Solar panel grants and VAT in France in 2026
With the premium gone, what remains is mainly a tax advantage. What it requires, what it is worth on a quote, and the other rules that lighten the bill.
In 2026 the main national help for solar panels on a house in France is a reduced VAT rate of 5.5 %, applicable since 1 October 2025 to the supply and fitting of systems of 9 kWp or less. It is not automatic: modules must have a carbon footprint below 530 kg of CO2 equivalent per kWp and meet heavy-metal limits, and the system must include an energy-management system, under the order of 8 September 2025. On a quote estimated at €6,000 for 3 kWp, VAT at that rate comes to €313. The self-consumption premium has gone for connection requests filed since 5 June 2026. What remains is the surplus feed-in tariff, now modest, and an income-tax exemption on sales for systems of 3 kWp or less. This site does not list local grants, as no national source publishes them reliably.
Does your system qualify for 5.5% VAT?
Reduced 5.5% rate
Possible
| VAT at 5.5% | €303 |
| Price incl. 5.5% VAT | €5,803 |
| Conditions | 9 kWp max, ≤ 530 kgCO2/kWp |
Heavy-metal limits and an energy-management system are also required (order of 8 September 2025): the installer certifies it.
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
National schemes at a glance
| Scheme | Condition or amount | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5% VAT | 9 kWp or less, environmental criteria | since 1 October 2025 |
| Surplus feed-in tariff | 1.1 c€/kWh, 20 years | requests since 5 June 2026 |
| Income-tax exemption on sales | 3 kWp or less | in force |
| Self-consumption premium | abolished | requests since 5 June 2026 |
There is no longer any national cash grant for a home solar system requested since 5 June 2026: the remaining advantages come through tax and the purchase contract. The feed-in tariff and the end of the premium have their own pages.
5.5% VAT in practice
The reduced rate applies to supply and fitting together, on a home, up to 9 kWp (order of 8 September 2025, Service Public announcement). The three criteria cover:
- the modules’ carbon footprint: at most 530 kg of CO2 equivalent per kWp;
- their heavy-metal content, below limits set by the order;
- an energy-management system that steers consumption.
On the site’s price benchmarks, VAT at that rate comes to €521 for 6 kWp and €782 for 9 kWp. If the criteria are not met, the reduced rate does not apply and the bill including VAT goes up: the quick test at the top of the page checks the two numeric criteria.
How much does selling your surplus earn?
Income in year 1
€20
| Over 20 years (indexed 2%/yr) | €481 |
| Cap on paid energy | 4,800 kWh |
| With the old tariff (4 c€) + premium | €1,680 |
Tariff of 1.1 c€/kWh for complete grid-connection requests filed since 5 June 2026.
What else lightens the bill without being a grant
The first lever is still the electricity you no longer buy: every kWh produced and used on site saves 20.01 c€ on the Tarif Bleu. Then come choosing the right system size and comparing quotes. Be wary of offers promising a system “paid for by grants”: since June 2026, they cover only a small share of the price.
Age, income, status: who qualifies
The national advantages still in place look neither at age nor at household income. Reduced VAT depends on the size (9 kWp or less), on a dwelling and on the technical criteria for the equipment set by the order of 8 September 2025; the feed-in tariff depends on the date of the complete grid connection request. A retiree over 70 therefore qualifies on the same terms as a young homeowner, no more and no less. Door-to-door selling that announces a grant “reserved for seniors” or “from the government” rests on none of these texts: the short VAT test above and the calculator are enough to check what a quote promises.
What this site does not cover
Local grants, bank loans and energy-saving certificates (CEE) tied to other works are not listed here, for lack of a reliable national source. Corsica and the overseas territories have their own rules. For the paperwork, a dedicated page covers the prior declaration and grid connection.
Which tariff applies to your system?
The purchase tariff is not the one in force on the day of fitting, but the one in force on the date of your complete grid-connection request. Since 5 June 2026 it is 1.1 c€/kWh, with no investment bonus; the system must then be completed within 24 months. A quote that announces a bonus or a higher tariff therefore relies on an old rule: ask the installer for the planned date of the connection request and the text being applied. Reduced VAT, for its part, depends on the invoice date and on the modules meeting the size and carbon-footprint conditions.