Establishing an income, privilege and premium tax credit for employers that employ members of the Kansas army and air national guard and establishing an income tax credit for employees that are members thereof.
The proposed bill would allow qualified employers a tax credit amounting to 10% of the compensation paid to eligible employees, with a cap of $15,000 per employee per year. Additionally, for the employees themselves, the bill grants a separate income tax credit of $5,000 for those who meet the qualifications during the tax years specified in the legislation, which is from 2024 to 2035. The non-refundable nature of these credits could impact the overall tax liabilities of both employees and employers, encouraging more businesses to hire veterans.
House Bill 2544 seeks to establish tax credits for employers who hire members of the Kansas army and air national guard. This legislation is aimed at incentivizing businesses to employ individuals who serve in these military branches, by providing financial relief in the form of tax credits against income, privilege, and premium tax liabilities. The bill defines a qualified employee as one who is a current member in good standing of the Kansas National Guard during the taxable year, and a qualified employer includes various business entities recognized under Kansas law.
While the bill provides significant benefits to members of the National Guard and incentivizes employment within Kansas, there may be concern regarding the limits on fiscal impacts as these credits are not refundable or carry forward. This could place pressure on employers who may not have the necessary tax liabilities to utilize these credits fully. There may also be discussions in the legislature about the effectiveness of such incentives in truly increasing employment among Guardsmen and whether this approach adequately serves the intention of honoring and supporting military service members.