Georgia 2023-2024 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB1134 Compare Versions

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11 24 LC 50 0683
22 House Bill 1134
33 By: Representatives Stephens of the 164
44 th
55 , Sainz of the 180
66 th
77 , and Buckner of the 137
88 th
99
1010 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1111 AN ACT
1212 To amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
1313 1
1414 relating to the imposition, rate, computation, exemptions, and credits relative to income2
1515 taxes, so as to extend the sunset date for the tax credits for the rehabilitation of historic3
1616 structures; to expand the criteria for historic homes to qualify for such credits; to increase the4
1717 aggregate caps for credits related to historic structures other than historic homes; to provide5
1818 for a five-year carry-forward period for credits for historic structures other than historic6
1919 homes; to extend a provision for an automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to7
2020 provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other8
2121 purposes.9
2222 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10
2323 SECTION 1.11
2424 Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the12
2525 imposition, rate, computation, exemptions, and credits relative to income taxes, is amended13
2626 by revising Code Section 48-7-29.8, relating to tax credits for the rehabilitation of historic14
2727 structures and conditions, and limitations, as follows:15
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3030 "48-7-29.8.
3131 16
3232 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:17
3333 (1) 'Certified rehabilitation' means repairs or alterations to a certified structure which are18
3434 certified by the Department of Community Affairs as meeting the United States Secretary19
3535 of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation or the Georgia Standards for Rehabilitation20
3636 as provided by the Department of Community Affairs.21
3737 (2) 'Certified structure' means a historic building or structure that is located within a22
3838 national historic district, individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places,23
3939 individually listed in the Georgia Register of Historic Places, or is certified by the24
4040 Department of Community Affairs as contributing to the historic significance of a25
4141 Georgia Register Historic District; provided, however, that on and after January 1, 2026,
4242 26
4343 such term, as it relates to historic homes, means a historic building or structure that is27
4444 certified by the Department of Community Affairs as contributing to the historic28
4545 significance of a listed National Register Historic District, individually listed on the29
4646 National Register of Historic Places, is certified by the Department of Community Affairs30
4747 as contributing to the historic significance of a listed Georgia Register Historic District,31
4848 individually listed in the Georgia Register of Historic Places, or designated as a historic32
4949 property or contributing to a district under local law and certified by the Department of33
5050 Community Affairs as meeting National Register criteria.34
5151 (3) 'Historic home' means a certified structure which, or any portion of which is or will,35
5252 within a reasonable period, be owned and used as the principal residence of the person36
5353 claiming the tax credit allowed under this Code section. Historic home Such term shall37
5454 include any structure or group of structures that constitute a multifamily or multipurpose38
5555 structure, including a cooperative or condominium. If only a portion of a building is used39
5656 as such person's principal residence, only those qualified rehabilitation expenditures that40
5757 are properly allocable to such portion shall be deemed to be made to a historic home.41
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6060 (4) 'Qualified rehabilitation expenditure' means any qualified rehabilitation expenditure
6161 42
6262 as defined by Section 47(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and any amount43
6363 properly chargeable to a capital account expended in the substantial rehabilitation of a44
6464 structure that by the end of the taxable year in which the certified rehabilitation is45
6565 completed is a certified structure. This
6666 Such term does shall not include the cost of46
6767 acquisition of the certified structure, the cost attributable to enlargement or additions to47
6868 an existing building, site preparation, or personal property.48
6969 (5) 'Substantial rehabilitation' means rehabilitation of a certified structure for which the49
7070 qualified rehabilitation expenditures, at least 5 percent of which must shall be allocable50
7171 to the exterior during the 24 month period selected by the taxpayer ending with or within51
7272 the taxable year, exceed:52
7373 (A) For a historic home, the lesser of $25,000.00 or 50 percent of the adjusted basis of53
7474 the property as defined provided for in subparagraph (a)(1)(B) of Code Section54
7575 48-5-7.2; or, in the case of a historic home located in a target area, $5,000.00; or55
