Can I claim both solar panel and EV tax credits in the same tax year?

Good news! You absolutely CAN claim both the Residential Clean Energy Credit (for your solar panels) and the Clean Vehicle Credit (for your EV) in the same tax year. These are two separate tax credits that don't conflict with each other. The Residential Clean Energy Credit (formerly called the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit) is claimed on Form 5695, while the Clean Vehicle Credit is claimed on Form 8936. Since they're separate credits with separate forms, you can definitely claim both when filing your 2025 taxes. Also, filing separately would actually be disadvantageous in your situation. Many tax benefits, including certain energy credits, can be reduced or eliminated when using the married filing separately status. I'd recommend sticking with married filing jointly to maximize your benefits. The only limitation would be if your tax liability isn't high enough to absorb both credits in the same year, since these are non-refundable credits (though the EV credit now has a special provision allowing a point-of-sale transfer option).

I went through this exact situation last year and was super confused about all the clean energy credits. I ended up using https://taxr.ai to review all my documentation for both the solar install and my EV purchase, and it really cleared things up! The tool analyzed my solar panel installation contract and my EV purchase agreement, then explained exactly which forms I needed and how to claim both credits. Turns out the person who told you that you can't claim both was totally wrong - they're completely separate credits and don't conflict at all. The Residential Clean Energy Credit (Form 5695) and the Clean Vehicle Credit (Form 8936) can both be claimed in the same tax year. I was worried about doing something wrong since it was a pretty significant amount of money between both credits, but the document review gave me total confidence when filing.

I was totally skeptical about using https://taxr.ai when I first saw it mentioned here, but I gave it a shot with my energy credit situation and I'm really glad I did. I had solar installed in 2023 and bought an EV in 2024, and was going to skip claiming one of the credits because I thought they'd conflict! The tool analyzed my documentation and showed me that not only could I claim both credits, but I had actually missed some qualifying expenses on my solar installation that I could include (like some of the electrical panel upgrades). It saved me over $2,000 in tax credits I would have missed! What really helped was the detailed explanation of exactly which parts of Form 5695 and Form 8936 to fill out. Made the whole process way less intimidating than trying to figure it out myself.

If you're having trouble reaching the IRS to get a definitive answer on claiming both credits, try https://claimyr.com - I used it when I had a similar question about energy credits that was too complicated for the IRS website to answer. You can also see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was on hold with the IRS for over an hour before I hung up and tried Claimyr. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes who confirmed that yes, you can absolutely claim both the solar and EV credits in the same year. The agent even walked me through some of the specifics about how to properly document everything on my return. Definitely worth it for peace of mind on something this significant where getting it wrong could mean missing out on thousands in credits.

I owe everyone here an apology - I was the skeptic about Claimyr and ended up trying it out of desperation yesterday. Holy crap, it actually works! After trying to reach the IRS for THREE DAYS with no success, this service got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. The agent confirmed exactly what others have said here - you CAN claim both the solar credit and the EV credit in the same year. They're completely separate credits with different forms. The agent also pointed out that if my tax liability isn't high enough to use both credits fully, the Residential Clean Energy Credit can carry forward to future years. Would have spent who knows how many more hours trying to get this info without that service. Sometimes my skepticism gets in the way of finding actual solutions!

Make sure you double check the requirements for the EV credit - they changed the rules again for 2025. Depending on when you purchased it and where it was manufactured, you might not qualify for the full amount. We got burned last year because our EV had a battery with components from China. Also, for the additional solar panels, you can only claim the credit on the new installation, not on your entire system. Calculate the credit only on what you spent this year.

Has anyone here actually gotten audited for EV or solar credits? I'm claiming both this year too and getting nervous about doing something wrong...

