Arkansas House Bill HB1397

Arkansas 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/9/23
• Refer: 2/9/23
• Failed: 5/1/23

Caption

To Exempt Payments Received From The Restaurant Revitalization Fund From Gross Income For Purposes Of Computing Income Tax.

Impact

If enacted, HB1397 would amend Arkansas tax laws to ensure that financial aid received from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund does not count towards the taxable income of recipient businesses. This change would potentially allow restaurants to retain more of their earnings, thus enabling them to reinvest in their operations, maintain employment levels, and cover ongoing operational costs. The bill's passage could significantly minimize the financial impact of federal relief payments on state tax obligations, encouraging more businesses to apply for such aid in the future.

Summary

House Bill 1397 focuses on providing fiscal relief to restaurants that have been impacted by economic disruptions. Specifically, the bill aims to exclude payments received from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund from the definition of gross income for tax purposes. This initiative is designed to support the recovery of small businesses in the restaurant sector, which have faced significant challenges during recent downturns in the economy. The intention behind this legislation is to encourage and facilitate the financial recovery of affected businesses by relieving them of additional tax burdens associated with these grants.

Contention

However, there may be points of contention surrounding the bill, particularly relating to the potential expansion of similar tax exemptions for other industries or types of financial assistance. Critics might argue that focusing exclusively on the restaurant sector could lead to an inequitable distribution of state tax benefits, which could foster disparities among different sectors affected by economic downturns. Additionally, there may be concerns regarding the long-term implications of such tax exemptions on state revenue and budget planning.