text:
(a) (1) There shall be allowed as a credit against the “tax,” defined in Section 23036, a state low-income housing tax credit in an amount equal to the amount determined in subdivision (c), computed in accordance with Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing credit, except as otherwise provided in this section.

(2) “Taxpayer,” for purposes of this section, means the sole owner in the case of a “C” corporation, the partners in the case of a partnership, and the shareholders in the case of an “S” corporation.

(3) “Housing sponsor,” for purposes of this section, means the sole owner in the case of a “C” corporation, the partnership in the case of a partnership, and the “S” corporation in the case of an “S” corporation.

(b) (1) The amount of the credit allocated to any housing sponsor shall be authorized by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, or any successor thereof, based on a project’s need for the credit for economic feasibility in accordance with the requirements of this section.

(A) The low-income housing project shall be located in California and shall meet either of the following requirements:

(i) Except for projects to provide farmworker housing, as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 50199.7 of the Health and Safety Code, that are allocated credits solely under the set-aside described in subdivision (c) of Section 50199.20 of the Health and Safety Code, the project’s housing sponsor has been allocated by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee a credit for federal income tax purposes under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing credit.

(ii) It qualifies for a credit under Section 42(h)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to special rule where 50 percent or more of building is financed with tax-exempt bonds subject to volume cap.

(B) The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee shall not require fees for the credit under this section in addition to those fees required for applications for the tax credit pursuant to Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing credit. The committee may require a fee if the application for the credit under this section is submitted in a calendar year after the year the application is submitted for the federal tax credit.

(C) (i) For a project that receives a preliminary reservation of the state low-income housing tax credit, allowed pursuant to subdivision (a), on or after January 1, 2009, the credit shall be allocated to the partners of a partnership owning the project in accordance with the partnership agreement, regardless of how the federal low-income housing tax credit with respect to the project is allocated to the partners, or whether the allocation of the credit under the terms of the agreement has substantial economic effect, within the meaning of Section 704(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to determination of distributive share.

(ii) To the extent the allocation of the credit to a partner under this section lacks substantial economic effect, any loss or deduction otherwise allowable under this part that is attributable to the sale or other disposition of that partner’s partnership interest made prior to the expiration of the federal credit shall not be allowed in the taxable year in which the sale or other disposition occurs, but shall instead be deferred until and treated as if it occurred in the first taxable year immediately following the taxable year in which the federal credit period expires for the project described in clause (i).

(iii) This subparagraph shall not apply to a project that receives a preliminary reservation of state low-income housing tax credits under the set-aside described in subdivision (c) of Section 50199.20 of the Health and Safety Code unless the project also receives a preliminary reservation of federal low-income housing tax credits.

(2) (A) The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee shall certify to the housing sponsor the amount of tax credit under this section allocated to the housing sponsor for each credit period.

(B) In the case of a partnership or an “S” corporation, the housing sponsor shall provide a copy of the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee certification to the taxpayer.

(C) (i) A taxpayer shall be eligible to claim the credit commencing in the taxable year the building is placed in service and the federal credit period commences, notwithstanding that the certification pursuant to subparagraph (A) has not been issued by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, provided that the housing sponsor has filed a taxpayer certification with the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee and delivered a copy to the taxpayer. The amount of credit claimed by the taxpayer shall not exceed the pro rata share with respect to the amount of credit that the taxpayer purchased or is allocated per the partnership agreement, as applicable, of the lesser of either of the following:

(I) The applicable percentages for each of the four credit years, as specified in subdivision (c), multiplied by the qualified basis of the building set forth in the preliminary reservation.

(II) The amount of credit the project is eligible for as stated in the taxpayer certification.

(ii) The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee may, but is not required to, review the taxpayer certification and other information provided by the housing sponsor to confirm both of the following:

(I) The calculations set forth in the taxpayer certification.

(II) The amount of credits allocated to the project is consistent with applicable California Tax Credit Allocation Committee rules and regulations for the purposes of making the certification required pursuant to subparagraph (A).

(iii) If the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee issues a certification pursuant to subparagraph (A) that is inconsistent with the taxpayer certification upon which a credit has been claimed, the taxpayer shall amend any previously filed tax returns to reflect the credit amount certified by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee pursuant to subparagraph (A).

(iv) For purposes of this subparagraph, “taxpayer certification” means a certified statement from the certified public accountant of the housing sponsor. The taxpayer certification shall contain the amount of the credit the project is eligible for, the taxable year the building is placed in service, and the taxable year in which the federal credit period for the building has commenced.

(v) The taxpayer shall, upon request, provide a copy of the taxpayer certification pursuant to clause (iv) or the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee’s certification pursuant to subparagraph (A), as applicable, to the Franchise Tax Board.

(vi) In the case of a failure to provide a copy of the taxpayer certification pursuant to clause (iv) or the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee’s certification pursuant to subparagraph (A), if the Franchise Tax Board so requires, no credit under this section shall be allowed for that taxable year until a copy of that certification is provided.

(vii) The changes made to this subparagraph by the act adding this clause shall apply for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023.

(D) All elections made by the taxpayer pursuant to Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing credit, shall apply to this section.

(E) (i) Except as described in clause (ii) or (iii), for buildings located in designated difficult development areas (DDAs) or qualified census tracts (QCTs), as defined in Section 42(d)(5)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to increase in credit for buildings in high-cost areas, credits may be allocated under this section in the amounts prescribed in subdivision (c), provided that the amount of credit allocated under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing credit, is computed on 100 percent of the qualified basis of the building.

(ii) Notwithstanding clause (i), the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee may allocate the credit for buildings located in DDAs or QCTs that are restricted to having 50 percent of the building’s occupants be special needs households, as defined in the California Code of Regulations by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, or receiving an allocation pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (g), even if the taxpayer receives federal credits pursuant to Section 42(d)(5)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to increase in credit for buildings in high-cost areas, provided that the credit allowed under this section shall not exceed 30 percent of the eligible basis of the building.

(iii) On and after January 1, 2018, notwithstanding clause (i), the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee may allocate the credit pursuant to paragraph (7) of subdivision (c) even if the taxpayer receives federal credits, pursuant to Section 42(d)(5)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to increase in credit for buildings in high-cost areas.

(F) (i) The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee may allocate a credit under this section in exchange for a credit allocated pursuant to Section 42(d)(5)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to increase in credit for buildings in high-cost areas, in amounts up to 30 percent of the eligible basis of a building if the credits allowed under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing credit, are reduced by an equivalent amount.

(ii) An equivalent amount shall be determined by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee based upon the relative amount required to produce an equivalent state tax credit to the taxpayer.

(c) Section 42(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to applicable percentage: 70 percent present value credit for certain new buildings; 30 percent present value credit for certain other buildings, shall be modified as follows:

(1) In the case of any qualified low-income building placed in service by the housing sponsor during 1987, the term “applicable percentage” means 9 percent for each of the first three years and 3 percent for the fourth year for new buildings (whether or not the building is federally subsidized) and for existing buildings.

(2) In the case of any qualified low-income building that receives an allocation after 1989 and is a new building not federally subsidized, the term “applicable percentage” means the following:

(A) For each of the first three years, the percentage prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury for new buildings that are not federally subsidized for the taxable year, determined in accordance with the requirements of Section 42(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to temporary minimum credit rate for nonfederally subsidized new buildings, in lieu of the percentage prescribed in Section 42(b)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(B) For the fourth year, the difference between 30 percent and the sum of the applicable percentages for the first three years.

(3) In the case of any qualified low-income building that is a new building and is federally subsidized and receiving an allocation pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (g), the term “applicable percentage” means for the first three years, 9 percent of the qualified basis of the building, and for the fourth year, 3 percent of the qualified basis of the building.

(4) In the case of any qualified low-income building that receives an allocation after 1989 pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (g) and that is a new building that is federally subsidized or that is an existing building that is “at risk of conversion,” the term “applicable percentage” means the following:

(A) For each of the first three years, the percentage prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury for new buildings that are federally subsidized for the taxable year.

(B) For the fourth year, the difference between 13 percent and the sum of the applicable percentages for the first three years.

(5) In the case of any qualified low-income building that meets all of the requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (D), inclusive, the term “applicable percentage” means 30 percent for each of the first three years and 5 percent for the fourth year. A qualified low-income building receiving an allocation under this paragraph is ineligible to also receive an allocation under paragraph (3).

(A) The qualified low-income building is at least 15 years old.

(B) The qualified low-income building is either:

(i) Serving households of very low income or extremely low income such that the average maximum household income as restricted, pursuant to an existing regulatory agreement with a federal, state, county, local, or other governmental agency, is not more than 45 percent of the area median gross income, as determined under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing credit, adjusted by household size, and a tax credit regulatory agreement is entered into for a period of not less than 55 years restricting the average targeted household income to no more than 45 percent of the area median income.

