Montana · Tax exemption · Deep-stack program

MT Solar Property Tax Exemption

Removes a tax burden residential solar owners in Montana would otherwise carry -- see what it covers, eligibility, and payback impact below.

Full property tax exemption
stated benefit
Residential
eligible customers
16.3 yr
Montana baseline payback
3
other Montana programs
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Deep-stack program · late directory

Montana runs a 4-program DSIRE stack; this tax exemption is one layer on a 16.3-year modeled baseline, not the whole story.

  • Stack4 programs
  • In-state #3/3
  • Type #23/45
  • Baseline16.3 yr

In-state directory place #3 of 3 (late alphabet). National tax exemption directory #23 of 45. Amounts and eligibility change; verify with the official program page before relying on a dollar figure. Informational only - not financial advice. See our disclaimer.

Program description

Montana provides a full property tax exemption for qualifying solar energy systems.

Program at a glance

Program type
Tax exemption
Eligible customers
Residential
Stated benefit
Full property tax exemption
State electricity rate
11.8¢/kWh
Montana solar score
29/100

Solar's trajectory in Montana

The market this incentive operates in: total installed solar capacity in Montana reported to the EIA.

0 MW50 MW100 MW150 MW200 MW 20172018201920202021202220232024 179 MW
Montana now has about 179 MW of installed solar, the backdrop programs like this one are built on.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, installed solar nameplate capacity As of 2024

Montana's solar incentive stack

How this tax exemption sits among Montana's 3 tracked programs, by type

programs

What this shows Montana tracks 3 incentive types; 1 are tax exemptions like this one, removing a cost solar owners would otherwise carry, on top of the state's other program types.

Source DSIRE incentives registry As of 2024

How this tax exemption layers inside Montana's deep stack

The MT Solar Property Tax Exemption removes a tax burden solar owners would otherwise carry, one of Montana's DSIRE-tracked solar incentive programs. Eligibility is scoped to residential customers, with a stated benefit of Full property tax exemption. DSIRE lists no scheduled sunset, though enabling legislation and appropriations can still be revised year to year.

That baseline is slower than most states, which raises the stakes for every incentive on the table. Montana averages 5 kWh/m²/day of usable sunlight and residential rates of 11.8¢/kWh, producing an estimated 8,760 kWh/year and $1,034 of annual utility offset on a typical 6 kW system costing $16,800. That baseline already implies a 16.3-year simple payback and a 25-year modeled net of roughly $9,050 before this incentive - every dollar this tax exemption delivers compresses that payback further.

Montana bundles a deep incentive stack, so this program rarely stands alone. Montana has 4 solar incentive programs indexed in DSIRE, including adjacent options like MT Net Metering, MT Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit. The state's net-metering policy is classified as full, which governs how excess generation is credited and often decides whether a given program is worth claiming for a specific household.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the MT Solar Property Tax Exemption sit in Montana's deep program stack?
The MT Solar Property Tax Exemption is a tax exemption available to residential solar customers in Montana. The stated benefit is Full property tax exemption.
How does this tax exemption work beside Montana's other programs?
Montana provides a full property tax exemption for qualifying solar energy systems.
Who qualifies, and what does a late in-state directory place mean?
The program is available to residential customers in Montana. Check the official program page for current eligibility requirements and deadlines. In-state directory place #3 of 3 (late alphabet).
How does this incentive affect solar ROI in Montana?
Montana has an estimated 16.3-year payback for a 6 kW system before incentives, with about $1,034/year in modeled savings. A tax exemption like this lowers upfront cost or raises annual return, shortening that payback. Run the calculator for a figure based on your own bill.
Which other Montana programs stack with this one?
Montana has 4 solar incentive programs tracked in DSIRE, including MT Net Metering, MT Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit. State programs are designed to stack on top of any available federal solar tax credit rather than replace it.

Incentive data from the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency); state solar economics from NREL and the U.S. EIA. See our methodology · Montana solar data · ROI calculator · All incentives.