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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Release Guidance on
Provisions to Expand Reach of Clean Energy Tax Credits Through
President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda
June 14, 2023

New Inflation Reduction Act Provisions Allow State, Local, and Tribal Governments, Non-profits,
U.S. Territories, Rural Energy Co-ops, and More to Access Tax Credits for Building a Clean Energy
Economy
Washington, D.C. — As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the
U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today released guidance
on key provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act to expand the reach of the clean energy tax credits
and help build projects more quickly and affordably, which will create good-paying jobs, lower
energy costs for families, and advance American innovation.
The Inflation Reduction Act created two new credit delivery mechanisms—elective pay
(otherwise known as “direct pay”) and transferability

—that enable state, local, and Tribal

governments; non-profit organizations, U.S. territories; and other entities to take advantage of
clean energy tax credits. Until the Inflation Reduction Act introduced these new credit delivery
mechanisms, governments, many types of tax-exempt organizations, and even many businesses
could not fully benefit from tax credits like those that incentivize clean energy construction.
“The Inflation Reduction Act’s new tools to access clean energy tax credits are a catalyst for
meeting President Biden’s historic economic and climate goals. They will act as a force multiplier,
bringing governments and nonprofits to the table,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen.
“More clean energy projects will be built quickly and affordably, and more communities will
benefit from the growth of the clean energy economy.”
The Inflation Reduction Act 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 three of those credits: the credits for Advanced Manufacturing (45X), Carbon Oxide
Sequestration (45Q), and Clean Hydrogen (45V).

The Inflation Reduction Act also allows businesses not using elective pay 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 sufficient tax liability to fully
utilize the credits themselves. Entities without sufficient tax liability were previously unable to
realize the full value of credits, which raised costs and created challenges for financing projects.
“Direct pay is a game-changer for our ability to spread the benefits of clean energy to every
community in America,” said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy
Innovation and Implementation. “This provision of the Inflation Reduction Act will make it easier
for local governments, Tribes, territories, nonprofits, schools, houses of worship and more to
invest in clean energy, allowing them to save money, improve public health, and better serve their
communities.”
Treasury’s proposed guidance today helps provide clarity for governments, tax-exempt
organizations, and businesses to understand the law’s scope and eligibility requirements. The
proposed regulations clarify which entities would be eligible for each credit monetization
mechanism, lays out the process and timeline to claim and receive an elective payment or to
transfer a credit, and addresses numerous other issues. Many of those issues were raised by
stakeholders in response to Treasury’s far-reaching effort to solicit public input. The proposed
regulations released today will now have a formal 60-day public comment period. Treasury and
the IRS will carefully consider public feedback before issuing final rules.
Today’s guidance also includes temporary regulations for an electronic pre-filing registration
requirement

. The pre-filing process will help prevent improper payments to fraudulent actors

like criminal syndicates and will provide the IRS with basic information to ensure that any taxpayer
that qualifies for these credit monetization mechanisms can readily access these benefits.
Treasury and the IRS are committed to ensuring the process works for those who are eligible to
take advantage of these provisions. Treasury and the IRS will provide more information about the
pre-registration process later this year.
Treasury, working with interagency partners, will also conducting outreach to educate
stakeholders, including through speaking engagements, webinars, and similar engagements in the
coming months. This will include a series of webinars this summer, beginning on Thursday, June
29, where interested stakeholders can learn more. In addition, IRS.gov contains more information
about the proposed and temporary guidance, as well as the underlying tax credits that can be used
with elective pay and transferability.

Nearly three-quarters of the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy investment is delivered via tax
incentives, putting Treasury at the forefront of this landmark legislation. Since the bill was signed
into law last August, Treasury has worked expeditiously to write the rules that will make real the
promise of this legislation. For a full list of Treasury’s work to implement the Inflation Reduction
Act, see below:
August 16, 2022: Treasury Releases Initial Information on Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Under Newly
Enacted Inflation Reduction Act
October 5, 2022: Treasury Seeks Public Input on Implementing the Inflation Reduction Act’s Clean
Energy Tax Incentives
FACT SHEET: Treasury, IRS Open Public Comment on Implementing the Inflation Reduction Act’s
Clean Energy Tax Incentives
October 26, 2022: READOUT: Stakeholder Roundtable on Clean Power Generation and the Inflation
Reduction Act
October 27, 2022: READOUT: Stakeholder Roundtable on Climate Impact, Equity, and the Inflation
Reduction Act
FACT SHEET: Four ways the Inflation Reduction Act’s Tax Incentives Will Support Building an
Equitable Clean Energy Economy
October 31, 2022: READOUT: Stakeholder Roundtable on Investor Perspectives on Climate Change,
Clean Energy, and the Inflation Reduction Act
November 3, 2022: Treasury Seeks Public Input on Additional Clean Energy Tax Provisions of the
Inflation Reduction Act
November 4, 2022: READOUT: Stakeholder Roundtable on Clean Vehicles and the Inflation
Reduction Act
November 29, 2022: Treasury Announces Guidance on Inflation Reduction Act’s Strong Labor
Protections
December 12, 2022: Treasury and IRS set out procedures for manufacturers, sellers of clean

vehicles
December 19, 2022: Treasury, IRS issue guidance on new Sustainable Aviation Fuel Credit
December 22, 2022: IRS releases frequently asked questions about energy efficient home
improvements and residential clean energy property credits
January 17, 2023: Remarks by Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo at White House
event “Lowering Costs: Inflation Reduction Act Briefing”
January 29, 2023: Statement from Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo on
Implementation of Strong Inflation Reduction Act Worker Protections
February 3, 2023: Treasury Updates Vehicle Classification Standard for Clean Vehicle Tax Credits
Under Inflation Reduction Act
February 13, 2023: Treasury, Energy Release Guidance on Inflation Reduction Act Programs to
Incentivize Investments in Underserved Communities, Hard-Hit Coal Communities
March 22, 2023: Remarks by Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy Lily Batchelder on Implementation of
the Inflation Reduction Act’s Clean Energy Provisions
March 31, 2023: Treasury Releases Proposed Guidance on New Clean Vehicle Credit to Lower Costs
for Consumers, Build U.S. Industrial Base, Strengthen Supply Chains
April 4, 2023: Treasury Releases Guidance to Drive Investment to Coal Communities
April 14, 2023: READOUT: Treasury Convenes Roundtable Discussion on Inflation Reduction Act
Incentives for Underserved Communities
April 27, 2023: READOUT: Treasury Department Convenes Roundtable Discussion on Inflation
Reduction Act Incentives for Underserved Communities
May 12, 2023: Treasury Department Releases Guidance to Boost American Clean Energy
Manufacturing

May 31, 2023: U.S. Departments of Treasury and Energy Release Additional Guidance on Inflation
Reduction Act Programs to Incentivize Manufacturing and Clean Energy Investments in Hard-Hit
Coal Communities

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