SECOND REGULAR SESSION
[PERFECTED]
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Reported from the Special Committee on Job Creation and Economic Development February 20, 2008 with recommendation that House Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 2058 Do Pass. Referred to the Committee on Rules pursuant to Rule 25(21)(f).
Reported from the Committee on Rules February 27, 2008 with recommendation that House Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 2058 Do Pass with no time limit for debate.
Taken up for Perfection April 14, 2008. House Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 2058 ordered Perfected and printed, as amended.
D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal sections 32.105, 67.1501, 67.1545, 135.967, 137.115, 137.1018, 447.708, 620.495, 620.1878, and 620.1881, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof fourteen new sections relating to tax incentives for business development, with an emergency clause for a certain section.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 32.105, 67.1501, 67.1545, 135.967, 137.115, 137.1018, 447.708, 620.495, 620.1878, and 620.1881, RSMo, are repealed and fourteen new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 32.105, 67.1501, 67.1545, 135.682, 135.967, 137.115, 137.1018, 144.057, 348.273, 348.274, 447.708, 620.495, 620.1878, and 620.1881, to read as follows:
32.105. As used in sections 32.100 to 32.125, the following terms mean:
(1) "Affordable housing assistance activities", money, real or personal property, or professional services expended or devoted to the construction, or rehabilitation of affordable housing units;
(2) "Affordable housing unit", a residential unit generally occupied by persons and families with incomes at or below the levels described in this subdivision and bearing a cost to the occupant no greater than thirty percent of the maximum eligible household income for the affordable housing unit. In the case of owner-occupied units, the cost to the occupant shall be considered the amount of the gross monthly mortgage payment, including casualty insurance, mortgage insurance, and taxes. In the case of rental units, the cost to the occupant shall be considered the amount of the gross rent. The cost to the occupant shall include the cost of any utilities, other than telephone. If any utilities are paid directly by the occupant, the maximum cost that may be paid by the occupant is to be reduced by a utility allowance prescribed by the commission. Persons or families are eligible occupants of affordable housing units if the household combined, adjusted gross income as defined by the commission is equal to or less than the following percentages of the median family income for the geographic area in which the residential unit is located, or the median family income for the state of Missouri, whichever is larger; ("geographic area" means the metropolitan area or county designated as an area by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, for purposes of determining fair market rental rates):
Percent of State or
Geographic Area Family
Size of Household Median Income
One Person 5%
Two Persons 40%
Three Persons 45%
Four Persons 50%
Five Persons 54%
Six Persons 58%
Seven Persons 62%
Eight Persons 66%
(3) "Business firm", person, firm, a partner in a firm, corporation or a shareholder in an S corporation doing business in the state of Missouri and subject to the state income tax imposed by the provisions of chapter 143, RSMo, including any charitable organization that is exempt from federal income tax and whose Missouri unrelated business taxable income, if any, would be subject to the state income tax imposed under such chapter, or a corporation subject to the annual corporation franchise tax imposed by the provisions of chapter 147, RSMo, or an insurance company paying an annual tax on its gross premium receipts in this state, or other financial institution paying taxes to the state of Missouri or any political subdivision of this state pursuant to the provisions of chapter 148, RSMo, or an express company which pays an annual tax on its gross receipts in this state;
(4) "Commission", the Missouri housing development commission;
(5) "Community services", any type of counseling and advice, emergency assistance or medical care furnished to individuals or groups in the state of Missouri or transportation services at below-cost rates as provided in sections 208.250 to 208.275, RSMo;
(6) "Crime prevention", any activity which aids in the reduction of crime in the state of Missouri;
(7) "Defense industry contractor", a person, corporation or other entity which will be or has been negatively impacted as a result of its status as a prime contractor of the Department of Defense or as a second or third tier contractor. A "second tier contractor" means a person, corporation or other entity which contracts to perform manufacturing, maintenance or repair services for a prime contractor of the Department of Defense, and a "third tier contractor" means a person, corporation or other entity which contracts with a person, corporation or other entity which contracts with a prime contractor of the Department of Defense;
(8) "Doing business", among other methods of doing business in the state of Missouri, a partner in a firm or a shareholder in an S corporation shall be deemed to be doing business in the state of Missouri if such firm or S corporation, as the case may be, is doing business in the state of Missouri;