(ii) Financed under Section 514, or 521 of the National Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1485).

(C) The qualified low-income building would have insufficient credits under paragraphs (2) and (3) to complete substantial rehabilitation due to a low appraised value.

(D) The qualified low-income building will complete the substantial rehabilitation in connection with the credit allocation herein.

(6) For purposes of this section, the term “at risk of conversion,” with respect to an existing property, means a property that satisfies all of the following criteria:

(A) The property is a multifamily rental housing development in which at least 50 percent of the units receive governmental assistance pursuant to any of the following:

(i) New construction, substantial rehabilitation, moderate rehabilitation, property disposition, and loan management set-aside programs, or any other program providing project-based assistance pursuant to Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, Section 1437f of Title 42 of the United States Code, as amended.

(ii) The Below-Market-Interest-Rate Program pursuant to Section 221(d)(3) of the National Housing Act, Sections 1715l(d)(3) and (5) of Title 12 of the United States Code.

(iii) Section 236 of the National Housing Act, Section 1715z-1 of Title 12 of the United States Code.

(iv) Programs for rent supplement assistance pursuant to Section 101 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965, Section 1701s of Title 12 of the United States Code, as amended.

(v) Programs under Sections 514, 515, 516, 533, and 538 of the Housing Act of 1949 (Public Law 81-171), as amended.

(vi) The low-income housing credit program set forth in Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing credit, this section, and Sections 12206 and 17058.

(vii) Programs for loans or grants administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development.

(viii) Section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 1701q), as amended.

(ix) Section 142(d) of the Internal Revenue Code or its predecessors.

(x) Section 147 of the Internal Revenue Code, as enacted by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-514), or as subsequently amended, including as amended by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-97) and all amendments enacted prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-97).

(xi) Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended.

(xii) Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, as amended.

(xiii) Titles IV and V of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, as amended, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Supportive Housing Program, Shelter Plus Care Program, and surplus federal property disposition program.

(xiv) The following assistance provided by counties and cities in exchange for restrictions on the maximum rents that may be charged for units within a multifamily rental housing development and on the maximum tenant income as a condition of eligibility for occupancy of the unit subject to the rent restriction, as reflected by a recorded agreement with a county or city:

(I) Loans or grants provided using tax increment financing pursuant to the Community Redevelopment Law (Part 1 (commencing with Section 33000) of Division 24 of the Health and Safety Code).

(II) Local housing trust funds, as referred to in Section 50843 of the Health and Safety Code.

(III) The sale or lease of public property at or below market rates.

(IV) The granting of density bonuses, or concessions or incentives, including fee waivers, parking variances, or amendments to general plans, zoning, or redevelopment project area plans, pursuant to Chapter 4.3 (commencing with Section 65915) of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code.

(B) As used in subparagraph (A), “government assistance” shall not include the use of tenant-based housing choice vouchers under subsection (o) of Section 1437f of Title 42 of the United States Code, excluding paragraph (13) relating to project-based assistance. Restrictions shall not include any rent control or rent stabilization ordinance imposed by a county or city.

(C) If the development is subject to restrictions on rent and income levels, 50 percent of the units are also restricted to initial occupancy by lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

(D) The restrictions on rent and income levels, excluding any restrictions recorded pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) of Section 65863.11 or Section 65863.13 of the Government Code or in connection with interim or acquisition financing, will terminate or the federally insured mortgage or rent subsidy contract on the property is eligible for prepayment or termination any time within five years before or after the date of application to the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee.

(E) The entity acquiring the property enters into a regulatory agreement that requires the property to be operated in accordance with the requirements of Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code and any further requirements added by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee to implement the low-income housing tax credit established by Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 42), this section, and Sections 12206 and 17058 pursuant to Chapter 3.6 (commencing with Section 50199.4) of Part 1 of Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code.

(F) The property satisfies the requirements of Section 42(e) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to rehabilitation expenditures treated as separate new building, except that the provisions of Section 42(e)(3)(A)(ii)(I) shall not apply.

(7) On and after January 1, 2018, in the case of any qualified low-income building that is (A) farmworker housing, as defined by paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 50199.7 of the Health and Safety Code, and (B) is federally subsidized, the term “applicable percentage” means for each of the first three years, 20 percent of the qualified basis of the building, and for the fourth year, 15 percent of the qualified basis of the building.

(d) The term “qualified low-income housing project” as defined in Section 42(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to qualified low-income building, is modified by adding the following requirements:

(1) The taxpayer shall be entitled to receive a cash distribution from the operations of the project, after funding required reserves, that, at the election of the taxpayer, is equal to:

(A) An amount not to exceed 8 percent of the lesser of:

(i) The owner equity, which shall include the amount of the capital contributions actually paid to the housing sponsor and shall not include any amounts until they are paid on an investor note.

(ii) Twenty percent of the adjusted basis of the building as of the close of the first taxable year of the credit period.

(B) The amount of the cashflow from those units in the building that are not low-income units. For purposes of computing cashflow under this subparagraph, operating costs shall be allocated to the low-income units using the “floor space fraction,” as defined in Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing credit.

(C) Any amount allowed to be distributed under subparagraph (A) that is not available for distribution during the first 5 years of the compliance period may be accumulated and distributed any time during the first 15 years of the compliance period but not thereafter.

(2) The limitation on return shall apply in the aggregate to the partners if the housing sponsor is a partnership and in the aggregate to the shareholders if the housing sponsor is an “S” corporation.

(3) The housing sponsor shall apply any cash available for distribution in excess of the amount eligible to be distributed under paragraph (1) to reduce the rent on rent-restricted units or to increase the number of rent-restricted units subject to the tests of Section 42(g)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to in general.

(e) The provisions of Section 42(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to definition and special rules relating to credit period, shall be modified as follows:

(1) The term “credit period” as defined in Section 42(f)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to credit period defined, is modified by substituting “four taxable years” for “10 taxable years.”

(2) The special rule for the first taxable year of the credit period under Section 42(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to special rule for 1st year of credit period, shall not apply to the tax credit under this section.

(3) Section 42(f)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to determination of applicable percentage with respect to increases in qualified basis after 1st year of credit period, is modified to read:

If, as of the close of any taxable year in the compliance period, after the first year of the credit period, the qualified basis of any building exceeds the qualified basis of that building as of the close of the first year of the credit period, the housing sponsor, to the extent of its tax credit allocation, shall be eligible for a credit on the excess in an amount equal to the applicable percentage determined pursuant to subdivision (c) for the four-year period beginning with the later of the taxable years in which the increase in qualified basis occurs.

(f) The provisions of Section 42(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to limitation on aggregate credit allowable with respect to projects located in a state, shall be modified as follows:

(1) Section 42(h)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to allocated credit amount to apply to all taxable years ending during or after credit allocation year, does not apply and instead the following provisions apply:

The total amount for the four-year credit period of the housing credit dollars allocated in a calendar year to any building shall reduce the aggregate housing credit dollar amount of the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee for the calendar year in which the allocation is made.

(2) Paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (6)(E)(i)(II), (6)(F), (6)(G), (6)(I), (7), and (8) of Section 42(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to limitation on aggregate credit allowable with respect to projects located in a state, do not apply to this section.

(g) The aggregate housing credit dollar amount that may be allocated annually by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee pursuant to this section, Section 12206, and Section 17058 shall be an amount equal to the sum of all the following:

(1) (A) Seventy million dollars ($70,000,000) for the 2001 calendar year, and, for the 2002 calendar year and each calendar year thereafter, seventy million dollars ($70,000,000) increased by the percentage, if any, by which the Consumer Price Index for the preceding calendar year exceeds the Consumer Price Index for the 2001 calendar year. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term “Consumer Price Index” means the last Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the federal Department of Labor.

(B) Five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) for the 2020 calendar year, and up to five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) for the 2021 calendar year and every year thereafter. Allocations shall only be available pursuant to this subparagraph in the 2021 calendar year and thereafter if the annual Budget Act, or if any bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Act, specifies an amount to be available for allocation in that calendar year by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, and after the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee and the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee have adopted increasing production and containing regulations, rules, or guidelines to align the programs of both committees with the objective of increasing production and containing costs as described in clause (iii). The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee shall accept applications for the 2021 calendar year not sooner than 30 days after these regulations, rules, or guidelines have been adopted. The California Debt Limit Allocation Committee shall not accept applications for the 2021 calendar year for bond allocations for an eligible project under this section prior to issuing, reviewing, and publishing a new tax-exempt private activity bond demand survey. Except as provided in clause (vi), a housing sponsor receiving a nonfederally subsidized allocation under subdivision (c) shall not be eligible for receipt of the housing credit allocated from the increased amount under this subparagraph. A housing sponsor receiving a nonfederally subsidized allocation under subdivision (c) shall remain eligible for receipt of the housing credit allocated from the credit ceiling amount under subparagraph (A).

