Do I have to pay income tax if I generate electricity?

Where the generation tariff is received by an individual, other than in a business capacity, and it is not chargeable as miscellaneous income, no Income Tax liability will arise. This will usually be the case where an individual generates electricity mainly for use in their own home.

What are the tax rules for electricity installation?

There are two different sets of tax rules, depending principally on whether the installation is domestic or commercial. The contract documentation will state the type of installation. A domestic installation is normally mounted on the farmhouse roof (occasionally in the garden) and provides electricity solely to the dwelling.

Are electrical installations tax-free?

So as long as the installation doesn’t generate far more electricity than is used in the home overall, the income should still be tax-free. However, businesses will not be able to enjoy the tax exempt status available to homeowners. They will be taxed according to normal principles.

Is a generation tariff liable for income tax?

A generation tariff received in a private capacity, which is not chargeable as miscellaneous income, will not be liable to Income Tax but the reduced cost of electricity should be reflected in the cost of electricity attributed to business use. An export tariff is payable for electricity exported to the wider energy market.

Can a trustee pay tax on a solar farm?

While land held in a discretionary trust will be subject to ten-year anniversary IHT charges at a maximum of 6 per cent, the tax can be paid in instalments over a ten-year period and the higher income streams from the solar farm generally mean that trustees are in a position to accumulate income to use for payment of the tax.

Are solar farm developments a tax issue?

In this article, Nicola Parkinson and Kathryn Brook, specialist lawyers from Walker Morris’ Tax and Infrastructure & Energy teams respectively, highlight potential tax issues associated with solar farm developments.