2004 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 536 – Income tax credit/research activity

HOUSE BILL NO. 536

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Bill Status



H0536...............................................by REVENUE AND TAXATION
INCOME TAX CREDIT - RESEARCH ACTIVITY - Amends existing law to delete the
sunset provisions for state income tax credits for qualified research
expense and for qualified broadband equipment expense.
                                                                        
01/22    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
01/23    Rpt prt - to Rev/Tax
02/11    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
02/12    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
02/17    3rd rdg - PASSED - 65-0-5
      AYES -- Andersen, Barraclough, Barrett, Bauer, Bayer, Bedke, Bell,
      Black, Boe, Bolz, Bradford, Campbell, Cannon, Clark, Collins, Crow,
      Cuddy, Deal, Denney, Douglas, Eberle, Edmunson, Ellsworth, Field(18),
      Field(23), Gagner, Garrett, Harwood, Henbest, Jaquet, Jones,
      Kellogg(Nonini), Kulczyk, Langford, Langhorst, Martinez, McGeachin,
      McKague, Meyer, Miller, Mitchell, Moyle, Naccarato, Nielsen,
      Pasley-Stuart, Raybould, Ridinger, Ring, Ringo, Roberts, Robison,
      Rydalch, Sali, Sayler, Schaefer, Shepherd, Shirley, Skippen,
      Smith(30), Smith(24), Smylie, Snodgrass, Trail, Wills, Wood
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- Block, Eskridge, Lake, Stevenson, Mr. Speaker
    Floor Sponsor - Crow
    Title apvd - to Senate
02/18    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to Loc Gov
02/24    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
02/25    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/10    3rd rdg - PASSED - 34-0-1
      AYES -- Andreason(Andreason), Bailey, Bunderson, Burkett, Burtenshaw,
      Calabretta, Cameron, Compton, Darrington, Davis, Gannon, Geddes,
      Goedde, Hill, Ingram, Kennedy, Keough, Little, Lodge, Malepeai,
      Marley, McKenzie, McWilliams, Noble, Noh, Pearce, Richardson,
      Schroeder, Sorensen, Stegner, Stennett, Sweet, Werk, Williams
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- Brandt
    Floor Sponsors - Gannon & McKenzie
    Title apvd - to House
03/11    To enrol
03/12    Rpt enrol - Sp signed
03/15    Pres signed
03/16    To Governor
03/26    Governor signed
         Session Law Chapter 345
         Effective: 07/01/04

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-seventh Legislature                 Second Regular Session - 2004
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 536
                                                                        
                             BY REVENUE AND TAXATION COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO INCOME TAX CREDITS FOR RESEARCH ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED IN IDAHO  AND
  3        FOR  INVESTMENT  IN  BROADBAND EQUIPMENT; AMENDING SECTION 63-3029G, IDAHO
  4        CODE, TO DELETE THE SUNSET PROVISION  AND  TO  DELETE  LANGUAGE  REGARDING
  5        RESEARCH  ACTIVITIES BE CONDUCTED DURING ANY CONSECUTIVE FIVE YEAR PERIOD;
  6        AND AMENDING SECTION 63-3029I, IDAHO CODE, TO DELETE THE SUNSET PROVISION.
                                                                        