(9) "Economic development", the acquisition, renovation, improvement, or the furnishing or equipping of existing buildings and real estate in distressed or blighted areas of the state when such acquisition, renovation, improvement, or the furnishing or equipping of the business development projects will result in the creation or retention of jobs within the state; or, until June 30, 1996, a defense conversion pilot project located in a standard metropolitan statistical area which contains a city with a population of at least three hundred fifty thousand inhabitants, which will assist Missouri-based defense industry contractors in their conversion from predominately defense-related contracting to nondefense-oriented manufacturing. Only neighborhood organizations, as defined in subdivision (13) of this section, may apply to conduct economic development projects. Prior to the approval of an economic development project, the neighborhood organization shall enter into a contractual agreement with the department of economic development. Credits approved for economic development projects may not exceed [four] six million dollars from within any one fiscal year's allocation[, except that for fiscal years 2005, 2006, and 2007 credits approved for economic development projects shall not exceed six million dollars]. Neighborhood assistance program tax credits for economic development projects and affordable housing assistance as defined in section 32.111 may be transferred, sold or assigned by a notarized endorsement thereof naming the transferee;
(10) "Education", any type of scholastic instruction or scholarship assistance to an individual who resides in the state of Missouri that enables the individual to prepare himself or herself for better opportunities or community awareness activities rendered by a statewide organization established for the purpose of archeological education and preservation;
(11) "Homeless assistance pilot project", the program established pursuant to section 32.117;
(12) "Job training", any type of instruction to an individual who resides in the state of Missouri that enables the individual to acquire vocational skills so that the individual can become employable or be able to seek a higher grade of employment;
(13) "Neighborhood organization", any organization performing community services or economic development activities in the state of Missouri and:
(a) Holding a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury that the organization is exempt from income taxation pursuant to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code; or
(b) Incorporated in the state of Missouri as a not-for-profit corporation pursuant to the provisions of chapter 355, RSMo; or
(c) Designated as a community development corporation by the United States government pursuant to the provisions of Title VII of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964;
(14) "Physical revitalization", furnishing financial assistance, labor, material, or technical advice to aid in the physical improvement or rehabilitation of any part or all of a neighborhood area;
(15) "S corporation", a corporation described in Section 1361(a)(1) of the United States Internal Revenue Code and not subject to the taxes imposed by section 143.071, RSMo, by reason of section 143.471, RSMo;
(16) "Workfare renovation project", any project initiated pursuant to sections 215.340 to 215.355, RSMo.
67.1501. 1. A district may use any one or more of the assessments, taxes, or other funding methods specifically authorized pursuant to sections 67.1401 to 67.1571 to provide funds to accomplish any power, duty or purpose of the district[; provided, however, no district which is located in any city not within a county and which includes any real property that is also included in a special business district established pursuant to sections 71.790 to 71.808, RSMo, prior to the establishment of the district pursuant to sections 67.1401 to 67.1571 shall have the authority to impose any such tax or assessment pursuant to sections 67.1401 to 67.1571 until such time as all taxes or special assessments imposed pursuant to sections 71.790 to 71.808, RSMo, on any real property or on any business located in such special business district or on any business or individual doing business in such special business district have been repealed in accordance with this subsection. The governing body of a special business district which includes real property located in a district established pursuant to sections 67.1401 to 67.1571 shall have the power to repeal all taxes and assessments imposed pursuant to sections 71.790 to 71.808, RSMo, and such power may be exercised by the adoption of a resolution by the governing body of such special business district. Upon the adoption of such resolution such special business district shall no longer have the power to impose any tax or special assessment pursuant to sections 71.790 to 71.808, RSMo, until such time as the district or districts established pursuant to sections 67.1401 to 67.1571 which include any real property that is also included in such special business district have been terminated or have expired pursuant to sections 67.1401 to 67.1571].