(i) Eligible projects for allocations under this subparagraph include any new building, as defined in Section 42(i)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to newly constructed buildings, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, excluding rehabilitation expenditures under Section 42(e) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to rehabilitation expenditures treated as separate new building, and is federally subsidized. Eligible projects for allocations under this subparagraph also include any retrofitting and repurposing of existing nonresidential structures, including, but not limited to, hotels and motels, that were converted to residential use within the previous five years from the date of the application.

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for allocations pursuant to this subparagraph for the 2020 calendar year, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee shall consider projects located throughout the state and shall allocate housing credits, subject to the minimum federal requirements as set forth in Sections 42 and 142 of the Internal Revenue Code, the minimum requirements set forth in Sections 5033 and 5190 of the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee regulations, and the minimum set forth in Section 10326 of the Tax Credit Allocation Committee regulations, for projects that can begin construction within 180 days from award, subject to availability of funds.

(iii) (I) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for allocations pursuant to this subparagraph for the 2021 calendar year and thereafter, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee and the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee shall develop and prescribe regulations, rules, or guidelines, necessary to implement a new allocation methodology that is aimed at increasing production and containing costs, which would include a scoring system that maximizes the efficient use of public subsidy and benefit created through the private activity bond and low-income housing tax credit programs. The factors for determining the efficient use of public subsidy and benefit shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(ia) The number and size of units developed including local incentives provided to increase density.

(ib) The proximity to amenities, jobs, and public transportation.

(ic) The location of the development.

(id) The delivery of housing affordable to very low and extremely low income households by the development.

(II) The efficient use of public subsidy and benefit criteria specified in this clause shall take into account the total state subsidy provided and prioritize cost containment and increased unit production. These regulations, rules, or guidelines developed pursuant to this subparagraph shall also consider updated definitions for at-risk preservation and new construction.

(III) For bond allocations for the 2021 calendar year to projects eligible for an allocation under this subparagraph, the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee may adopt emergency regulations.

(IV) The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee shall consider amending the regulations establishing a scoring system, as required by this clause, to also grant, for farmworker housing as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 50199.7 of the Health and Safety Code, maximum points to farmworker housing projects under the housing needs category, and an initial five points in the category for site amenities beyond those required as additional thresholds.

(iv) Of the amount available pursuant to this subparagraph, and notwithstanding any other requirement of this section, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee may allocate up to two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) for housing financed by the California Housing Finance Agency under its Mixed-Income Program.

(v) (I) For the calendar years of 2024 to 2034, inclusive, of the amount available pursuant to this subparagraph, the lesser of 5 percent of that amount or twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) per calendar year shall be set aside for projects to provide farmworker housing, as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 50199.7 of the Health and Safety Code, and administered consistent with the credits available pursuant to paragraph (4).

(II) Any credits pursuant to this clause that remain unallocated following the conclusion of a funding round shall roll over to consecutive subsequent funding rounds in that calendar year with the exception that any credits that remain unallocated after the final funding round in that calendar year shall be added back to the aggregate amount of credits that may be allocated pursuant to this subparagraph.

(III) For the 2035 calendar year, and every year thereafter, of the amount available pursuant to this subparagraph, a portion of the amount allocated shall be set aside for projects to provide farmworker housing, as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 50199.7 of the Health and Safety Code. The amount set aside shall be determined by the Legislature upon consideration of the comprehensive strategy, or most recent update thereof, provided by the Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 50408.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

(vi) (I) For any calendar year in which the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee has declared a competition for the award of tax-exempt bond authority for qualified residential rental projects, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee may allocate some or all of the credits allocated under this subparagraph, except for any credits allocated for housing financed by the California Housing Finance Agency under its Mixed-Income Program, for nonfederally subsidized buildings eligible for credits under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing credit, and shall allocate the remainder of these credits for new buildings, as defined in Section 42(i)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to new buildings, that are federally subsidized and that can begin construction within a reasonable time, as determined by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee.

(II) For any calendar year in which the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee has not declared a competition for the award of tax-exempt bond authority for qualified residential rental projects, projects receiving an award of credits pursuant to this subparagraph shall begin construction within a reasonable time, as determined by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee.

(III) Notwithstanding subclauses (I) and (II), if credits available under this subparagraph remain unallocated after the final California Debt Limit Allocation Committee round for qualified residential rental projects in a given calendar year, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee may allocate some or all of the remaining credits for nonfederally subsidized buildings eligible for credits under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing credit.

(2) The unused housing credit ceiling, if any, for the preceding calendar years.

(3) The amount of housing credit ceiling returned in the calendar year. For purposes of this paragraph, the amount of housing credit dollar amount returned in the calendar year equals the housing credit dollar amount previously allocated to any project that does not become a qualified low-income housing project within the period required by this section or to any project with respect to which an allocation is canceled by mutual consent of the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee and the allocation recipient.

(4) Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) per calendar year for projects to provide farmworker housing, as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 50199.7 of the Health and Safety Code.

(5) The amount of any unallocated or returned credits under former Sections 17053.14, 23608.2, and 23608.3, as those sections read prior to January 1, 2009, until fully exhausted for projects to provide farmworker housing, as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 50199.7 of the Health and Safety Code.

(h) The term “compliance period” as defined in Section 42(i)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to compliance period, is modified to mean, with respect to any building, the period of 30 consecutive taxable years beginning with the first taxable year of the credit period with respect thereto.

(i) Section 42(j) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to recapture of credit, shall not be applicable and the following shall be substituted in its place:

The requirements of this section shall be set forth in a regulatory agreement between the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee and the housing sponsor, and the regulatory agreement shall be subordinated, when required, to any lien or encumbrance of any banks or other institutional lenders to the project. The regulatory agreement entered into pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 50199.14 of the Health and Safety Code shall apply, provided that the agreement includes all of the following provisions:

(1) A term not less than the compliance period.

(2) A requirement that the agreement be recorded in the official records of the county in which the qualified low-income housing project is located.

(3) A provision stating which state and local agencies can enforce the regulatory agreement in the event the housing sponsor fails to satisfy any of the requirements of this section.

(4) A provision that the regulatory agreement shall be deemed a contract enforceable by tenants as third-party beneficiaries thereto and that allows individuals, whether prospective, present, or former occupants of the building, who meet the income limitation applicable to the building, the right to enforce the regulatory agreement in any state court.

(5) A provision incorporating the requirements of Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing credit, as modified by this section.

(6) A requirement that the housing sponsor notify the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee or its designee if there is a determination by the Internal Revenue Service that the project is not in compliance with Section 42(g) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to qualified low-income housing project.

(7) A requirement that the housing sponsor, as security for the performance of the housing sponsor’s obligations under the regulatory agreement, assign the housing sponsor’s interest in rents that it receives from the project, provided that until there is a default under the regulatory agreement, the housing sponsor is entitled to collect and retain the rents.

(8) A provision that the remedies available in the event of a default under the regulatory agreement that is not cured within a reasonable cure period include, but are not limited to, allowing any of the parties designated to enforce the regulatory agreement to collect all rents with respect to the project; taking possession of the project and operating the project in accordance with the regulatory agreement until the enforcer determines the housing sponsor is in a position to operate the project in accordance with the regulatory agreement; applying to any court for specific performance; securing the appointment of a receiver to operate the project; or any other relief as may be appropriate.

(j) (1) The committee shall allocate the housing credit on a regular basis consisting of two or more periods in each calendar year during which applications may be filed and considered. The committee shall establish application filing deadlines, the maximum percentage of federal and state low-income housing tax credit ceiling that may be allocated by the committee in that period, and the approximate date on which allocations shall be made. If the enactment of federal or state law, the adoption of rules or regulations, or other similar events prevent the use of two allocation periods, the committee may reduce the number of periods and adjust the filing deadlines, maximum percentage of credit allocated, and allocation dates.

(2) The committee shall adopt a qualified allocation plan, as provided in Section 42(m)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to plans for allocation of credit among projects. In adopting this plan, the committee shall comply with the provisions of Sections 42(m)(1)(B) and 42(m)(1)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to qualified allocation plan and relating to certain selection criteria must be used, respectively.