  7    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
  8        SECTION 1.  That Section 63-3029G, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
  9    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 10        63-3029G.  CREDITS  FOR  RESEARCH  ACTIVITIES  CONDUCTED  IN THIS STATE --
 11    CARRY FORWARD.
 12        (1)  (a) Subject to the limitations of this  section,  for  taxable  years
 13        beginning between after January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005, inclusive,
 14        there  shall be allowed to a taxpayer a nonrefundable credit against taxes
 15        imposed by  sections  63-3024,  63-3025  and  63-3025A,  Idaho  Code,  for
 16        increasing  research  activities  in Idaho during any consecutive five (5)
 17        year period beginning, at the election of the taxpayer, either:
 18             (i)   January 1, 2001, or
 19             (ii)  The first day of the taxpayer's taxable year beginning in 2001.
 20        (b)  The credit allowed by subsection (1)(a) of this section shall be  the
 21        sum of:
 22             (i)   Five  percent (5%) of the excess of qualified research expenses
 23             for research conducted in Idaho over the base amount; and
 24             (ii)  Five percent (5%) basic research payments allowable under  sub-
 25             section  (e)  of  section  41  of the Internal Revenue Code for basic
 26             research conducted in Idaho.
 27        (c)  Subject to the limitation in subsection (3) of this section,  a  tax-
 28        payer  making  the election permitted by subsection (1)(a)(i) of this sec-
 29        tion, credit for research activities occurring prior to the  beginning  of
 30        the  taxpayer's  taxable  year  beginning  in 2001 shall be claimed on the
 31        taxpayer's return for its taxable year 2001 in addition to credit relating
 32        to activity in that year.
 33        (2)  As used in this section:
 34        (a)  The terms "qualified research expenses," "qualified research," "basic
 35        research payments" and "basic research" shall be as defined in section  41
 36        of the Internal Revenue Code except that the research must be conducted in
 37        Idaho.
 38        (b)  The term "base amount" shall mean an amount calculated as provided in
 39        sections 41(c) and 41(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, except that:
 40             (i)   The  base amount does not include the calculation of the alter-
 41             native incremental credit provided for in  section  41(c)(4)  of  the
 42             Internal Revenue Code;
 43             (ii)  A  taxpayer's  gross receipts include only those gross receipts
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1             attributable to sources within this state as provided in  subsections
  2             (q) and (r) of section 63-3027, Idaho Code; and
  3             (iii) Notwithstanding section 41(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, for
  4             purposes of calculating the base amount, a taxpayer:
  5                  (A)  May  elect  to be treated as a start-up company as provided
  6                  in section 41(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code,  regardless
  7                  of  whether  the  taxpayer  meets  the  requirements  of section
  8                  41(c)(3)(B)(i)(I) or (II) of the Internal Revenue Code; and
  9                  (B)  May not revoke an election to be treated as a start-up com-
 10                  pany.
 11        (3)  The credit allowed by subsection (1)(a) of this section together with
 12    any credits carried forward under subsection (5) of  this  section  shall  not
 13    exceed  the  amount  of  tax due under sections 63-3024, 63-3025 and 63-3025A,
 14    Idaho Code, after allowance for all other credits permitted by  this  chapter.
 15    When  credits earned in more than one (1) taxable year are available, the old-
 16    est credits shall be applied first.
 17        (4)  In the case of a group of corporations filing a combined report under
 18    subsection (t) of section 63-3027, Idaho Code, credit earned by one (1) member
 19    of the group but not used by that member may be used by another member of  the
 20    group. For a combined group of corporations, any member of the group may claim
 21    credit  carried  forward  unless the member who earned the credit is no longer
 22    included in the combined group.
 23        (5)  The credit allowed by subsection (1)(a)  of  this  section  shall  be
 24    claimed  for  the  taxable  year  during  which the taxpayer qualifies for the
 25    credit. If the credit exceeds the limitation under subsection (3) of this sec-
 26    tion, the excess amount may be carried forward for  a  period  that  does  not
 27    exceed the next fourteen (14) taxable years.
 28        (6)  In  addition to other needed rules, the state tax commission may pro-
 29    mulgate rules prescribing, in the case of S corporations, partnerships, trusts
 30    or estates, a method of attributing the  credit  under  this  section  to  the
 31    shareholders,  partners  or  beneficiaries in proportion to their share of the
 32    income from the S corporation, partnership, trust or estate.
                                                                        
 33        SECTION 2.  That Section 63-3029I, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
 34    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 35        63-3029I.  INCOME  TAX  CREDIT  FOR INVESTMENT IN BROADBAND EQUIPMENT. (1)
 36    Subject to the limitations  of  this  section,  for  taxable  years  beginning
 37    between  after  January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005, inclusive, there shall
 38    be allowed to a taxpayer a nonrefundable credit against taxes imposed by  sec-
 39    tions 63-3024, 63-3025 and 63-3025A, Idaho Code, for qualified expenditures in
 40    qualified broadband equipment in Idaho.
 41        (2)  The credit permitted in subsection (1) of this section shall be three
 42    percent  (3%)  of the qualified investment in qualified broadband equipment in
 43    Idaho and shall be in addition to the credit for capital investment  permitted
 44    by section 63-3029B, Idaho Code.
 45        (3)  As used in this section the term:
 46        (a)  "Qualified investment" shall be as defined in section 63-3029B, Idaho
 47        Code.
 48        (b)  "Qualified  broadband  equipment"  means equipment that qualifies for
 49        the credit for capital investment permitted  by  section  63-3029B,  Idaho
 50        Code,  and  is  capable  of transmitting signals at a rate of at least two
 51        hundred thousand (200,000) bits per second to a subscriber  and  at  least
 52        one  hundred  twenty-five  thousand  (125,000) bits per second from a sub-
 53        scriber, and
                                                                        