2. A district may establish different classes of real property within the district for purposes of special assessments. The levy rate for special assessments may vary for each class or subclass based on the level of benefit derived from services or improvements funded, provided or caused to be provided by the district.
3. Notwithstanding anything in sections 67.1401 to 67.1571 to the contrary, any district which is not a political subdivision shall have no power to levy any tax but shall have the power to levy special assessments in accordance with section 67.1521.
67.1545. 1. Any district formed as a political subdivision may impose by resolution a district sales and use tax on all retail sales made in such district which are subject to taxation pursuant to sections 144.010 to 144.525, RSMo, except sales of motor vehicles, trailers, boats or outboard motors and sales to or by public utilities and providers of communications, cable, or video services. Any sales and use tax imposed pursuant to this section may be imposed in increments of one-eighth of one percent, up to a maximum of one percent. Such district sales and use tax may be imposed for any district purpose designated by the district in its ballot of submission to its qualified voters; except that, no resolution adopted pursuant to this section shall become effective unless the board of directors of the district submits to the qualified voters of the district, by mail-in ballot, a proposal to authorize a sales and use tax pursuant to this section. If a majority of the votes cast by the qualified voters on the proposed sales tax are in favor of the sales tax, then the resolution is adopted. If a majority of the votes cast by the qualified voters are opposed to the sales tax, then the resolution is void.
2. The ballot shall be substantially in the following form:
Shall the ........................ (insert name of district) Community Improvement District impose a community improvement districtwide sales and use tax at the maximum rate of ............... (insert amount) for a period of ................ (insert number) years from the date on which such tax is first imposed for the purpose of providing revenue for ................................................ (insert general description of the purpose)?
□ YES □ NO
If you are in favor of the question, place an "X" in the box opposite "YES". If you are opposed to the question, place an "X" in the box opposite "NO".
3. Within ten days after the qualified voters have approved the imposition of the sales and use tax, the district shall, in accordance with section 32.087, RSMo, notify the director of the department of revenue. The sales and use tax authorized by this section shall become effective on the first day of the second calendar quarter after the director of the department of revenue receives notice of the adoption of such tax.
4. The director of the department of revenue shall collect any tax adopted pursuant to this section pursuant to section 32.087, RSMo.
5. In each district in which a sales and use tax is imposed pursuant to this section, every retailer shall add such additional tax imposed by the district to such retailer's sale price, and when so added such tax shall constitute a part of the purchase price, shall be a debt of the purchaser to the retailer until paid and shall be recoverable at law in the same manner as the purchase price.
6. In order to allow retailers to collect and report the sales and use tax authorized by this section as well as all other sales and use taxes required by law in the simplest and most efficient manner possible, a district may establish appropriate brackets to be used in the district imposing a tax pursuant to this section in lieu of the brackets provided in section 144.285, RSMo.
7. The penalties provided in sections 144.010 to 144.525, RSMo, shall apply to violations of this section.
8. All revenue received by the district from a sales and use tax imposed pursuant to this section which is designated for a specific purpose shall be deposited into a special trust fund and expended solely for such purpose. Upon the expiration of any sales and use tax adopted pursuant to this section, all funds remaining in the special trust fund shall continue to be used solely for the specific purpose designated in the resolution adopted by the qualified voters. Any funds in such special trust fund which are not needed for current expenditures may be invested by the board of directors pursuant to applicable laws relating to the investment of other district funds.
9. A district may repeal by resolution any sales and use tax imposed pursuant to this section before the expiration date of such sales and use tax unless the repeal of such sales and use tax will impair the district's ability to repay any liabilities the district has incurred, moneys the district has borrowed or obligation the district has issued to finance any improvements or services rendered for the district.
10. Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 115, RSMo, an election for a district sales and use tax under this section shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this section.
135.682. 1. The director of the department of economic development or the director's designee shall issue letter rulings regarding the tax credit program authorized under section 135.680, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this section. The director of the department of economic development may impose additional terms and conditions consistent with this section to requests for letter rulings by regulation promulgated under chapter 536, RSMo. For the purposes of this section, the term "letter ruling" means a written interpretation of law to a specific set of facts provided by the applicant requesting a letter ruling.
2. The director or director's designee shall respond to a request for a letter ruling within sixty days of receipt of such request. The applicant may provide a draft letter ruling for the department's consideration. The applicant may withdraw the request for a letter ruling, in writing, prior to the issuance of the letter ruling. The director or the director's designee may refuse to issue a letter ruling for good cause, but must list the specific reasons for refusing to issue the letter ruling. Good cause includes, but is not limited to:
(1) The applicant requests the director to determine whether a statute is constitutional or a regulation is lawful;
(2) The request involves a hypothetical situation or alternative plans;
(3) The facts or issues presented in the request are unclear, overbroad, insufficient, or otherwise inappropriate as a basis upon which to issue a letter ruling; and
(4) The issue is currently being considered in a rulemaking procedure, contested case, or other agency or judicial proceeding that may definitely resolve the issue.
3. Letter rulings shall bind the director and the director's agents and their successors until such time as the taxpayer or its shareholders, members, or partners, as applicable, claim all of such tax credits on a Missouri tax return, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in properly published regulations. The letter ruling shall apply only to the applicant.
4. Letter rulings issued under the authority of this section shall not be a rule as defined in section 536.010, RSMo, in that it is an interpretation issued by the department with respect to a specific set of facts and intended to apply only to that specific set of facts, and therefore shall not be subject to the rulemaking requirements of chapter 536, RSMo.
5. Information in letter ruling requests as described in section 620.014, RSMo, shall be closed to the public. Copies of letter rulings shall be available to the public provided that the applicant identifying information and otherwise protected information is redacted from the letter ruling as provided in subsection 1 of section 610.024, RSMo.
135.967. 1. A taxpayer who establishes a new business facility may, upon approval by the department, be allowed a credit, each tax year for up to ten tax years, in an amount determined as set forth in this section, against the tax imposed by chapter 143, RSMo, excluding withholding tax imposed by sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo. No taxpayer shall receive multiple ten-year periods for subsequent expansions at the same facility.
2. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any taxpayer who establishes a new business facility in an enhanced enterprise zone and is awarded state tax credits under this section may not also receive tax credits under sections 135.100 to 135.150, sections 135.200 to 135.268, or section 135.535.
3. No credit shall be issued pursuant to this section unless:
(1) The number of new business facility employees engaged or maintained in employment at the new business facility for the taxable year for which the credit is claimed equals or exceeds two; and
(2) The new business facility investment for the taxable year for which the credit is claimed equals or exceeds one hundred thousand dollars.
4. The annual amount of credits allowed for an approved enhanced business enterprise shall be the lesser of:
(1) The annual amount authorized by the department for the enhanced business enterprise, which shall be limited to the projected state economic benefit, as determined by the department; or
(2) The sum calculated based upon the following:
(a) A credit of four hundred dollars for each new business facility employee employed within an enhanced enterprise zone;
(b) An additional credit of four hundred dollars for each new business facility employee who is a resident of an enhanced enterprise zone;
(c) An additional credit of four hundred dollars for each new business facility employee who is paid by the enhanced business enterprise a wage that exceeds the average wage paid within the county in which the facility is located, as determined by the department; and
(d) A credit equal to two percent of new business facility investment within an enhanced enterprise zone.
