That is correct. People will typically get loans for larger purchases like solar panels so that they don’t need to pay everything upfront, but for smaller purchases like maybe $1,000 a loan isn’t really worth it, and you’ll need funds set aside to pay the contractor now and expect to see the money back when you file.
Also worth checking state/local incentives. In my state our gas company has weatherization rebates. They did air sealing and added insulation to our attic (up to a certain R value) all for free - they billed it directly to the gas company. When they were out here, I paid for a bit of extra insulation because I thought we needed it, but the base amount was completely free.
Aren’t tax credits only useful at tax filing time? You still have to be able to pay the up front costs, right?
That is correct. People will typically get loans for larger purchases like solar panels so that they don’t need to pay everything upfront, but for smaller purchases like maybe $1,000 a loan isn’t really worth it, and you’ll need funds set aside to pay the contractor now and expect to see the money back when you file.
Also worth checking state/local incentives. In my state our gas company has weatherization rebates. They did air sealing and added insulation to our attic (up to a certain R value) all for free - they billed it directly to the gas company. When they were out here, I paid for a bit of extra insulation because I thought we needed it, but the base amount was completely free.