(3) Notwithstanding Section 42(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to responsibilities of housing credit agencies, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee shall allocate housing credits in accordance with the qualified allocation plan and regulations, which shall include the following provisions:

(A) All housing sponsors, as defined by paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), shall demonstrate at the time the application is filed with the committee that the project meets the following threshold requirements:

(i) The housing sponsor shall demonstrate there is a need and demand for low-income housing in the community or region for which it is proposed.

(ii) The project’s proposed financing, including tax credit proceeds, shall be sufficient to complete the project and that the proposed operating income shall be adequate to operate the project for the extended use period.

(iii) The project shall have enforceable financing commitments, either construction or permanent financing, for at least 50 percent of the total estimated financing of the project.

(iv) The housing sponsor shall have and maintain control of the site for the project.

(v) The housing sponsor shall demonstrate that the project complies with all applicable local land use and zoning ordinances.

(vi) The housing sponsor shall demonstrate that the project development team has the experience and the financial capacity to ensure project completion and operation for the extended use period.

(vii) The housing sponsor shall demonstrate the amount of tax credit that is necessary for the financial feasibility of the project and its viability as a qualified low-income housing project throughout the extended use period, taking into account operating expenses, a supportable debt service, reserves, funds set aside for rental subsidies and required equity, and a development fee that does not exceed a specified percentage of the eligible basis of the project prior to inclusion of the development fee in the eligible basis, as determined by the committee.

(B) The committee shall give a preference to those projects satisfying all of the threshold requirements of subparagraph (A) if both of the following apply:

(i) The project serves the lowest income tenants at rents affordable to those tenants.

(ii) The project is obligated to serve qualified tenants for the longest period.

(C) In addition to the provisions of subparagraphs (A) and (B), the committee shall use the following criteria in allocating housing credits:

(i) Projects serving large families in which a substantial number, as defined by the committee, of all residential units are low-income units with three or more bedrooms.

(ii) Projects providing single-room occupancy units serving very low income tenants.

(iii) Existing projects that are “at risk of conversion,” as defined by paragraph (6) of subdivision (c).

(iv) Projects for which a public agency provides direct or indirect long-term financial support for at least 15 percent of the total project development costs or projects for which the owner’s equity constitutes at least 30 percent of the total project development costs.

(v) Projects that provide tenant amenities not generally available to residents of low-income housing projects.

(D) Subparagraph (B) and (C) shall not apply to projects receiving an allocation pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (g).

(4) For purposes of allocating credits pursuant to this section, the committee shall not give preference to any project by virtue of the date of submission of its application except to break a tie when two or more of the projects have an equal rating.

(5) Not less than 20 percent of the low-income housing tax credits available annually under this section, Section 12206, and Section 17058 shall be set aside for allocation to rural areas as defined in Section 50199.21 of the Health and Safety Code. Any amount of credit set aside for rural areas remaining on or after October 31 of any calendar year shall be available for allocation to any eligible project. No amount of credit set aside for rural areas shall be considered available for any eligible project so long as there are eligible rural applications pending on October 31.

(k) Section 42(l) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to certifications and other reports to secretary, shall be modified as follows:

The term “secretary” shall be replaced by the term “Franchise Tax Board.”

(l) In the case in which the credit allowed under this section exceeds the “tax,” the excess may be carried over to reduce the “tax” in the following year, and succeeding years, if necessary, until the credit has been exhausted.

(m) A project that received an allocation of a 1989 federal housing credit dollar amount shall be eligible to receive an allocation of a 1990 state housing credit dollar amount, subject to all of the following conditions:

(1) The project was not placed in service prior to 1990.

(2) To the extent the amendments made to this section by the Statutes of 1990 conflict with any provisions existing in this section prior to those amendments, the prior provisions of law shall prevail.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), a project applying for an allocation under this subdivision shall be subject to the requirements of paragraph (3) of subdivision (j).

(n) The credit period with respect to an allocation of credit in 1989 by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee of which any amount is attributable to unallocated credit from 1987 or 1988 shall not begin until after December 31, 1989.

(o) The provisions of Section 11407(a) of Public Law 101-508, relating to the effective date of the extension of the low-income housing credit, apply to calendar years after 1989.

(p) The provisions of Section 11407(c) of Public Law 101-508, relating to election to accelerate credit, shall not apply.

(q) (1) A corporation may elect to assign any portion of any credit allowed under this section to one or more affiliated corporations for each taxable year in which the credit is allowed. For purposes of this subdivision, “affiliated corporation” has the meaning provided in subdivision (b) of Section 25110, as that section was amended by Chapter 881 of the Statutes of 1993, as of the last day of the taxable year in which the credit is allowed, except that “100 percent” is substituted for “more than 50 percent” wherever it appears in the section, as that section was amended by Chapter 881 of the Statutes of 1993, and “voting common stock” is substituted for “voting stock” wherever it appears in the section, as that section was amended by Chapter 881 of the Statutes of 1993.

(2) The election provided in paragraph (1):

(A) May be based on any method selected by the corporation that originally receives the credit.

(B) Shall be irrevocable for the taxable year the credit is allowed, once made.

(C) May be changed for any subsequent taxable year if the election to make the assignment is expressly shown on each of the returns of the affiliated corporations that assign and receive the credits.

(r) (1) (A) For a project that receives a preliminary reservation under this section beginning on or after January 1, 2016, a taxpayer may elect, in the manner prescribed by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, to sell all or any portion of any credit allowed, subject to subparagraph (B). The taxpayer may make the election to sell pursuant to this subdivision at any time before the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee allocates a final credit amount for the project pursuant to this section, at which point the election shall become irrevocable.

(B) A credit that a taxpayer elects to sell all or a portion of pursuant to this subdivision shall be sold for consideration that is not less than 80 percent of the amount of the credit.

(2) (A) The taxpayer that originally received the credit shall report to the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee within 10 days of the sale of the credit, in the form and manner specified by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, all required information regarding the purchase and sale of the credit, including the social security or other taxpayer identification number of the unrelated party or parties to whom the credit has been sold, the face amount of the credit sold, and the amount of consideration received by the taxpayer for the sale of the credit.

(B) The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee shall provide an annual listing to the Franchise Tax Board, in a form and manner agreed upon by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee and the Franchise Tax Board, of the taxpayers that have sold or purchased a credit pursuant to this subdivision.

(3) A credit may be sold pursuant to this subdivision to more than one unrelated party.

(4) Notwithstanding any other law, the taxpayer that originally received the credit that is sold pursuant to paragraph (1) shall remain solely liable for all obligations and liabilities imposed on the taxpayer by this section with respect to the credit, none of which shall apply to a party to whom the credit has been sold or subsequently transferred. Parties that purchase credits pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be entitled to utilize the purchased credits in the same manner in which the taxpayer that originally received the credit could utilize them.

(5) A taxpayer shall not sell a credit allowed by this section if the taxpayer was allowed the credit on any tax return of the taxpayer.

(s) The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee may prescribe rules, guidelines, or procedures necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section, including any guidelines regarding the allocation of the credit allowed under this section. Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code shall not apply to any rule, guideline, or procedure prescribed by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee pursuant to this section.

(t) Any unused credit may continue to be carried forward, as provided in subdivision (l), until the credit has been exhausted.

(u) This section shall remain in effect on and after December 1, 1990, for as long as Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to low-income housing credit, remains in effect.

(v) The amendments to this section made by Chapter 1222 of the Statutes of 1993 shall apply only to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1994, except that paragraph (1) of subdivision (q), as amended, shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1993.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 492, Sec. 3. (AB 480) Effective January 1, 2026. Section conditionally inoperative pursuant to subd. (u).)


kind: section

code: RTC

text:
(a) There shall be allowed as a credit against the “tax” (as defined by Section 23036) an amount equal to 10 percent of the amount of wages paid to each employee who is certified by the Employment Development Department to meet the requirements of Section 328 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.

The credit under this section shall not apply to an individual unless, on or before the day on which that individual begins work for the employer, the employer:

(1) Has received a certification from the Employment Development Department, or

(2) Has requested in writing that certification from the Employment Development Department.

For purposes of this subdivision, if on or before the day on which the individual begins work for the employer, the individual has received from the Employment Development Department a written preliminary determination that he or she is a member of a targeted group, then the requirement of paragraph (1) or (2) shall be applicable on or before the fifth day on which the individual begins work for the employer.

(b) The credit under this section shall not apply to wages paid in excess of three thousand dollars ($3,000) during an taxable year by a taxpayer to the same individual. With respect to each qualified employee, the aggregate credit under this section shall not exceed six hundred dollars ($600).

(c) The credit under this section shall not apply to wages paid to an individual:

(1) Who is a dependent, as described in paragraphs (1) to (8), inclusive, of Section 152(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, of an individual who owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50 percent in value of the outstanding stock of the taxpayer (determined with the application of Section 267(c) of the Internal Revenue Code); or

(2) Who is a dependent (as described in paragraph (9) of Section 152(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) of an individual described in paragraph (1).

