Mississippi House Bill HB852

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/16/23
• Refer: 1/16/23
• Failed: 2/22/23

Caption

Tax credits; authorize for business contributions to certain organizations supporting food pantries or soup kitchens.

Impact

The bill introduces significant changes to the tax landscape in Mississippi by allowing eligible businesses, including corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships, to claim credits against various taxes for their contributions. Specifically, the tax credits are limited to 50% of the taxpayer's total tax liability and may also be applied to ad valorem taxes for those not structured as corporations. Importantly, any unused credit can be carried forward for five consecutive years, providing additional flexibility for businesses in their tax planning and charitable contributions.

Summary

House Bill 852 aims to establish a tax credit for businesses making voluntary cash contributions to tax-exempt organizations dedicated to purchasing, warehousing, and delivering food to food pantries or soup kitchens across multiple Mississippi counties. This initiative is designed to promote charitable giving and enhance food distribution efforts in areas facing food insecurity. The bill specifies that eligible organizations must operate in at least five counties and comply with certain federal guidelines to qualify as 501(c)(3) entities.

Contention

While the bill has support for fostering charitable aid among local businesses, there are concerns regarding the potential misuse or abuse of the tax credits. Critics may point out that restrictions based on tax deductions can limit business incentives to contribute if they cannot receive dual benefits from their donations. Moreover, the defined cap of $3.5 million on total credits allocated per year raises questions about the bill's long-term sustainability and effectiveness in addressing food insecurity.