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4/25/2024

U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Release Final Rules on Provision to Expand Reach of Clean Energy Tax Credits …

U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Release Final Rules on
Provision to Expand Reach of Clean Energy Tax Credits Through
President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda
April 25, 2024

New Inflation Reduction Act Provision Broadens Access and Boosts Return on Clean Energy
Tax Credits
Washington, D.C. — As part of the Biden-Harris Administrationʼs Investing in America agenda,
the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today released
final rules on transferability, a key Inflation Reduction Act provision that is already expanding
the availability of capital to advance the U.S. clean energy transition. Transferability is helping
projects get built more quickly and a ordably, which will create good-paying jobs and lower
energy costs for families.
The Inflation Reduction Act created two new credit delivery mechanisms—elective pay
(otherwise known as “direct pay”) and transferability—that are enabling state, local, and
Tribal governments; non-profit organizations; Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories; and many
more businesses to take advantage of clean energy tax credits. Until the Inflation Reduction
Act introduced these new credit delivery mechanisms, governments, many types of taxexempt organizations, and many businesses could not fully benefit from tax credits like those
that incentivize clean energy construction.
“The Inflation Reduction Actʼs new tools to access clean energy tax credits are a catalyst for
meeting President Bidenʼs historic economic and climate goals. They are acting as a force
multiplier, enabling companies to realize far greater value from incentives to deploy new clean
power and manufacture clean energy components,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L.
Yellen. “More clean energy projects are being built quickly and a ordably, and more
communities are benefitting from the growth of the clean energy economy.”
“Thanks to President Bidenʼs Inflation Reduction Act, more small businesses, startups, and
other businesses can now benefit from game-changing clean energy tax credits by using the
innovative transferability tool,” said White House National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard.
“We are already seeing businesses eager to participate in the transfer market, with more than
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4/25/2024

U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Release Final Rules on Provision to Expand Reach of Clean Energy Tax Credits …

50,000 registration numbers requested for projects or facilities pursuing transferability. These
final rules will provide additional clarity and certainty for clean energy investments in
communities across the country.”
The Inflation Reduction Actʼs transferability provisions allow businesses to transfer all or a
portion of any of 11 clean energy credits to a third-party in exchange for tax-free immediate
funds, so that businesses can take advantage of tax incentives if they do not have su icient
tax liability to fully utilize the credits themselves. Entities without su icient tax liability were
previously unable to realize the full value of credits, which raised costs and created challenges
for financing projects.
The Inflation Reduction Act also allows tax-exempt and governmental entities to receive
elective payments for 12 clean energy tax credits, including the major Investment and
Production Tax Credits, as well as tax credits for electric vehicles and charging stations.
Businesses can also choose elective pay for a five-year period for three of those credits: the
credits for Advanced Manufacturing (45X), Carbon Oxide Sequestration (45Q), and Clean
Hydrogen (45V). Final rules on elective pay were issued in March.
To facilitate taxpayers transferring a clean energy credit or receiving a direct payment of an
energy credit or CHIPS credit, the IRS built IRS Energy Credits Online (ECO) for taxpayers to
complete the pre-file registration process and receive a registration number. The registration
number must be included on the taxpayerʼs annual return when making a transfer election or
elective payment election for a clean energy credit. The registration process helps prevent
improper payments to fraudulent actors and provides the IRS with basic information to ensure
that any taxpayer that qualifies for these credit monetization mechanisms can readily access
these benefits upon filing a return and making an election.
As of April 19, more than 900 entities have requested approximately 59,000 registration
numbers for projects or facilities located across all 50 states plus territories. Approximately
97% of these projects are pursuing transferability. A wide variety of credits are being used,
but the bulk transferability-related registrations are related to solar and wind projects using
the investment or production tax credit. In addition, more than 1,300 projects or facilities
submitted are pursuing elective pay, including submissions from more than 75 state and local
governments to register approximately 650 clean buses and vehicles through elective pay.
The value of the tax credits for these projects is not determined during the pre-filing
registration process and is instead determined a er an entity files their tax return.
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4/25/2024

U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Release Final Rules on Provision to Expand Reach of Clean Energy Tax Credits …

The number of registration number requests described above does not include cases where
an entity has not yet formally requested a registration number, including those who may have
work saved in progress in IRS ECO. Registration numbers, which speed return processing and
help prevent improper payments, are being issued on a rolling basis. The IRS has already
issued approximately 40,000 registration numbers.
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