What Arkansas still offers after the federal credit ended
Every incentive on this page is verified against Arkansas government sources - and the expired ones salespeople still quote are called out.
The 30% federal solar tax credit ended for installations finished after December 31, 2025 - Mayflower systems completed in 2026 get $0 from it.
Under Arkansas's export rules, compensation for surplus power decides the payback - which typically runs 10-14 years on unsubsidized 2026 math.
Installed home solar for Mayflower homeowners averages about $2.58 a watt across the U.S. marketplace - roughly $30,960 for a 12 kW system before incentives.
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit - the 30% one every solar ad still quotes - was repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4, 2025. Per the IRS, it is not available for any system placed in service after December 31, 2025, and 'placed in service' means the installation completion date, not the contract date.
If a salesperson in Mayflower tells you a 30% federal tax credit applies to your 2026 installation, they are quoting a dead law. What may still exist: Arkansas's own incentives and tax treatment, listed below, and lease/PPA arrangements where a company claims commercial credits - in which case the credit belongs to them, not you.
The 2026 numbers
| System size | Installed price (marketplace avg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $15,480 | Small roof / low usage |
| 8 kW | $20,640 | Typical starter system |
| 10 kW | $25,800 | Family home with AC |
| 12 kW | $30,960 | Large home / EV charging |
| Home battery (optional) | $12,000-$16,000 | Backup power + self-consumption |
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Arkansas rules that decide your payback
| Rule | Arkansas status |
|---|---|
| Export compensation (net metering) | Arkansas has split its customers in two: 'legacy' customers who got a Standard Interconnection Agreement in before September 30, 2024 keep the old retail-rate net metering structure (the rate structure, terms and conditions in effect before December 31, 2022) until June 1, 2040, while new 'non-legacy' customers fall under the Cost-Shifting Prevention Act of 2023 framework, where exports are credited at the utility's avoided cost tied to the prior calendar year's average Locational Marginal Price in MISO or SPP. |
| State incentive | No state-level incentive; utility rebates may apply |
| Sales tax on the system | Not exempt - taxed like any purchase |
| Property tax on added home value | No exclusion on record |
Legacy status attaches to the net-metering facility ON THE PREMISES, not to the person - so if you buy a house that already has qualifying solar, the legacy status and its June 1, 2040 end date transfer with the home, and routine maintenance or replacing parts with newer technology after September 30, 2024 does not break it. But you cannot move the system to a new address and keep legacy status. Arkansas's net metering rules were the subject of a long-running PSC docket (16-027-R) and repeated legislative rewrites (Act 464 of 2019, then Act 278 of 2023), so compensation depends heavily on your interconnection date.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
What this means for Mayflower roofs
Whether solar still pays in Arkansas after the federal credit's end comes down to arithmetic, not ideology: installed cost (about $2.58 a watt at the marketplace average), what your utility pays for exports, and how much of your generation you use yourself. High self-consumption - daytime usage, EV charging, batteries - is now the biggest lever.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
Getting Mayflower quotes
The spread between the highest and lowest bid for the same roof routinely hits 30-50%, because solar quotes carry very different sales overheads. Two or three independent bids collected against the same system size is the single highest-value hour in the whole project.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
Common questions
How do I check if a solar quote is fair?
Divide the total price by the system's wattage. The U.S. marketplace average is about $2.58 per watt installed; $2.30-3.00 covers most fair quotes depending on roof complexity. Above that, ask exactly what you are paying extra for - in writing.
Is my roof even suitable for solar?
Three things decide it: orientation (south-facing is best in the U.S., east-west workable), shade (trees or taller buildings across midday hours can sink the math), and roof age (if the shingles have under 10 years left, reroof first - removing and reinstalling panels later costs thousands). Any honest installer assesses all three before quoting a number.
Is solar still worth it without the federal credit?
It depends mostly on your state's export rules and your daytime usage. Paybacks lengthened by roughly a third when the credit ended, but rising electricity rates and record-cheap hardware keep the math workable in states with decent export compensation - and marginal where exports pay avoided cost only.
Is there still a federal solar tax credit in 2026?
No. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit was repealed effective for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, per the IRS. Only systems finished by the end of 2025 qualified. State-level incentives are separate and some survive - check the state page in this guide.
Does solar raise my property taxes?
It depends on the state - many exempt solar's added home value from property tax, others do not, and some exemptions have expiration dates. This guide's state page lists the verified rule and source for your state.
Get solar quotes for Mayflower
These platforms collect bids from licensed installers so you can compare against the same spec. Prices come from installers, not from this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you request quotes through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your quotes.