7676 (B) For any other certified structure, the greater of $5,000.00 or the adjusted basis of56
7777 the property.57
7878 (6) 'Target area' means a qualified census tract under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue58
7979 Code of 1986, found in the United States Department of Housing and Urban59
8080 Development document number N-94-3821; FR-3796-N-01.60
8181 (b) A taxpayer shall be allowed a tax credit against the tax imposed by this chapter in the61
8282 year that the certified rehabilitation is placed in service, which may be up to two years after62
8383 the end of the taxable year for which the credit was originally reserved:63
8484 (1) In the case of a historic home, equal to 25 percent of qualified rehabilitation64
8585 expenditures, except that, in the case of a historic home located within a target area, an65
8686 additional credit equal to 5 percent of qualified rehabilitation expenditures shall be66
8787 allowed; and67
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9090 (2) In the case of any other certified structure, equal to 25 percent of qualified
9191 68
9292 rehabilitation expenditures.69
9393 Qualified rehabilitation expenditures may
9494 shall only be counted once in determining the70
9595 amount of the tax credit available, and more than one entity may shall not claim a credit71
9696 for the same qualified rehabilitation expenditures.72
9797 (c)(1) In no event shall credits for a historic home exceed $100,000.00 in any 120 month73
9898 period.74
9999 (2) The maximum credit for any other individual certified structure shall be $5 $7.575
100100 million for any taxable year, except in the case that the project creates 200 or more76
101101 full-time, permanent jobs or $5 million in annual payroll within two years of the placed77
102102 in service date, in which case the project is shall be eligible for credits up to $10 $1578
103103 million for an individual certified structure. In no event shall more than one application79
104104 for any individual certified structure under this paragraph be approved in any 120 month80
105105 period.81
106106 (3)(A) Prior to January 1, 2022, in no event shall credits issued under this Code section82
107107 for projects earning more than $300,000.00 in credits exceed in the aggregate $2583
108108 million per calendar year.84
109109 (B) For calendar year 2022, in no event shall credits issued under this Code section85
110110 exceed $5 million in aggregate for all projects earning $300,000.00 or less, or $2586
111111 million in aggregate for all projects earning more than $300,000.00.87
112112 (C) For calendar years 2023 and 2024, in In no event shall credits issued under this88
113113 Code section for historic homes exceed $5 million in aggregate per year. On and after89
114114 January 1, 2025, no credits shall be issued under this Code section for historic homes.90
115115 (D)(B) For calendar years 2023 through 2027, in In no event shall credits issued under91
116116 this Code section for certified structures other than historic homes exceed $30 $6092
117117 million in aggregate per year.93
118118 H. B. 1134
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120120 (E)(C) On and after January 1, 2028 2029, in no event shall credits be issued under this94
121121 Code section.95
122122 (d)(1) A taxpayer seeking to claim a tax credit under paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of96
123123 this Code section shall submit an application to the commissioner for preapproval of such97
124124 tax credit. Such application shall include a precertification from the Department of98
125125 Community Affairs certifying that the improvements to the certified structure are to be99
126126 consistent with the Department of Community Affairs Standards for Rehabilitation. The100
127127 Department department shall have the authority to require electronic submission of such101
128128 application in the manner specified by the department. The commissioner shall102
129129 preapprove the tax credits within 30 days based on the order in which properly completed103
130130 applications were submitted. In the event that two or more applications were submitted104
131131 on the same day and the amount of funds available will not be sufficient to fully fund the105
132132 tax credits requested, the commissioner shall prorate the available funds between or106
133133 among the applicants. Applications submitted after the annual limitations provided for107
134134 in paragraph (3) of subsection (c) of this Code section have been met shall be given108
135135 priority the following year.109
136136 (2) In order to be eligible to receive the credit authorized under subsection (b) of this110
137137 Code section, a taxpayer must shall attach to the taxpayer's state tax return a copy of the111
138138 completed certification of the Department of Community Affairs verifying that the112
139139 improvements to the certified structure are consistent with the Department of Community113
140140 Affairs Standards for Rehabilitation.114
141141 (e)(1) If the credit allowed under paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Code section in115
