Commercial Solar Depreciation: MACRS 5-Year Guide

MACRS (Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System) is the US federal tax depreciation system that allows businesses to recover the cost of certain assets over a specified period using accelerated depreciation methods. Solar energy property is classified as 5-year property under MACRS, meaning the full asset cost can be depreciated over a 5-year schedule using the 200% declining balance method, switching to straight-line when that method gives a larger deduction. The MACRS 5-year schedule for solar generates the following approximate depreciation percentages by year: Year 1: 20%, Year 2: 32%, Year 3: 19.2%, Year 4: 11.5%, Year 5: 11.5%, Year 6: 5.8%.

When a business claims the full federal ITC, the depreciable basis of the solar system under MACRS must be reduced by 50% of the ITC claimed. For a 30% ITC, this means the depreciable basis is reduced by 15% (50% of 30%). If you install a $1,000,000 solar system and claim a $300,000 ITC, your MACRS depreciable basis is $850,000 (the $1,000,000 cost minus $150,000 basis adjustment). The remaining $850,000 is then depreciated over the 5-year MACRS schedule.

Bonus depreciation allows businesses to deduct a larger percentage of an asset's cost in the first year rather than spreading it over the MACRS schedule. For commercial solar, bonus depreciation availability has varied by year. Under current tax law as modified by the OBBBA, bonus depreciation for solar property should be confirmed with your tax counsel for the specific installation year. Even without bonus depreciation, the standard MACRS 5-year schedule for solar delivers approximately 52% of the depreciable basis as a tax deduction in the first two years.

Yes, and this is one of the most powerful aspects of commercial solar tax strategy. The ITC and MACRS depreciation are separate and additive benefits. For a $1,000,000 commercial solar system, the combined ITC ($300,000 credit) and MACRS depreciation on the adjusted basis ($850,000 × 52% in first 2 years = approximately $442,000 in deductions) creates substantial first-year and second-year tax benefit. The exact benefit depends on your marginal tax rate. For a business at the 21% federal corporate rate, the MACRS deductions generate approximately $92,820 in additional tax savings in the first two years.

Yes. The ITC is subject to a 5-year recapture period. If a commercial solar system is sold, transferred, or ceases to be qualified energy property within 5 years of being placed in service, a portion of the ITC must be repaid to the IRS (recaptured) on a sliding scale: Year 1 - 100%, Year 2 - 80%, Year 3 - 60%, Year 4 - 40%, Year 5 - 20%, Year 6+ - 0%. MACRS depreciation recapture is a separate calculation under ordinary income rules that applies on any asset sale. Businesses planning to sell properties with solar systems should consult tax counsel before the sale to understand both ITC and depreciation recapture implications.

We strongly recommend involving your CPA or tax counsel in the solar project before signing a contract, not just at tax filing time. Key decisions affecting depreciation include: whether to elect 5-year or 15-year MACRS (most businesses prefer 5-year), whether to claim bonus depreciation if available for the installation year, how to calculate the adjusted basis after ITC election, and how to document the system cost components for audit purposes. Our team provides complete project documentation to your tax counsel, including the cost segregation analysis needed to support MACRS claims.