5. Prior to January 1, 2007, in no event shall the department authorize more than four million dollars annually to be issued for all enhanced business enterprises. After December 31, 2006, in no event shall the department authorize more than [fourteen] twenty-four million dollars annually to be issued for all enhanced business enterprises.
6. If a facility, which does not constitute a new business facility, is expanded by the taxpayer, the expansion shall be considered eligible for the credit allowed by this section if:
(1) The taxpayer's new business facility investment in the expansion during the tax period in which the credits allowed in this section are claimed exceeds one hundred thousand dollars and if the number of new business facility employees engaged or maintained in employment at the expansion facility for the taxable year for which credit is claimed equals or exceeds two, and the total number of employees at the facility after the expansion is at least two greater than the total number of employees before the expansion; and
(2) The taxpayer's investment in the expansion and in the original facility prior to expansion shall be determined in the manner provided in subdivision (14) of section 135.950.
7. The number of new business facility employees during any taxable year shall be determined by dividing by twelve the sum of the number of individuals employed on the last business day of each month of such taxable year. If the new business facility is in operation for less than the entire taxable year, the number of new business facility employees shall be determined by dividing the sum of the number of individuals employed on the last business day of each full calendar month during the portion of such taxable year during which the new business facility was in operation by the number of full calendar months during such period. For the purpose of computing the credit allowed by this section in the case of a facility which qualifies as a new business facility under subsection 6 of this section, and in the case of a new business facility which satisfies the requirements of paragraph (c) of subdivision (14) of section 135.950, or subdivision (22) of section 135.950, the number of new business facility employees at such facility shall be reduced by the average number of individuals employed, computed as provided in this subsection, at the facility during the taxable year immediately preceding the taxable year in which such expansion, acquisition, or replacement occurred and shall further be reduced by the number of individuals employed by the taxpayer or related taxpayer that was subsequently transferred to the new business facility from another Missouri facility and for which credits authorized in this section are not being earned, whether such credits are earned because of an expansion, acquisition, relocation, or the establishment of a new facility.
8. In the case where a new business facility employee who is a resident of an enhanced enterprise zone for less than a twelve-month period is employed for less than a twelve-month period, the credits allowed by paragraph (b) of subdivision (2) of subsection 4 of this section shall be determined by multiplying four hundred dollars by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of calendar days during the taxpayer's tax year for which such credits are claimed, in which the employee was a resident of an enhanced enterprise zone, and the denominator of which is three hundred sixty-five.
9. For the purpose of computing the credit allowed by this section in the case of a facility which qualifies as a new business facility pursuant to subsection 6 of this section, and in the case of a new business facility which satisfies the requirements of paragraph (c) of subdivision (14) of section 135.950 or subdivision (22) of section 135.950, the amount of the taxpayer's new business facility investment in such facility shall be reduced by the average amount, computed as provided in subdivision (14) of section 135.950 for new business facility investment, of the investment of the taxpayer, or related taxpayer immediately preceding such expansion or replacement or at the time of acquisition. Furthermore, the amount of the taxpayer's new business facility investment shall also be reduced by the amount of investment employed by the taxpayer or related taxpayer which was subsequently transferred to the new business facility from another Missouri facility and for which credits authorized in this section are not being earned, whether such credits are earned because of an expansion, acquisition, relocation, or the establishment of a new facility.
10. For a taxpayer with flow-through tax treatment to its members, partners, or shareholders, the credit shall be allowed to members, partners, or shareholders in proportion to their share of ownership on the last day of the taxpayer's tax period.
11. Credits may not be carried forward but shall be claimed for the taxable year during which commencement of commercial operations occurs at such new business facility, and for each of the nine succeeding taxable years for which the credit is issued.
12. Certificates of tax credit authorized by this section may be transferred, sold, or assigned by filing a notarized endorsement thereof with the department that names the transferee, the amount of tax credit transferred, and the value received for the credit, as well as any other information reasonably requested by the department. The sale price cannot be less than seventy-five percent of the par value of such credits.