142142 any taxable year exceeds the total tax otherwise payable by the taxpayer for that taxable116
143143 year, the taxpayer may apply the excess as a credit for succeeding years until the earlier117
144144 of:118
145145 (A) The full amount of the excess is used; or119
146146 H. B. 1134
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148148 (B) The expiration of the tenth taxable year after the taxable year in which the certified
149149 120
150150 rehabilitation has been completed.121
151151 (2) If the credit allowed under paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of this Code section in any
152152 122
153153 taxable year exceeds the total tax otherwise payable by the taxpayer for that taxable year,123
154154 the taxpayer may apply the excess as a credit for succeeding years until the earlier of:124
155155 (A) The full amount of the excess is used; or125
156156 (B) The expiration of the fifth taxable year after the taxable year in which the certified126
157157 rehabilitation has been completed.127
158158 (2)(3) Any tax credits with respect to credits earned by a taxpayer under paragraph (2)128
159159 of subsection (b) of this Code section and previously claimed but not used by such129
160160 taxpayer against its income tax may be transferred or sold in whole or in part by such130
161161 taxpayer to another Georgia taxpayer, subject to the following conditions:131
162162 (A) A taxpayer who that makes qualified rehabilitation expenditures may sell or assign132
163163 all or part of the tax credit that may be claimed for such costs and expenses to one or133
164164 more entities, but no further sale or assignment of any credit previously sold or assigned134
165165 pursuant to this subparagraph shall be allowed. All such transfers shall be subject to135
166166 the maximum total limits provided by subsection (c) of this Code section;136
167167 (B) A taxpayer who that sells or assigns a credit under this Code section and the entity137
168168 to which the credit is sold or assigned shall jointly submit written notice of the sale or138
169169 assignment to the department not later than 30 days after the date of the sale or139
170170 assignment. The Such notice must shall include:140
171171 (i) The date of the sale or assignment;141
172172 (ii) The amount of the credit sold or assigned;142
173173 (iii) The names and federal tax identification numbers of the entity that sold or143
174174 assigned the credit or part of the credit and the entity to which the credit or part of the144
175175 credit was sold or assigned; and145
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178178 (iv) The amount of the credit owned by the selling or assigning entity before the sale
179179 146
180180 or assignment and the amount the selling or assigning entity retained, if any, after the147
181181 sale or assignment;148
182182 (C) The sale or assignment of a credit in accordance with this Code section does
183183 shall149
184184 not extend the period for which a credit may be carried forward and does shall not150
185185 increase the total amount of the credit that may be claimed. After an entity claims a151
186186 credit for eligible costs and expenses, another entity may shall not use the same costs152
187187 and expenses as the basis for claiming a credit;153
188188 (D) Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection, a credit earned or purchased154
189189 by, or assigned to a partnership, limited liability company, Subchapter 'S' corporation,155
190190 or other pass-through entity may be allocated to the partners, members, or shareholders156
191191 of that entity and claimed under this Code section in accordance with the provisions of157
192192 any agreement among the partners, members, or shareholders of that entity and without158
193193 regard to the ownership interest of the partners, members, or shareholders in the159
194194 rehabilitated certified structure, provided that the entity or person that claims the credit160
195195 must shall be subject to Georgia tax; and161
196196 (E) Only a taxpayer who earned a credit, and no subsequent good faith transferee, shall162
197197 be responsible in the event of a recapture, reduction, disallowance, or other failure163
198198 related to such credit.164
199199 (3)(4) No such credit shall be allowed the taxpayer against prior years' tax liability.165
200200 (f) In the case of any rehabilitation which may reasonably be expected to be completed in166
201201 phases set forth in architectural plans and specifications completed before the rehabilitation167
202202 begins, a 60 month period may be substituted for the 24 month period provided for in168
203203 paragraph (5) of subsection (a) of this Code section.169
204204 (g)(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (h) of this Code section, in the event170
205205 a tax credit under this Code section has been claimed and allowed the taxpayer, upon the171
206206 sale or transfer of the certified structure, the taxpayer shall be authorized to transfer the172
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209209 remaining unused amount of such credit to the purchaser of such certified structure. If
210210 173
