HB192INTRODUCED Page 0 HB192 7D7YEVV-1 By Representative Shirey RFD: Ways and Means Education First Read: 05-Feb-25 1 2 3 4 5 7D7YEVV-1 02/05/2025 PMG (L)PMG 2025-390 Page 1 First Read: 05-Feb-25 SYNOPSIS: Under existing law, money transmission businesses, which include businesses that conduct electronic wire transfers, must be licensed by the Alabama Securities Commission. This bill would require money transmission businesses to collect on outgoing international electronic wire transfers a fee equal to two percent of the total amount of the wire transfer and would provide that the fees collected be periodically deposited into the Education Trust Fund to be used exclusively to hire English Language Learner (ELL) instructors. This bill would allow taxpayers to be granted a tax credit against income taxes in the amount of all international electronic wire transfer fees paid by the customer. This bill would require the Department of Revenue to establish a notice to customers who initiate international electronic wire transfers of the ability to be granted a tax credit for outgoing international wire transfer fees paid by a taxpayer. This bill would also authorize the Alabama Securities Commission and the Alabama Department of Revenue to administer this act. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 HB192 INTRODUCED Page 2 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT Relating to wire transfers; to require money transmission businesses to collect fees on outgoing international wire transfers and provide for distribution of fee proceeds for hiring ESL teachers; to authorize an income tax credit equal to the amount of fees paid by taxpayers for outgoing international wire transfers; and to authorize the Alabama Securities Commission and the Alabama Department of Revenue to administer this act. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: Section 1. For the purpose of this act, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) COMMISSION. The Alabama Securities Commission. (2) DEPARTMENT. The Alabama Department of Revenue. (3) ELECTRONIC WIRE TRANSFER. An electronic transfer of money via a network. The term does not include a transaction where money debited is from an account held by the requester of a transfer of a banking institution authorized to do business in this state or any business entity authorized by law to do business in this state. (4) MONEY TRANSMISSION BUSINESS. Any person required to obtain a license pursuant to Chapter 7A of Title 8, Code of Alabama 1975. Section 2. (a)(1) On and after January 1, 2026, each 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 HB192 INTRODUCED Page 3 Section 2. (a)(1) On and after January 1, 2026, each money transmission business shall collect a fee on every outgoing international electronic wire transfer equal to two percent of the amount of the international electronic wire transfer. (2) A money transmission business shall provide to each customer a receipt for each international electronic wire transfer which clearly delineates the fee incurred pursuant to this subsection. (b) Not later than the 45 days following the close of each calendar quarter, a money transmission business shall remit the fees collected under subsection (a) to the commission by means established by rule of the commission. The commission shall transfer monies collected pursuant to this subsection to the Comptroller for deposit into the Education Trust Fund to be used exclusively for the purpose of hiring English Language Learner instructors by local boards of education. (c) Each money transmission business shall report to the commission the number of international electronic wire transfers made during a calendar quarter along with the monetary amount of each transfer and any additional information required by the commission, by rule, at the time the fees are remitted pursuant to subsection (b). (d) Each money transmission business shall post the notice established pursuant to Section 3(e) in an area accessed by the public where electronic wire transfers are conducted. (e) Except as provided in this act, Chapter 7A of Title 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 HB192 INTRODUCED Page 4 (e) Except as provided in this act, Chapter 7A of Title 8, Code of Alabama 1975, shall apply. (f) The commission shall adopt rules to administer this section. Section 3. (a)(1) For tax years beginning on and after January 1, 2026, a credit is allowed against income taxes imposed by Chapter 18 of Title 40, Code of Alabama 1975, in the amount of all international electronic wire transfer fees paid by any taxpayer under Section 2 or five thousand dollars ($5,000), whichever is less. The credit must be claimed on the tax return that corresponds with the tax year during which the fees were paid. (2) To qualify for the income tax credit, a taxpayer shall submit to the department in a manner prescribed by the department, by rule, the receipts received under Section 2(a)(2). (b) The tax credit shall not be allowed to decrease a taxpayer's liability to less than zero. The credit is not refundable and may not be carried forward. The credit shall be available on a pro-rata basis to entities taxed under 26 U.S.C. Subtitle A, Chapter 1, Subchapter S or Subchapter K. (c) The department shall not be required under this section to disclose confidential information subject to Section 40-2A-10, Code of Alabama 1975. However, the department may share information with the commission upon written request in order to aid or assist with any investigation or other action authorized by Chapter 7A of Title 8, Code of Alabama 1975. Additionally, the commission may share information with the department to enforce this act. 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 HB192 INTRODUCED Page 5 may share information with the department to enforce this act. The information shared shall be limited to what is necessary to administer this act and shall not be considered public records for purposes of Article 3 of Chapter 12 of Title 36, Code of Alabama 1975. Upon receipt of information from the department, Section 40-2A-10, Code of Alabama 1975, shall apply to the commission and its employees with respect to the use, dissemination, or other handling of the information. The department shall comply with Section 8-7A-21(b), Code of Alabama 1975, as to any information shared by the commission. (d) The department, by rule, may require a money transmission business to provide certifying documents and other information necessary to determine or confirm the tax credit amounts referenced in this section. (e) The department shall establish a standard form to be posted by money transmission businesses which notifies customers that upon filing an Alabama income tax return with either a valid Social Security number or a valid taxpayer identification number, the customer may be entitled to an income tax credit equal to the amount of the electronic wire transfer fees paid by the customer for the international electronic wire transfer. (f) The department shall adopt rules to implement this section. Section 4. This act shall become effective on July 1, 2025. 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137