(d) The credit under this section shall not apply to wages paid to an individual if, prior to the hiring date of that individual, that individual had been employed by the employer at any time during which he or she was not certified by the Employment Development Department to meet the requirements of Section 328 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.

(e) If the certification of an employee has been revoked pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 328 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, the credit under this section shall not apply to wages paid by the employer after the date on which notice of revocation is received by the employer.

(f) The credit under this section shall be in addition to any deduction under this part to which the taxpayer may be entitled, if any.

(g) The credit provided by this section shall be applied to wages paid to each qualifying employee during the 24-month period beginning on the date the employee begins working for the taxpayer.

(h) (1) A taxpayer may elect to have this section not apply for any taxable year.

(2) An election under paragraph (1) for any taxable year may be made (or revoked) at any time before the expiration of the four-year period beginning on the last date prescribed by law for filing the return for that taxable year (determined without regard to extensions).

(3) An election under paragraph (1) (or revocation thereof) shall be made in any manner which the Franchise Tax Board may prescribe.

(i) (1) In the case of a successor employer referred to in Section 3306(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, the determination of the amount of the credit under this section with respect to wages paid by that successor employer shall be made in the same manner as if those wages were paid by the predecessor employer referred to in that section.

(2) No credit shall be determined under this section with respect to remuneration paid by an employer to an employee for services performed by that employee for another person unless the amount reasonably expected to be received by the employer for those services from that other person exceeds the remuneration paid by the employer to that employee for those services.

(j) The term “wages” shall not include either of the following:

(1) Payments defined in Section 51(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to payments for services during labor disputes.

(2) Any amounts paid or incurred to an individual who begins work for an employer after December 31, 1993.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 862, Sec. 77. Effective January 1, 2001.)

division: 2. OTHER TAXES

part: 11. CORPORATION TAX LAW

chapter: 3.5. Tax Credits

path: 2. OTHER TAXES > 11. CORPORATION TAX LAW > 3.5. Tax Credits


text:
(a) There shall be allowed as a credit against the “tax” (as defined by Section 23036) an amount equal to 10 percent of the amount of wages paid or incurred during the taxable year to each prisoner who is employed in a joint venture program established pursuant to Article 1.5 of Chapter 5 of Title 1 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, through agreement with the Director of Corrections.

(b) The Department of Corrections shall forward annually to the Franchise Tax Board a list of all employers certified by the Department of Corrections as active participants in a joint venture program pursuant to Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 2717.1) of Chapter 5 of Title 1 of Part 3 of the Penal Code. The list shall include the certified participant’s federal employer identification number.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 862, Sec. 80. Effective January 1, 2001. Note: This section was added on Nov. 6, 1990, by initiative Prop. 139 (the Prison Inmate Labor Initiative of 1990).)


text:
(a) (1) For each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2014, and before January 1, 2026, there shall be allowed to a qualified taxpayer that hires a qualified full-time employee and pays or incurs qualified wages attributable to work performed by the qualified full-time employee in a designated census tract or economic development area, and that receives a tentative credit reservation for that qualified full-time employee, a credit against the “tax,” as defined by Section 23036, in an amount calculated under this section.

(2) For each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2023, and before January 1, 2026, the designated census tract or economic development area requirements shall not apply to a qualified taxpayer described in clause (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (14) of subdivision (b).

(3) The amount of the credit allowable under this section for a taxable year shall be equal to the product of the tentative credit amount for the taxable year and the applicable percentage for the taxable year.

(4) (A) If a qualified taxpayer relocates to a designated census tract or economic development area, the qualified taxpayer shall be allowed a credit with respect to qualified wages for each qualified full-time employee who is employed within the new location only if the qualified taxpayer provides each employee at the previous location or locations a written offer of employment at the new location in the designated census tract or economic development area with comparable compensation.

(B) For purposes of this paragraph, “relocates to a designated census tract or economic development area” means an increase in the number of qualified full-time employees, employed by a qualified taxpayer, within a designated census tract or tracts or economic development areas within a 12-month period in which there is a decrease in the number of full-time employees, employed by the qualified taxpayer in this state, but outside of designated census tracts or economic development areas.

(C) This paragraph does not apply to a small business.

(5) The credit allowed by this section may only be claimed on a timely filed original return of the qualified taxpayer and only with respect to a qualified full-time employee for whom the qualified taxpayer has received a tentative credit reservation.

(b) For purposes of this section:

(1) The “tentative credit amount” for a taxable year shall be equal to the product of the applicable credit percentage for each qualified full-time employee and the qualified wages paid by the qualified taxpayer during the taxable year to that qualified full-time employee.

(2) The “applicable percentage” for a taxable year shall be equal to a fraction, the numerator of which is the net increase in the total number of full-time employees employed in this state during the taxable year, determined on an annual full-time equivalent basis, as compared with the total number of full-time employees employed in this state during the base year, determined on the same basis, and the denominator of which shall be the total number of qualified full-time employees employed in this state during the taxable year. The applicable percentage shall not exceed 100 percent.

(3) The “applicable credit percentage” means the credit percentage for the calendar year during which a qualified full-time employee was first employed by the qualified taxpayer. The applicable credit percentage for all calendar years shall be 35 percent.

(4) “Base year” means the 2013 taxable year, or in the case of a qualified taxpayer who first hires a qualified full-time employee in a taxable year beginning on or after January 2015, the taxable year immediately preceding the taxable year in which the qualified full-time employee was hired.

(5) “Acquired” includes any gift, inheritance, transfer incident to divorce, or any other transfer, whether or not for consideration.

(6) “Annual full-time equivalent” means either of the following:

(A) In the case of a full-time employee paid hourly qualified wages, “annual full-time equivalent” means the total number of hours worked for the qualified taxpayer by the employee (not to exceed 2,000 hours per employee) divided by 2,000.

(B) In the case of a salaried full-time employee, “annual full-time equivalent” means the total number of weeks worked for the qualified taxpayer by the employee divided by 52.

(7) “Designated census tract” means a census tract within the state that is determined by the Department of Finance to have a civilian unemployment rate that is within the top 25 percent of all census tracts within the state and has a poverty rate within the top 25 percent of all census tracts within the state, as prescribed in Section 13073.5 of the Government Code.

(8) “Economic development area” means either of the following:

(A) A former enterprise zone. For purposes of this section, “former enterprise zone” means an enterprise zone designated and in effect as of December 31, 2011, any enterprise zone designated during 2012, and any revision of an enterprise zone prior to June 30, 2013, under former Chapter 12.8 (commencing with Section 7070) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, as in effect on December 31, 2012, excluding any census tract within an enterprise zone that is identified by the Department of Finance pursuant to Section 13073.5 of the Government Code as a census tract within the lowest quartile of census tracts with the lowest civilian unemployment and poverty.

(B) A local agency military base recovery area designated as of the effective date of the act adding this subparagraph, in accordance with Section 7114 of the Government Code.

(9) “Electric airplane manufacturing” means manufacturing of electric airplanes that would be classified under Code 3364 of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) published by the United States Office of Management and Budget, 2022 edition.

(10) “Lithium production” means lithium mining and manufacturing described in Codes 212390 or 325180 of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) published by the United States Office of Management and Budget, 2022 edition.

(11) “Manufacturing of lithium batteries” means the manufacturing described in Code 335910 of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) published by the United States Office of Management and Budget, 2022 edition.

(12) “Minimum wage” means the wage established pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1171) of Part 4 of Division 2 of the Labor Code.

(13) (A) “Qualified full-time employee” means an individual who meets all of the following requirements:

(i) (I) Performs at least 50 percent of their services for the qualified taxpayer during the taxable year in a designated census tract or economic development area.

(II) This clause does not apply to employees of a qualified taxpayer described in clause (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (14).

(ii) Receives starting wages that are at least 150 percent of the minimum wage or at least 100 percent of the minimum wage for employees of a qualified taxpayer described in clause (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (14).

(iii) Is hired by the qualified taxpayer on or after January 1, 2014.

(iv) Is hired by the qualified taxpayer after the date the Department of Finance determines that the census tract referred to in clause (i) is a designated census tract or that the census tracts within a former enterprise zone are not census tracts with the lowest civilian unemployment and poverty.

(v) Satisfies either of the following conditions:

(I) Is paid qualified wages by the qualified taxpayer for services not less than an average of 35 hours per week.

(II) Is a salaried employee and was paid compensation during the taxable year for full-time employment, within the meaning of Section 515 of the Labor Code, by the qualified taxpayer.