211211 a historic home for which a certified rehabilitation has been completed by a nonprofit174
212212 corporation is sold or transferred, the full amount of the credit to which the nonprofit175
213213 corporation would be entitled if taxable shall be transferred to the purchaser or transferee176
214214 at the time of sale or transfer.177
215215 (2) Such purchaser shall be subject to the limitations of subsection (e) of this Code178
216216 section. Such purchaser shall file with such purchaser's tax return a copy of the approval179
217217 of the rehabilitation by the Department of Community Affairs as provided in subsection180
218218 (d) of this Code section and a copy of the form evidencing the transfer of the tax credit.181
219219 (3) Such purchaser shall be entitled to rely in good faith on the information contained in182
220220 and used in connection with obtaining the approval of the credit including, without183
221221 limitation, the amount of qualified rehabilitation expenditures.184
222222 (h)(1) If an owner other than a nonprofit corporation sells a historic home within three185
223223 years of receiving the credit, the seller shall recapture the credit to the Department of186
224224 Revenue as follows:187
225225 (A) If the property is sold within one year of receiving the credit, the recapture amount188
226226 will
227227 shall equal the lesser of the credit or the net profit of the sale;189
228228 (B) If the property is sold within two years of receiving the credit, the recapture190
229229 amount will shall equal the lesser of two-thirds of the credit or the net profit of the sale;191
230230 or192
231231 (C) If the property is sold within three years of receiving the credit, the recapture193
232232 amount will shall equal the lesser of one-third of the credit or the net profit of the sale.194
233233 (2) The recapture provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a sale resulting from the195
234234 death of the owner.196
235235 (i)(1) In the event that a taxpayer claims the tax credit under paragraph (2) of subsection197
236236 (b) of this Code section and leases such certified structure, the department shall aggregate198
237237 all total sales tax receipts from the certified structure.199
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240240 (2) Any taxpayer claiming credits under paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of this Code
241241 200
242242 section shall report to the department the average full-time employees employed at the201
243243 certified structure. A full-time employee for the purposes of this Code section shall mean202
244244 a person who works a job that requires 30 or more hours per week. Such reports must
245245 203
246246 shall be submitted to the department for five calendar years following the year in which204
247247 the credit is claimed by the taxpayer.205
248248 (3) In the event that a taxpayer claims the tax credit under paragraph (2) of subsection206
249249 (b) of this Code section and leases such certified structure, the department shall aggregate207
250250 all total full-time employees at the certified structure.208
251251 (j) Notwithstanding Code Sections 48-2-15, 48-7-60, and 48-7-61, the department shall209
252252 furnish a report to the chairperson of the House Committee on Ways and Means and the210
253253 chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee by June 30 of each year. Such report shall211
254254 contain the total sales tax collected in the prior calendar year and the average number of212
255255 full-time employees at the certified structure and the total value of credits claimed for each213
256256 taxpayer claiming credits under paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of this Code section.214
257257 (k) The tax credit allowed under paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Code section, and215
258258 any recaptured tax credit, shall be allocated among some or all of the partners, members,216
259259 or shareholders of the entity owning the project in any manner agreed to by such persons,217
260260 whether or not such persons are allocated or allowed any portion of any other tax credit218
261261 with respect to the project.219
262262 (l) The Department of Community Affairs and the Department of Revenue shall prescribe220
263263 such regulations as may be appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Code section.221
264264 (m) The Department of Community Affairs shall report, on an annual basis, on the overall222
265265 economic activity, usage, and impact to the state from the rehabilitation of eligible223
266266 properties for which credits provided by this Code section have been allowed.224
267267 (n) This Code section shall stand repealed and reserved by operation of law on December225
268268 31, 2027 2028."226
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271271 SECTION 3.
272272 227
273273 This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2025, and shall be applicable to taxable years228
274274 beginning on or after such date.229
275275 SECTION 4.230
276276 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.231
277277 H. B. 1134
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