                                           3
                                                                        
  1             (i)   In the case of a telecommunications  carrier,  such  qualifying
  2             equipment  shall  be  necessary to the provision of broadband service
  3             and an integral part of a broadband network. "Telecommunications car-
  4             rier" has the meaning given such term by section 3(44) of the  commu-
  5             nications  act of 1934, as amended, but does not include a commercial
  6             mobile service provider.
  7             (ii)  In the case of a commercial mobile service carrier, such quali-
  8             fying  equipment shall extend from the subscriber side of the  mobile
  9             telecommunications   switching  office  to  a  transmitting/receiving
 10             antenna, including such antenna, on the outside of the  structure  in
 11             which  the subscriber is located. "Commercial mobile service carrier"
 12             means any person authorized to provide commercial mobile  radio  ser-
 13             vice  to  subscribers as defined in section 20.3 of title 47, Code of
 14             Federal Regulations (10-1-99 ed.), as amended.
 15             (iii) In the case of a cable or  open  video  system  operator,  such
 16             qualifying  equipment  shall extend from the subscriber's side of the
 17             headend to the outside of the structure in which  the  subscriber  is
 18             located.  The terms "cable operator" and "open video system operator"
 19             have the meanings given  such  terms  by  sections  602(5)  and  653,
 20             respectively, of the communications act of 1934, as amended.
 21             (iv)  In  the case of a satellite carrier or a wireless carrier other
 22             than listed above, such qualifying equipment is only  that  equipment
 23             that  extends  from  a transmitting/receiving antenna, including such
 24             antenna, which transmits and receives signals  to  or  from  multiple
 25             subscribers to a transmitting/receiving antenna on the outside of the
 26             structure  in  which  the  subscriber is located. "Satellite carrier"
 27             means any person using the facilities of  a  satellite  or  satellite
 28             services  licensed by the federal communications commission and oper-
 29             ating a fixed-satellite service or direct  broadcast  satellite  ser-
 30             vices  to provide point-to-multipoint distribution of signals. "Other
 31             wireless carrier" means any person, other than  a  telecommunications
 32             carrier,  commercial  mobile  service  carrier,  cable operator, open
 33             video operator, or satellite carrier, providing broadband services to
 34             subscribers through the radio transmission of energy.
 35             (v)   In the case of packet switching equipment, such  packet  equip-
 36             ment  installed  in connection with other qualifying equipment listed
 37             in subsections (2)(b)(i) through (2)(b)(iv) of this section, provided
 38             it is the last in a series of equipment that transmits signals  to  a
 39             subscriber or the first in a series of equipment that transmits  sig-
 40             nals  from  a  subscriber.  "Packet  switching"  means controlling or
 41             routing the path of a digital transmission signal which is  assembled
 42             into packets or cells.
 43             (vi)  In  the case of multiplexing and demultiplexing equipment, such
 44             equipment only to the extent that it is deployed in  connection  with
 45             providing  broadband  services  in locations between packet switching
 46             equipment and the structure  in  which  the  subscriber  is  located.
 47             "Multiplexing" means the transmission of two (2) or more signals over
 48             a  communications  circuit without regard to the communications tech-
 49             nology.
 50             (vii) Any property not primarily used to provide services in Idaho to
 51             public subscribers is not qualified broadband equipment.
 52        (4)  No equipment described in subsections (2)(b)(i) through (2)(b)(vi) of
 53    this section shall qualify for the credit provided in subsection (1)  of  this
 54    section until the taxpayer applies to and obtains from the Idaho public utili-
 55    ties  commission an order confirming that the installed equipment is qualified
                                                                        