13. The director of revenue shall issue a refund to the taxpayer to the extent that the amount of credits allowed in this section exceeds the amount of the taxpayer's income tax.
14. Prior to the issuance of tax credits, the department shall verify through the department of revenue, or any other state department, that the tax credit applicant does not owe any delinquent income, sales, or use tax or interest or penalties on such taxes, or any delinquent fees or assessments levied by any state department and through the department of insurance that the applicant does not owe any delinquent insurance taxes. Such delinquency shall not affect the authorization of the application for such tax credits, except that the amount of credits issued shall be reduced by the applicant's tax delinquency. If the department of revenue or the department of insurance, or any other state department, concludes that a taxpayer is delinquent after June fifteenth but before July first of any year and the application of tax credits to such delinquency causes a tax deficiency on behalf of the taxpayer to arise, then the taxpayer shall be granted thirty days to satisfy the deficiency in which interest, penalties, and additions to tax shall be tolled. After applying all available credits toward a tax delinquency, the administering agency shall notify the appropriate department, and that department shall update the amount of outstanding delinquent tax owed by the applicant. If any credits remain after satisfying all insurance, income, sales, and use tax delinquencies, the remaining credits shall be issued to the applicant, subject to the restrictions of other provisions of law.
137.115. 1. All other laws to the contrary notwithstanding, the assessor or the assessor's deputies in all counties of this state including the city of St. Louis shall annually make a list of all real and tangible personal property taxable in the assessor's city, county, town or district. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3 of this section and section 137.078, the assessor shall annually assess all personal property at thirty-three and one-third percent of its true value in money as of January first of each calendar year. The assessor shall annually assess all real property, including any new construction and improvements to real property, and possessor interests in real property at the percent of its true value in money set in subsection 5 of this section. The true value in money of any possessor interest in real property in subclass (3), where such real property is on or lies within the ultimate airport boundary as shown by a federal airport layout plan, as defined by 14 CFR 151.5 of a commercial airport having a FAR Part 139 certification and owned by a political subdivision, shall be the otherwise applicable true value in money of any such possessor interest in real property, less the total dollar amount of costs paid by a party, other than the political subdivision, towards any new construction or improvements on such real property completed after January 1, 2008, and which are included in the above-mentioned possessor interest, regardless of the year in which such costs were incurred or whether such costs were considered in any prior year. The assessor shall annually assess all real property in the following manner: new assessed values shall be determined as of January first of each odd-numbered year and shall be entered in the assessor's books; those same assessed values shall apply in the following even-numbered year, except for new construction and property improvements which shall be valued as though they had been completed as of January first of the preceding odd-numbered year. The assessor may call at the office, place of doing business, or residence of each person required by this chapter to list property, and require the person to make a correct statement of all taxable tangible personal property owned by the person or under his or her care, charge or management, taxable in the county. On or before January first of each even-numbered year, the assessor shall prepare and submit a two-year assessment maintenance plan to the county governing body and the state tax commission for their respective approval or modification. The county governing body shall approve and forward such plan or its alternative to the plan to the state tax commission by February first. If the county governing body fails to forward the plan or its alternative to the plan to the state tax commission by February first, the assessor's plan shall be considered approved by the county governing body. If the state tax commission fails to approve a plan and if the state tax commission and the assessor and the governing body of the county involved are unable to resolve the differences, in order to receive state cost-share funds outlined in section 137.750, the county or the assessor shall petition the administrative hearing commission, by May first, to decide all matters in dispute regarding the assessment maintenance plan. Upon agreement of the parties, the matter may be stayed while the parties proceed with mediation or arbitration upon terms agreed to by the parties. The final decision of the administrative hearing commission shall be subject to judicial review in the circuit court of the county involved. In the event a valuation of subclass (1) real property within any county with a charter form of government, or within a city not within a county, is made by a computer, computer-assisted method or a computer program, the burden of proof, supported by clear, convincing and cogent evidence to sustain such valuation, shall be on the assessor at any hearing or appeal. In any such county, unless the assessor proves otherwise, there shall be a presumption that the assessment was made by a computer, computer-assisted method or a computer program. Such evidence shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
(1) The findings of the assessor based on an appraisal of the property by generally accepted appraisal techniques; and
(2) The purchase prices from sales of at least three comparable properties and the address or location thereof. As used in this [paragraph] subdivision, the word "comparable" means that:
(a) Such sale was closed at a date relevant to the property valuation; and
(b) Such properties are not more than one mile from the site of the disputed property, except where no similar properties exist within one mile of the disputed property, the nearest comparable property shall be used. Such property shall be within five hundred square feet in size of the disputed property, and resemble the disputed property in age, floor plan, number of rooms, and other relevant characteristics.