(vi) Upon commencement of employment with the qualified taxpayer, satisfies any of the following conditions:

(I) Was unemployed for the six months immediately preceding employment with the qualified taxpayer. In the case of an individual who completed a program of study at a college, university, or other postsecondary educational institution, received a baccalaureate, postgraduate, or professional degree, and was unemployed for the six months immediately preceding employment with the qualified taxpayer, that individual must have completed that program of study at least 12 months prior to the individual’s commencement of employment with the qualified taxpayer.

(II) Is a veteran who separated from service in the Armed Forces of the United States within the 12 months preceding commencement of employment with the qualified taxpayer.

(III) Was a recipient of the credit allowed under Section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to earned income, as applicable for federal purposes, for the previous taxable year.

(IV) Is an ex-offender previously convicted of a felony.

(V) Is a recipient of either CalWORKs, in accordance with Article 2 (commencing with Section 11250) of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or general assistance, in accordance with Section 17000.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(B) An individual may only be considered a qualified full-time employee for the period of time commencing with the date the individual is first employed by the qualified taxpayer and ending 60 months thereafter.

(14) (A) “Qualified taxpayer” means any of the following:

(i) A corporation engaged in a trade or business within designated census tract or economic development area that, during the taxable year, pays or incurs qualified wages.

(ii) A person or entity engaged in semiconductor manufacturing or semiconductor research and development that, upon requesting a tentative credit reservation, self-certifies and provides verification, in the form and manner prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board, that they intend to apply or have applied for federal funding pursuant to Sections 101 to 106, inclusive, of, or intend to claim or have claimed the credit pursuant to Section 107 of, Division A of the federal Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167), and that pays or incurs qualified wages during the taxable year.

(iii) A person or entity engaged in electric airplane manufacturing that, upon requesting a tentative credit reservation, self-certifies and provides verification, in the form and manner prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board, that they have received a sales and use tax exclusion pursuant to Section 6010.8 for an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer and that pays or incurs qualified wages during the taxable year.

(iv) A person or entity engaged in lithium production that, upon requesting a tentative credit reservation, self-certifies and provides verification, in the form and manner prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board, that they are a producer, as defined by Section 47002, who pays the tax imposed by Part 25 (commencing with Section 47000) for the taxable year and that pays or incurs qualified wages during the taxable year.

(v) (I) A person or entity engaged in manufacturing of lithium batteries that, upon requesting a tentative credit reservation, self-certifies and provides verification, in the form and manner prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board, that their primary business is lithium battery manufacturing and that pays or incurs qualified wages during the taxable year.

(II) For purposes of this clause, “primary business” means 50 percent or more of their gross income is derived from lithium battery manufacturing.

(B) In the case of any pass-thru entity, the determination of whether a taxpayer is a qualified taxpayer under this section shall be made at the entity level and any credit under this section or Section 17053.73 shall be allowed to the pass-thru entity and passed through to the partners and shareholders in accordance with applicable provisions of this part or Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001). For purposes of this subdivision, the term “pass-thru entity” means any partnership or “S” corporation.

(C) “Qualified taxpayer” shall not include any of the following:

(i) Employers that provide temporary help services, as described in Code 561320 of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) published by the United States Office of Management and Budget, 2012 edition.

(ii) Employers that provide retail trade services, as described in Sector 44-45 of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) published by the United States Office of Management and Budget, 2012 edition.

(iii) Employers that are primarily engaged in providing food services, as described in Code 711110, 722511, 722513, 722514, or 722515 of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) published by the United States Office of Management and Budget, 2012 edition.

(iv) Employers that are primarily engaged in services as described in Code 713210, 721120, or 722410 of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) published by the United States Office of Management and Budget, 2012 edition.

(v) (I) An employer that is a sexually oriented business.

(II) For purposes of this clause:

(ia) “Sexually oriented business” means a nightclub, bar, restaurant, or similar commercial enterprise that provides for an audience of two or more individuals live nude entertainment or live nude performances where the nudity is a function of everyday business operations and where nudity is a planned and intentional part of the entertainment or performance.

(ib) “Nude” means clothed in a manner that leaves uncovered or visible, through less than fully opaque clothing, any portion of the genitals or, in the case of a female, any portion of the breasts below the top of the areola of the breasts.

(D) Subparagraph (C) shall not apply to a taxpayer that is a “small business.”

(15) “Qualified wages” means those wages subject to withholding pursuant to Division 6 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Unemployment Insurance Code that meet all of the following requirements:

(A) (i) Except as provided in clause (ii) or (iii), that portion of wages paid or incurred by the qualified taxpayer during the taxable year to each qualified full-time employee that exceeds 150 percent of minimum wage, but does not exceed 350 percent of the minimum wage.

(ii) (I) In the case of a qualified full-time employee employed in a designated pilot area, that portion of wages paid or incurred by the qualified taxpayer during the taxable year to each qualified full-time employee that exceeds ten dollars ($10) per hour or an equivalent amount for salaried employees, but does not exceed 350 percent of the minimum wage. For qualified full-time employees described in the preceding sentence, clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (13) is modified by substituting “ten dollars ($10) per hour or an equivalent amount for salaried employees” for “150 percent of the minimum wage.”

(II) For purposes of this clause:

(ia) “Designated pilot area” means an area designated as a designated pilot area by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.

(ib) Areas that may be designated as a designated pilot area are limited to areas within a designated census tract or an economic development area with average wages less than the statewide average wages, based on information from the Labor Market Division of the Employment Development Department, and areas within a designated census tract or an economic development area based on high poverty or high unemployment.

(ic) The total number of designated pilot areas that may be designated is limited to five, one or more of which must be an area within five or fewer designated census tracts within a single county based on high poverty or high unemployment or an area within an economic development area based on high poverty or high unemployment.

(id) The designation of a designated pilot area shall be applicable for a period of four calendar years, commencing with the first calendar year for which the designation of a designated pilot area is effective. The applicable period of a designated pilot area may be extended, in the sole discretion of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, for an additional period of up to three calendar years. The applicable period, and any extended period, shall not extend beyond December 31, 2020.

(III) The designation of an area as a designated pilot area and the extension of the applicable period of a designated pilot area shall be at the sole discretion of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development and shall not be subject to administrative appeal or judicial review.

(iii) For qualified full-time employees of a qualified taxpayer described in clause (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (14), that portion of wages paid or incurred by the qualified taxpayer during the taxable year to each qualified full-time employee that exceeds 100 percent of minimum wage, but does not exceed 350 percent of the minimum wage.

(B) Wages paid or incurred during the 60-month period beginning with the first day the qualified full-time employee commences employment with the qualified taxpayer. In the case of any employee who is reemployed, including regularly occurring seasonal increase, in the trade or business operations of the qualified taxpayer, this reemployment shall not be treated as constituting commencement of employment for purposes of this section.

(C) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of subdivision (m), qualified wages shall not include any wages paid or incurred by the qualified taxpayer on or after the date that the Department of Finance’s redesignation of designated census tracts is effective, as provided in paragraph (2) of subdivision (g), so that a census tract is no longer determined to be a designated census tract.

(16) “Seasonal employment” means employment by a qualified taxpayer that has regular and predictable substantial reductions in trade or business operations.

(17) “Semiconductor manufacturing or semiconductor research and development” means manufacturing described in Code 3344 of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) published by the United States Office of Management and Budget, 2022 edition.

(18) (A) “Small business” means a trade or business that has aggregate gross receipts, less returns and allowances reportable to this state, of less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) during the previous taxable year.

(B) (i) For purposes of this paragraph, “gross receipts, less returns and allowances reportable to this state,” means the sum of the gross receipts from the production of business income, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 25120, and the gross receipts from the production of nonbusiness income, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 25120.

(ii) In the case of any trade or business activity conducted by a partnership or an “S” corporation, the limitations set forth in subparagraph (A) shall be applied to the partnership or “S” corporation and to each partner or shareholder.

(iii) For taxpayers that are required to be included in a combined report under Section 25101 or authorized to be included in a combined report under Section 25101.15, the dollar amount specified in subparagraph (A) shall apply to the aggregate gross receipts of all taxpayers that are required to be or authorized to be included in a combined report.

(C) (i) “Small business” shall not include a sexually oriented business.

(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph:

(I) “Sexually oriented business” means a nightclub, bar, restaurant, or similar commercial enterprise that provides for an audience of two or more individuals live nude entertainment or live nude performances where the nudity is a function of everyday business operations and where nudity is a planned and intentional part of the entertainment or performance.

(II) “Nude” means clothed in a manner that leaves uncovered or visible, through less than fully opaque clothing, any portion of the genitals or, in the case of a female, any portion of the breasts below the top of the areola of the breasts.

