the excess is exported to the grid and you receive a bill credit — but at a rate below the retail electricity rate. Scottsdale residents are primarily served by APS, which credits approximately $0.0617/kWh (locked in for 10 years at the time of interconnection).

A key benefit for APS customers is the 10-year rate lock: the export rate in effect when your system interconnects is guaranteed for 10 years, even if rates decrease for future customers. The Arizona Corporation Commission has established a schedule where export rates may decrease by up to 10% each year for new customers, meaning the sooner you go solar, the higher your locked-in export rate will be. APS also charges a Grid Access Fee of approximately $0.93 per kW of solar array capacity per month.

Because net billing export rates are significantly below retail electricity rates, the financial strategy for Scottsdale solar owners has shifted toward self-consumption — using as much of your solar production directly in your home as possible — and pairing solar with battery storage to store excess energy for use during evening peak hours rather than exporting it at low rates. Always verify the current export rate with your specific utility before making installation decisions, as rates are updated periodically.