Renewable Energy Equipment Exemption

Summary

Iowa allows a sales tax exemption for solar, wind, and hydroelectricity equipment. As of August 2024, the Iowa sales tax rate is 6%.

Wind

For wind energy, the exemption includes the total cost of wind energy equipment and all materials used to manufacture, install, or construct wind energy systems. The exemption does not apply to equipment used to construct a plant to manufacture wind energy systems.

Solar

Effective July 1, 2006, solar energy equipment is also exempt from the state sales tax. Solar equipment means any equipment that is used to convert incident solar radiation to energy, or equipment used to transform the converted energy to storage or to some point of use.

Additional guidance on the solar exemption has been provided in the Iowa Sales and Use Tax Guide: "Iowa Code section 423.3(90) defines solar energy equipment as “equipment that is primarily used to collect and convert incident solar radiation into thermal, mechanical, or electrical energy or equipment that is primarily used to transform such converted solar energy to a storage point or to a point of use.” This includes but is not limited to panels, inverters, solar roof tiles or shingles, and energy transmission devices. It does not include a battery or other storage point, equipment used for safety or security of the equipment such as fencing, or equipment not used to collect, convert, or transmit solar energy. It also does not include materials used to manufacture, install, or construct solar energy equipment, such as racking to install or mount solar energy equipment or pads or foundations to support a solar energy equipment installation."

Hydroelectricity

In May 2013 a sales tax exemption was also added for hydroelectricity conversion equipment through the enactment of H.F. 630. This includes but is not limited to, generators, turbines, powerhouses, intakes, coffer dams, walls, water conduits, tailraces, other concrete components, electric equipment substations, poles, wires, transformers, breakers, and switches used to convert water, water power, or hydroelectricity to a form of usable energy.