State granting tax breaks for solar purchases

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance announced it is offering tax breaks for installing solar energy equipment in commercial buildings.

A bill passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo will waive the state”™s 4 percent sales tax on the sale or installation of commercial solar energy systems equipment. The exemption also applies to the sales and use tax imposed in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District, which consists of  New York City and Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester counties.

The law took effect Jan 1.

Residential solar energy systems equipment gained a similar tax break in 2005.