Renewable energy system cost recovery — Light/power business tax credit. (Expires June 30, 2033.)
RCW 82.16.130
in effect(1) A light and power business is allowed a credit against taxes due under this chapter in an amount equal to: (a) Incentive payments made in any fiscal year under RCW 82.16.120 and 82.16.165 ; and (b) Any fees a utility is allowed to recover pursuant to RCW 82.16.165 (5). (2) The credits must be taken in a form and manner as required by the department. The credit taken under this section for the fiscal year may not exceed one and one-half percent of the business's taxable Washington power sales generated in calendar year 2014 and due under RCW 82.16.020 (1)(b) or two hundred fifty thousand dollars, whichever is greater, for incentive payments made for the following: (a) Renewable energy systems, other than community solar projects, that are certified for an incentive payment as of June 30, 2020; and (b) Community solar and shared commercial projects that are under precertification status under RCW 82.16.165 (7)(b) as of June 30, 2020, and that are certified for an incentive payment in accordance with the terms of that precertification by June 30, 2022. (3) The credit may not exceed the tax that would otherwise be due under this chapter. Refunds may not be granted in the place of credits. Expenditures not used to earn a credit in one fiscal year may not be used to earn a credit in subsequent years. (4) For any business that has claimed credit for amounts that exceed the correct amount of the incentive payable under RCW 82.16.120 , the amount of tax against which credit was claimed for the excess payments is immediately due and payable. The department may deduct amounts due from future credits claimed by the business. (a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the department must assess interest but not penalties on the taxes against which the credit was claimed. Interest must be assessed at the rate provided for delinquent excise taxes under chapter 82.32 RCW, retroactively to the date the credit was claimed, and accrues until the taxes against which the credit was claimed are repaid. (b) A business is not liable for excess payments made in reliance on amounts reported by the Washington State University extension energy program as due and payable as provided under RCW 82.16.165 (20), if such amounts are later found to be abnormal or inaccurate due to no fault of the business. (5) The amount of credit taken under this section is not confidential taxpayer information under RCW 82.32.330 and is subject to disclosure. (6) The right to earn tax credits for incentive payments made under RCW 82.16.120 expires June 30, 2020. Credits may not be claimed after June 30, 2021. (7)(a) The right to earn tax credits for incentive payments made under RCW 82.16.165 for the following expires June 30, 2029: (i) Renewable energy systems, other than community solar projects, that are certified for an incentive payment as of June 30, 2020; and (ii) Community solar and shared commercial projects that are under precertification status under RCW 82.16.165 (7)(b) as of June 30, 2020, and that are certified for an incentive payment in accordance with the terms of that precertification by June 30, 2022. (b) Credits may not be claimed after June 30, 2030. (8) This section expires June 30, 2033.
(1) A light and power business is allowed a credit against taxes due under this chapter in an amount equal to:
(a) Incentive payments made in any fiscal year under RCW 82.16.120 and 82.16.165 ; and
(b) Any fees a utility is allowed to recover pursuant to RCW 82.16.165 (5).
(2) The credits must be taken in a form and manner as required by the department. The credit taken under this section for the fiscal year may not exceed one and one-half percent of the business's taxable Washington power sales generated in calendar year 2014 and due under RCW 82.16.020 (1)(b) or two hundred fifty thousand dollars, whichever is greater, for incentive payments made for the following:
(a) Renewable energy systems, other than community solar projects, that are certified for an incentive payment as of June 30, 2020; and
(b) Community solar and shared commercial projects that are under precertification status under RCW 82.16.165 (7)(b) as of June 30, 2020, and that are certified for an incentive payment in accordance with the terms of that precertification by June 30, 2022.
(3) The credit may not exceed the tax that would otherwise be due under this chapter. Refunds may not be granted in the place of credits. Expenditures not used to earn a credit in one fiscal year may not be used to earn a credit in subsequent years.
(4) For any business that has claimed credit for amounts that exceed the correct amount of the incentive payable under RCW 82.16.120 , the amount of tax against which credit was claimed for the excess payments is immediately due and payable. The department may deduct amounts due from future credits claimed by the business.
(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the department must assess interest but not penalties on the taxes against which the credit was claimed. Interest must be assessed at the rate provided for delinquent excise taxes under chapter 82.32 RCW, retroactively to the date the credit was claimed, and accrues until the taxes against which the credit was claimed are repaid.
(b) A business is not liable for excess payments made in reliance on amounts reported by the Washington State University extension energy program as due and payable as provided under RCW 82.16.165 (20), if such amounts are later found to be abnormal or inaccurate due to no fault of the business.
(5) The amount of credit taken under this section is not confidential taxpayer information under RCW 82.32.330 and is subject to disclosure.
(6) The right to earn tax credits for incentive payments made under RCW 82.16.120 expires June 30, 2020. Credits may not be claimed after June 30, 2021.
(7)(a) The right to earn tax credits for incentive payments made under RCW 82.16.165 for the following expires June 30, 2029:
(i) Renewable energy systems, other than community solar projects, that are certified for an incentive payment as of June 30, 2020; and
(ii) Community solar and shared commercial projects that are under precertification status under RCW 82.16.165 (7)(b) as of June 30, 2020, and that are certified for an incentive payment in accordance with the terms of that precertification by June 30, 2022.
(b) Credits may not be claimed after June 30, 2030.
(8) This section expires June 30, 2033.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=82.16&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026