(19) An individual is “unemployed” for any period for which the individual is all of the following:

(A) Not in receipt of wages subject to withholding under Section 13020 of the Unemployment Insurance Code for that period.

(B) Not a self-employed individual (within the meaning of Section 401(c)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to self-employed individual) for that period.

(C) Not a registered full-time student at a high school, college, university, or other postsecondary educational institution for that period.

(c) The net increase in full-time employees of a qualified taxpayer shall be determined as provided by this subdivision:

(1) (A) The net increase in full-time employees shall be determined on an annual full-time equivalent basis by subtracting from the amount determined in subparagraph (C) the amount determined in subparagraph (B).

(B) The total number of full-time employees employed in the base year by the taxpayer and by any trade or business acquired by the taxpayer during the current taxable year.

(C) The total number of full-time employees employed in the current taxable year by the taxpayer and by any trade or business acquired during the current taxable year.

(2) For taxpayers who first commence doing business in this state during the taxable year, the number of full-time employees for the base year shall be zero.

(d) For purposes of this section:

(1) All employees of the trades or businesses that are treated as related under Section 267, 318, or 707 of the Internal Revenue Code shall be treated as employed by a single taxpayer.

(2) In determining whether the taxpayer has first commenced doing business in this state during the taxable year, the provisions of subdivision (g) of Section 24416, without application of paragraph (7) of that subdivision, apply.

(e) (1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), to be eligible for the credit allowed by this section, a qualified taxpayer shall, upon hiring a qualified full-time employee, request a tentative credit reservation from the Franchise Tax Board within 30 days of complying with the Employment Development Department’s new hire reporting requirement as provided in Section 1088.5 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, in the form and manner prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board.

(B) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, and before January 1, 2024, to be eligible for the credit allowed by this section, a qualified taxpayer described in clause (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (14) of subdivision (b) shall, upon hiring a qualified full-time employee, request a tentative credit reservation from the Franchise Tax Board on or before the last day of the month following the close of the taxable year for which the credit is claimed, in the form and manner prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board.

(2) To obtain a tentative credit reservation with respect to a qualified full-time employee, the qualified taxpayer shall provide necessary information, as determined by the Franchise Tax Board, including the name, the social security number, the start date of employment, the rate of pay of the qualified full-time employee, the qualified taxpayer’s gross receipts, less returns and allowances, for the previous taxable year, and whether the qualified full-time employee is a resident of a targeted employment area, as defined in former Section 7072 of the Government Code, as in effect on December 31, 2013.

(3) The qualified taxpayer shall provide the Franchise Tax Board an annual certification of employment with respect to each qualified full-time employee hire in a previous taxable year, on or before the 15th day of the third month of the taxable year. The certification shall include necessary information, as determined by the Franchise Tax Board, including the name, social security number, start date of employment, and rate of pay for each qualified full-time employee employed by the qualified taxpayer.

(4) (A) A qualified taxpayer, as defined under clause (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (14) of subdivision (b), shall, upon request, provide to the Franchise Tax Board the applicable verification specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (14) of subdivision (b).

(B) The verification shall be provided in the form and manner prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board.

(C) Any disallowance of a credit claimed due to a failure to provide verification under this paragraph shall be treated as a mathematical error appearing on the return. Any amount of tax resulting from such disallowance may be assessed by the Franchise Tax Board in the same manner as provided by Section 19051.

(5) A tentative credit reservation provided to a taxpayer with respect to an employee of that taxpayer shall not constitute a determination by the Franchise Tax Board with respect to any of the requirements of this section regarding a taxpayer’s eligibility for the credit authorized by this section.

(f) The Franchise Tax Board shall do all of the following:

(1) Approve a tentative credit reservation with respect to a qualified full-time employee hired during a calendar year.

(2) Determine the aggregate tentative reservation amount and the aggregate small business tentative reservation amount for a calendar year.

(3) A tentative credit reservation request from a qualified taxpayer with respect to a qualified full-time employee who is a resident of a targeted employment area, as defined in former Section 7072 of the Government Code, as in effect on December 31, 2013, shall be expeditiously processed by the Franchise Tax Board. The residence of a qualified full-time employee in a targeted employment area shall have no other effect on the eligibility of an individual as a qualified full-time employee or the eligibility of a qualified taxpayer for the credit authorized by this section.

(4) Notwithstanding Section 19542, provide as a searchable database on its internet website, for each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2014, and before January 1, 2026, the employer names, amounts of tax credit claimed, and number of new jobs created for each taxable year pursuant to this section and Section 17053.73.

(g) (1) The Department of Finance shall, by January 1, 2014, and by January 1 of every fifth year thereafter, provide the Franchise Tax Board with a list of the designated census tracts and a list of census tracts with the lowest civilian unemployment rate.

(2) The redesignation of designated census tracts and lowest civilian unemployment census tracts by the Department of Finance as provided in Section 13073.5 of the Government Code shall be effective, for purposes of this credit, one year after the date that the Department of Finance redesignates the designated census tracts.

(h) (1) For purposes of this section:

(A) All employees of the trades or businesses that are treated as related under Section 267, 318, or 707 of the Internal Revenue Code shall be treated as employed by a single qualified taxpayer.

(B) All employees of all corporations that are members of the same controlled group of corporations shall be treated as employed by a single qualified taxpayer.

(C) The credit, if any, allowable by this section to each member shall be determined by reference to its proportionate share of the expense of the qualified wages giving rise to the credit, and shall be allocated in that manner.

(D) If a qualified taxpayer acquires the major portion of a trade or business of another taxpayer, hereinafter in this paragraph referred to as the predecessor, or the major portion of a separate unit of a trade or business of a predecessor, then, for purposes of applying this section for any taxable year ending after that acquisition, the employment relationship between a qualified full-time employee and a qualified taxpayer shall not be treated as terminated if the employee continues to be employed in that trade or business.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “controlled group of corporations” means a controlled group of corporations as defined in Section 1563(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, except that:

(A) “More than 50 percent” shall be substituted for “at least 80 percent” each place it appears in Section 1563(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(B) The determination shall be made without regard to subsections (a)(4) and (e)(3)(C) of Section 1563 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(3) Rules similar to the rules provided in Sections 46(e) and 46(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, as in effect on November 4, 1990, shall apply to both of the following:

(A) An organization to which Section 593 of the Internal Revenue Code applies.

(B) A regulated investment company or a real estate investment trust subject to taxation under this part.

(i) (1) If the employment of any qualified full-time employee, with respect to whom qualified wages are taken into account under subdivision (a), is terminated by the qualified taxpayer at any time during the first 36 months after commencing employment with the qualified taxpayer, whether or not consecutive, the tax imposed by this part for the taxable year in which that employment is terminated shall be increased by an amount equal to the credit allowed under subdivision (a) for that taxable year and all prior taxable years attributable to qualified wages paid or incurred with respect to that employee.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any of the following:

(A) A termination of employment of a qualified full-time employee who voluntarily leaves the employment of the qualified taxpayer.

(B) A termination of employment of a qualified full-time employee who, before the close of the period referred to in paragraph (1), becomes disabled and unable to perform the services of that employment, unless that disability is removed before the close of that period and the qualified taxpayer fails to offer reemployment to that employee.

(C) A termination of employment of a qualified full-time employee, if it is determined that the termination was due to the misconduct, as defined in Sections 1256-30 to 1256-43, inclusive, of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, of that employee.

(D) A termination of employment of a qualified full-time employee due to a substantial reduction in the trade or business operations of the qualified taxpayer, including reductions due to seasonal employment.

(E) A termination of employment of a qualified full-time employee, if that employee is replaced by other qualified full-time employees so as to create a net increase in both the number of employees and the hours of employment.

(F) A termination of employment of a qualified full-time employee, when that employment is considered seasonal employment and the qualified employee is rehired on a seasonal basis.

(3) For purposes of paragraph (1), the employment relationship between the qualified taxpayer and a qualified full-time employee shall not be treated as terminated by reason of a mere change in the form of conducting the trade or business of the qualified taxpayer, if the qualified full-time employee continues to be employed in that trade or business and the qualified taxpayer retains a substantial interest in that trade or business.

(4) An increase in tax under paragraph (1) shall not be treated as tax imposed by this part for purposes of determining the amount of any credit allowable under this part.

(j) In the case where the credit allowed by this section exceeds the “tax,” the excess may be carried over to reduce the “tax” in the following year, and the succeeding four years if necessary, until exhausted.

(k) The Franchise Tax Board may prescribe rules, guidelines, or procedures necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section, including any guidelines regarding the allocation of the credit allowed under this section. Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code shall not apply to any rule, guideline, or procedure prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board pursuant to this section.

