The system must be placed in service during the tax year and generate electricity for a home located in the United States. The federal residential solar energy credit is a tax credit that can be claimed on federal income taxes for a percentage of the cost of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system. (Other types of renewable energy are also eligible for similar credits but are beyond the scope of this guidance.) The federal tax credit is sometimes referred to as an Investment Tax Credit, or ITC, though is different from the ITC offered to businesses that own solar systems. For example, claiming a $1,000 federal tax credit reduces your federal income taxes due by $1,000. You’ll also be looking at attorney’s fees, which can be paid on a contingency basis (a percentage of what’s recovered), or on an hourly basis ($200-$500 per hour).A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the amount of income tax you would otherwise owe. Filing fees will run from $250-$800 depending on the court in which you file. Your attorney can guide you through the process, and you’ll be out-of-pocket for filing expenses. Find an attorney with extensive experience in contractor litigation. If your dispute is more than the amount allowable in small claims, start your journey through the legal system. The process is usually less expensive than civil court and often a lot less painful, although you may have to do a lot of prep work and there’s no guarantee.You’ll need solid documentation to show you were harmed. Filing costs average around $50, and you may incur additional fees for collection if your contractor loses and still doesn’t pay.Contact the clerk of the court to obtain and file the necessary paperwork - most courts make the information available online.The jurisdiction of the dispute may be defined in your contract but if it isn’t, you can file in the county where your contractor is located, where you live, or where the property is based.Rules can vary from one state to another, but you will find some generalities: They assume you won’t be using an attorney and tend to provide user-friendly instructions on procedures.They’re limited to small amounts, with upper limits usually in the $3,000-$5,000 range.If you can’t agree on mediation or arbitration, try small claims court, which differs from traditional civil court: Costs vary widely by location and the level of complexity, but as both parties share the cost, you’ll probably spend less than you would in litigation. Also, you can find mediators and arbitrators at the nonprofit American Arbitration Association. Local courts may recommend mediators and arbitrators. If it’s not to your liking, you have no right to appeal. Arbitrators will render a decision, which is binding on both parties. Their opinions aren’t binding on either party.īinding arbitration. Similarly, a judge or litigator will act as the arbitrator and hear both sides of the story in a general contractor dispute. Mediators help each party understand the other’s point of view and facilitate a settlement. Typically, this is a retired judge or senior construction litigator who hears the respective positions of both parties in the general contractor dispute. Your remodeling contract may require that you and your contractor try one of these options before turning to the courts.Ī state or local agency. Your state’s contractor licensing agency may have a resolution program for general contractor disputes. Talk to your contractor about one of the options below if you can’t see eye-to-eye. No matter how carefully you pick your contractor, a dispute with your general contractor is possible.įortunately, you have several options to resolve it - a time-consuming and expensive lawsuit isn't always necessary.
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