IRS Audit - Manufacturer Certification Statement

[GWord]

Has anyone gotten a Manufacturers Certification Statement from Tesla for the US Federal Investment Tax Credit? Tesla mentions on their website that it complies, but other manufacturers actually give a written Certification (typically a one pager with part numbers and a statement that says "these items comply...". I'm currently experiencing the joy of an IRS audit of my 2022 credit claim on Tesla's installation. Not having a certification statement is causing a complication.

 

[Shygar]

Have you tried logging into your account and going to the contact page on tesla.com? I know for cars you can get a tax document generated, maybe it's like that for energy too? I'm not certain, just a suggestion.

 

[GWord]

Have you tried logging into your account and going to the contact page on tesla.com? I know for cars you can get a tax document generated, maybe it's like that for energy too? I'm not certain, just a suggestion.

Thanks for the suggestion. Several of us have tried doing that but no, they don't have a certification posted.

 

[h2ofun]

why would one need such a statement. If you paid x, seems you get to write of x?

 

[BGbreeder]

why would one need such a statement. If you paid x, seems you get to write of x?

Amongst other questions, an auditor might question whether the equipment is eligible, and the proof that the auditor is asking for is the certification. All part of an audit...

 

[charlesj]

Thanks for the suggestion. Several of us have tried doing that but no, they don't have a certification posted.

Ask the auditor what exactly they want? Your bill of sale from Tesla should have item numbers of panels and storage battery. Wonde if that will satisfy.

 

[GWord]

Ask the auditor what exactly they want? Your bill of sale from Tesla should have item numbers of panels and storage battery. Wonde if that will satisfy.

They want a certification statement from the manufacturer. My accountant that's handling the audit provided me with several examples from other installers / equipment manufacturers. Here is an example from Enphase:

 

[GWord]

why would one need such a statement. If you paid x, seems you get to write of x?

From 26 U.S. Code § 25D

(2) Qualified solar electric property expenditure
The term “qualified solar electric property expenditure” means an expenditure for property which uses solar energy to generate electricity for use in a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer.

Based on my ongoing personal experience in an audit, the IRS is wanting proof that qualified solar electric property has been installed. The IRS auditors are not electrical engineers, scientists, or in any way experts in the field of solar power generation and battery storage. So they rely on these certification statements. My auditor had several examples of people failing their audit and having to reimburse their tax credit due to not having these (although there may have been compounding factors).

 

[CrazyRabbit]

Good thing you didn’t roll in cost of a new roof or a bathroom remodel under the tax credit! lol
Good luck. Contact Tesla.
Wouldn’t the engineering drawings list installed equipment and then all you need is the statement from mfg.

 

[GWord]

Good thing you didn’t roll in cost of a new roof or a bathroom remodel under the tax credit! lol
Good luck. Contact Tesla.
Wouldn’t the engineering drawings list installed equipment and then all you need is the statement from mfg.

Yeah, this is an excellent point, the statement can also come from Manufacturers. So that's another angle to try to solve.

 

[h2ofun]

Good thing you didn’t roll in cost of a new roof or a bathroom remodel under the tax credit! lol
Good luck. Contact Tesla.
Wouldn’t the engineering drawings list installed equipment and then all you need is the statement from mfg.

Even if one did, just have to pay it back

 

[Shygar]

Not sure if this helps but I saw this post on Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaSolar/comments/1d2xfzc/manufacturers_certification

 

[charlesj]

They want a certification statement from the manufacturer. My accountant that's handling the audit provided me with several examples from other installers / equipment manufacturers. Here is an example from Enphase:

Interesting, thanks.
Does IRS want the same document for solar panels? I guess for storage battery as well.
I must have been lucky in 2012 and 2020, no audit.
ps.
it's almost like a certification that the equipment installed is part of the solar system? Enphase didn't specify exactly what was installed just what they design and sell is solar related equipment?