(l) (1) Upon the effective date of this section, the Department of Finance shall estimate the total dollar amount of credits that will be claimed under this section with respect to each fiscal year from the 2013–14 fiscal year to the 2020–21 fiscal year, inclusive.

(2) (A) The Franchise Tax Board shall annually provide to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, by no later than March 1, a report of the total dollar amount of the credits claimed under this section with respect to the relevant fiscal year. The report shall compare the total dollar amount of credits claimed under this section with respect to that fiscal year with the department’s estimate with respect to that same fiscal year. If the total dollar amount of credits claimed for the fiscal year is less than the estimate for that fiscal year, the report shall identify options for increasing annual claims of the credit so as to meet estimated amounts.

(B) Beginning March 1, 2025, the report required by this paragraph shall include information relating to the total dollar amount of the credits claimed under this section by taxpayers described in clause (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (14) of subdivision (b).

(m) (1) This section shall remain in effect only until December 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), this section shall continue to be operative for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, but only with respect to qualified full-time employees who commenced employment with a qualified taxpayer in a designated census tract or economic development area in a taxable year beginning before January 1, 2026.

(3) This section shall remain operative for any qualified taxpayer with respect to any qualified full-time employee after the designated census tract is no longer designated or an economic development area ceases to be an economic development area, as defined in this section, for the remaining period, if any, of the 60-month period after the original date of hiring of an otherwise qualified full-time employee and any wages paid or incurred with respect to those qualified full-time employees after the designated census tract is no longer designated or an economic development area ceases to be an economic development area, as defined in this section, shall be treated as qualified wages under this section, provided the employee satisfies any other requirements of paragraphs (13) and (15) of subdivision (b), as if the designated census tract was still designated and binding or the economic development area was still in existence.

(n) The amendments made to this section by the act adding this subdivision shall be operative for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 55, Sec. 12. (SB 131) Effective July 10, 2023. Repealed as of December 1, 2029, with remaining operation, as prescribed in subdivision (m).)


text:
(a) (1) For each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2021, and before January 1, 2022, there shall be allowed a small business hiring credit against the “tax,” as defined in Section 23036, to a qualified small business employer that receives a tentative credit reservation under Section 6902.10, in an amount calculated pursuant to paragraph (2).

(2) The amount of credit determined by this subdivision shall be equal to the amount calculated pursuant to subparagraph (A) minus the amount calculated pursuant to subparagraph (B).

(A) One thousand dollars ($1,000) for each net increase in qualified employees, as specified in subdivision (c), not to exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000).

(B) If the qualified small business employer received a tentative credit reservation amount pursuant to Section 6902.8, either of the following applies:

(i) For a qualified small business employer that made an irrevocable election pursuant to Section 6902.8 to apply the credit against qualified sales and use taxes pursuant to Section 6902.7, the credit amounts allocated to the qualified small business employer pursuant to Sections 6902.7 and 6902.8.

(ii) For a qualified small business employer that elected to apply the credit under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) or Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001), or both, the tentative credit reservation amount received by the qualified small business employer pursuant to Section 6902.8.

(b) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Monthly full-time equivalent” means either of the following:

(A) In the case of a qualified employee paid hourly qualified wages, “monthly full-time equivalent” means the total number of hours employed per month for the qualified small business employer by the qualified employee, not to exceed 167 hours per month per qualified employee, divided by 167.

(B) In the case of a salaried qualified employee, “monthly full-time equivalent” means the total number of weeks employed per month for the qualified small business employer by the qualified employee divided by 4.33 multiplied by the time base the qualified employee was employed.

(2) (A) “Qualified employee” means an employee who is paid qualified wages by a qualified small business employer.

(B) “Qualified employee” shall not include an employee whose qualified wages are included in calculating any other credit allowed under this part, except for the credit allowed under Section 23627.

(3) (A) “Qualified small business employer” means a taxpayer that as of December 31, 2020, employed a total of 500 or fewer qualified employees and meets either of the following requirements:

(i) Has a decrease of 20 percent or more in gross receipts determined by comparing gross receipts beginning on January 1, 2020, and ending on December 31, 2020, to the gross receipts beginning on January 1, 2019, and ending on December 31, 2019.

(ii) Is a fiscal year filer that has a decrease of 20 percent or more in gross receipts determined by comparing either of the following:

(I) The gross receipts for fiscal year 2019–20 to the gross receipts from fiscal year 2018–19.

(II) The average of gross receipts for fiscal year 2019–20 and fiscal year 2020–21 to the gross receipts from fiscal year 2018–19.

(iii) For a taxpayer that first commences business after January 1, 2019, but on or before January 1, 2020, has a decrease of 20 percent or more in gross receipts in the second quarter of 2020 determined by comparing gross receipts from January 1, 2020, through February 28, 2020, multiplied by 1.5 to the gross receipts for the period beginning on April 1, 2020, and ending on June 30, 2020.

(B) “Qualified small business employer” does not include a taxpayer required to be included in a combined report under Section 25101 or 25110 or authorized to be included in a combined report under Section 25101.15.

(4) “Qualified wages” means wages subject to withholding under Division 6 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Unemployment Insurance Code.

(5) “Time base” means the fraction of full-time employment that the qualified employee is employed.

(6) “Weeks employed” means the total number of calendar days that a qualified employee was employed by the qualified small business employer during the month, divided by seven, not to exceed 4.33.

(c) The net increase in qualified employees of a qualified small business employer shall be equal to the amount calculated pursuant to paragraph (2) minus the amount calculated pursuant to paragraph (1).

(1) The average monthly full-time equivalent qualified employees employed during the three-month period beginning on April 1, 2020, and ending on June 30, 2020, by the qualified small business employer. The average monthly full-time equivalent qualified employees is determined by adding the total monthly full-time equivalent qualified employees employed by the qualified small business employer for all three months and dividing the total by three.

(2) The lesser of either of the following:

(A) The average monthly full-time equivalent qualified employees employed during the 12-month period beginning on July 1, 2020, and ending on June 30, 2021, by the qualified small business employer. The average monthly full-time equivalent qualified employees is determined by adding the total monthly full-time equivalent qualified employees employed by the qualified small business employer for all 12 months and dividing the total by 12.

(B) The average monthly full-time equivalent qualified employees employed during the three-month period beginning on April 1, 2021, and ending on June 30, 2021, by the qualified small business employer. The average monthly full-time equivalent qualified employees is determined by adding the total monthly full-time equivalent qualified employees employed by the qualified small business employer for all three months and dividing the total by three.

(d) If the credit allowed by this section exceeds the “tax,” the excess may be carried over to reduce the “tax” in the following year, and succeeding four years if necessary, until the credit is exhausted.

(e) A deduction otherwise allowed under this part for qualified wages shall be reduced by the amount of the credit allowed under this section.

(f) For purposes of this section:

(1) All employees of the trades or businesses that are treated as related under Section 267, 318, or 707 of the Internal Revenue Code shall be treated as employed by a single qualified small business employer.

(2) If a qualified small business employer changes its business form to a different entity type after receiving a tentative credit reservation under Section 6902.10 and continues operation, the new entity shall be allowed the credit, and the determination of the amount of the credit under this section with respect to qualified wages paid or incurred by the qualified small business employer shall apply to the new entity as if those qualified wages were paid or incurred by the new entity.

(g) Notwithstanding Section 23803, an “S” corporation that makes the election under Section 6902.10 shall be allowed to apply the full credit amount against qualified sales and use tax, and no amount of credit shall be allowed to reduce the shareholder’s liability under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001).

(h) A disallowance of a credit claimed due to the application of the limitation specified in Section 6902.10 shall be treated as a mathematical error appearing on the return. An amount of tax resulting from that disallowance may be assessed by the Franchise Tax Board in the same manner as provided by Section 19051.

(i) (1) The Franchise Tax Board may prescribe any regulations necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section.

(2) The Franchise Tax Board may adopt rules, guidelines, procedures, or other guidance to carry out the purposes of this section. Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code shall not apply to any regulation, rule, guideline, procedure, or other guidance adopted by the Franchise Tax Board pursuant to this section.

(j) Notwithstanding Section 19542, the Franchise Tax Board may provide to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, only to the extent allowed under federal law, information related to the credit allowed by Section 6902.9, this section, and Section 17053.71, including, but not limited to, the qualified small business employer names, amounts of tax credits allowed under each section, amount of gross receipts, and the net increase in qualified employees.

(k) The amendments made to this section by Chapter 55 of the Statutes of 2022 shall apply for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2021, and before January 1, 2022.

(l) This section shall remain in effect only until December 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 131, Sec. 211. (AB 1754) Effective January 1, 2024. Repealed as of December 1, 2026, by its own provisions.)