                                           4
                                                                        
  1    broadband equipment. Applications submitted to the commission  shall  be  gov-
  2    erned  by the commission's rules of procedure. The commission may issue proce-
  3    dural orders necessary to implement this section.
  4        (5)  The credit allowed by subsection (1) of this  section  together  with
  5    any credits carried forward under subsection (7) of this section shall not, in
  6    any one (1) taxable year, exceed the lesser of:
  7        (a)  The  amount  of tax due under sections 63-3024, 63-3025 and 63-3025A,
  8        Idaho Code, after allowance for all other credits permitted by this  chap-
  9        ter; or
 10        (b)  Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000).
 11    When  credits earned in more than one (1) taxable year are available, the old-
 12    est credits shall be applied first.
 13        (6)  In the case of a group of corporations filing a combined report under
 14    subsection (t) of section 63-3027, Idaho Code, credit earned by one (1) member
 15    of the group but not used by that member may be used by another member of  the
 16    group, subject to the provisions of subsection (7) of this section, instead of
 17    carried over. For a combined group of corporations, credit carried forward may
 18    be  claimed by any member of the group unless the member who earned the credit
 19    is no longer included in the combined group.
 20        (7)  If the credit allowed by subsection (1) of this section  exceeds  the
 21    limitation under subsection (5) of this section, the excess amount may be car-
 22    ried  forward for a period that does not exceed the next fourteen (14) taxable
 23    years.
 24        (8)  In the event that qualified broadband equipment upon which the credit
 25    allowed by this section has been used ceases to qualify for the credit allowed
 26    by section 63-3029B, Idaho Code, or is subject to recapture  of  that  credit,
 27    the recapture of credit under this section shall be in the same proportion and
 28    subject  to  the same provisions as the amount of credit required to be recap-
 29    tured under section 63-3029B, Idaho Code.
 30        (9)  (a) Subject to the requirements of this subsection,  a  taxpayer  who
 31        earns  and is entitled to the credit or to an unused portion of the credit
 32        allowed by this section may transfer all or a portion of the unused credit
 33        to:
 34             (i)   Another taxpayer required to file a return under this  chapter;
 35             or
 36             (ii)  To  an  intermediary  for  its  use or for resale to a taxpayer
 37             required to file a return under this chapter.
 38        In the event of either such a  transfer,  the  transferee  may  claim  the
 39        credit  on  the transferee's income tax return originally filed during the
 40        calendar year in which the transfer takes place and, in the case of carry-
 41        over of the credit, on the transferee's returns for the number of years of
 42        carryover available to the transferor at the time of the  transfer  unless
 43        earlier exhausted.
 44        (b)  Before  completing  a  transfer under this subsection, the transferor
 45        shall notify the state tax commission of its  intention  to  transfer  the
 46        credit  and the identity of the transferee. The state tax commission shall
 47        provide the transferor with a written statement of the  amount  of  credit
 48        available under this section as then appearing in the commission's records
 49        and  the  number  of  years the credit may be carried over. The transferee
 50        shall attach a copy of the statement to any return in regard to which  the
 51        transferred credit is claimed.
 52        (c)  In  the event that after the transfer the state tax commission deter-
 53        mines that the amount of credit properly available under this  section  is
 54        less  than  the amount claimed by the transferor of the credit or that the
 55        credit is subject to recapture, the commission shall assess the amount  of
                                                                        
                                           5
                                                                        
  1        overstated  or  recaptured credit as taxes due from the transferor and not
  2        the transferee. The assessment shall be made in the manner provided for  a
  3        deficiency in taxes under this chapter.
  4        (10) In  addition to other needed rules, the state tax commission may pro-
  5    mulgate rules prescribing, in the case of S corporations, partnerships, trusts
  6    or estates, a method of attributing the  credit  under  this  section  to  the
  7    shareholders,  partners  or  beneficiaries in proportion to their share of the
  8    income from the S corporation, partnership, trust or estate.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact




                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                             RS 13583
This bill removes the current sunsets on two income tax credits. 
These are the income tax credit for qualified research and
development expense, and the credit for qualified broadband
equipment.  With enactment of this bill, both credit provisions
will become permanent.  Both credits are currently scheduled to
sunset on December 31, 2005.










                           FISCAL NOTE


There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund in Fiscal Year
2005.
For taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2006: 

     Continuation of Broadband credit:  $1.0 Million.  
     
     Research and development credit:  $1.25 Million.




Contact
Name:     Brian Whitlock
Agency:   Office of the Governor
Phone:    334-2100

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                 H 536