Just wanted to add my experience here - I claimed both the solar and EV credits last year without any issues. The key thing that helped me was organizing all my documentation beforehand. For the solar panels, I made sure to have the installation contract, receipts for all equipment, and proof that everything was installed at my primary residence. For the EV, I kept the purchase agreement, manufacturer's certification that it qualified for the credit, and documentation showing the final assembly location. One thing I learned is that the IRS is really focused on making sure people aren't double-dipping on expenses. So if you had any electrical work done for both the solar installation AND to support EV charging (like panel upgrades), make sure you're not claiming the same electrical work under both credits. But as long as the expenses are truly separate, you're absolutely fine claiming both. Also, don't stress too much about the audit risk - these are legitimate credits that Congress specifically designed to encourage clean energy adoption. Just keep good records and you'll be fine!

I'm dealing with a similar situation and really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences! We installed additional solar panels this year specifically because we got an EV, and I was worried about potential conflicts between the credits too. One thing I want to add that might help others - make sure you're aware of the income limits for these credits. The Clean Vehicle Credit has some pretty strict income caps (I think it's $300K for married filing jointly), and while the solar credit doesn't have income limits, your ability to use it depends on having enough tax liability to offset. Also, if anyone is still on the fence about whether to claim both credits, I'd definitely recommend doing it. These are exactly the types of investments the government wants to encourage, and as long as you have proper documentation for both purchases, there shouldn't be any issues. The worst case scenario is you get asked to provide additional documentation, but that's pretty unlikely if you keep good records from the start. Has anyone here used the point-of-sale option for the EV credit? I'm curious how that affects the documentation requirements since the dealer handles some of the paperwork.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in almost the exact same situation - we had solar installed a few years ago and just added more panels this year when we bought our Tesla Model Y. I was also worried about some kind of conflict between the credits after seeing conflicting information online. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear that you absolutely CAN claim both credits in the same year. The Residential Clean Energy Credit (Form 5695) for your additional solar panels and the Clean Vehicle Credit (Form 8936) for your EV are completely separate and don't interfere with each other at all. A few things I've learned from this discussion that might help others: - Keep detailed documentation for both purchases (contracts, receipts, manufacturer certifications) - Make sure your EV meets the 2025 requirements (final assembly location, battery component sourcing, etc.) - Only claim the credit for your NEW solar panel installation, not your whole system - Filing married jointly is typically better than separately for maximizing these credits - Be careful not to double-count any shared electrical work between the two projects Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - it's so much more valuable than trying to parse through IRS publications! Definitely going ahead with claiming both credits now.

Adding to this great discussion - I went through the exact same scenario last year and successfully claimed both credits without any issues! We had solar panels installed in 2022, then added more panels in 2024 along with purchasing a Tesla Model 3. The key thing I learned is that these credits are designed to work together - the government WANTS people to invest in clean energy, so they made sure the credits complement each other rather than conflict. The Residential Clean Energy Credit applies to your solar equipment and installation costs, while the Clean Vehicle Credit applies to your EV purchase. They're completely separate line items on your tax return. One practical tip: when I was organizing my documentation, I created separate folders for each credit with all the relevant paperwork. For solar, I included the installation contract, equipment receipts, and photos of the completed installation. For the EV, I kept the purchase agreement, window sticker showing the battery capacity, and the manufacturer's certification letter. Having everything organized made filing much smoother. Don't let that misinformation from the tax forum discourage you - you're absolutely entitled to both credits if you meet the requirements for each. Good luck with your filing!

This whole thread has been a lifesaver! I'm in the exact same boat - we installed solar panels in 2021, bought a Tesla Model Y this year, and are planning to add more solar panels in the next few months. I was panicking after seeing that same forum post about not being able to claim both credits. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's crystal clear that you CAN absolutely claim both the Residential Clean Energy Credit and the Clean Vehicle Credit in the same year. They're completely separate credits on different forms (5695 vs 8936) and don't interfere with each other at all. What really helped me understand this was seeing multiple people who've actually done it successfully. The government designed these credits to encourage clean energy adoption, so it makes total sense that they'd work together rather than against each other. I'm definitely keeping detailed records for both - separate folders like Camila suggested sounds like a great approach. And staying with married filing jointly since that seems to maximize the benefits. Thanks everyone for sharing your real-world experiences - so much more helpful than trying to decipher IRS publications!