2. Assessors in each county of this state and the city of St. Louis may send personal property assessment forms through the mail.
3. The following items of personal property shall each constitute separate subclasses of tangible personal property and shall be assessed and valued for the purposes of taxation at the following percentages of their true value in money:
(1) Grain and other agricultural crops in an unmanufactured condition, one-half of one percent;
(2) Livestock, twelve percent;
(3) Farm machinery, twelve percent;
(4) Motor vehicles which are eligible for registration as and are registered as historic motor vehicles pursuant to section 301.131, RSMo, and aircraft which are at least twenty-five years old and which are used solely for noncommercial purposes and are operated less than fifty hours per year or aircraft that are home built from a kit, five percent;
(5) Poultry, twelve percent; and
(6) Tools and equipment used for pollution control and tools and equipment used in retooling for the purpose of introducing new product lines or used for making improvements to existing products by any company which is located in a state enterprise zone and which is identified by any standard industrial classification number cited in subdivision (6) of section 135.200, RSMo, twenty-five percent.
4. The person listing the property shall enter a true and correct statement of the property, in a printed blank prepared for that purpose. The statement, after being filled out, shall be signed and either affirmed or sworn to as provided in section 137.155. The list shall then be delivered to the assessor.
5. All subclasses of real property, as such subclasses are established in section 4(b) of article X of the Missouri Constitution and defined in section 137.016, shall be assessed at the following percentages of true value:
(1) For real property in subclass (1), nineteen percent;
(2) For real property in subclass (2), twelve percent; and
(3) For real property in subclass (3), thirty-two percent.
6. Manufactured homes, as defined in section 700.010, RSMo, which are actually used as dwelling units shall be assessed at the same percentage of true value as residential real property for the purpose of taxation. The percentage of assessment of true value for such manufactured homes shall be the same as for residential real property. If the county collector cannot identify or find the manufactured home when attempting to attach the manufactured home for payment of taxes owed by the manufactured home owner, the county collector may request the county commission to have the manufactured home removed from the tax books, and such request shall be granted within thirty days after the request is made; however, the removal from the tax books does not remove the tax lien on the manufactured home if it is later identified or found. A manufactured home located in a manufactured home rental park, rental community or on real estate not owned by the manufactured home owner shall be considered personal property. A manufactured home located on real estate owned by the manufactured home owner may be considered real property.
7. Each manufactured home assessed shall be considered a parcel for the purpose of reimbursement pursuant to section 137.750, unless the manufactured home has been converted to real property in compliance with section 700.111, RSMo, and assessed as a realty improvement to the existing real estate parcel.
8. Any amount of tax due and owing based on the assessment of a manufactured home shall be included on the personal property tax statement of the manufactured home owner unless the manufactured home has been converted to real property in compliance with section 700.111, RSMo, in which case the amount of tax due and owing on the assessment of the manufactured home as a realty improvement to the existing real estate parcel shall be included on the real property tax statement of the real estate owner.
9. The assessor of each county and each city not within a county shall use the trade-in value published in the October issue of the National Automobile Dealers' Association Official Used Car Guide, or its successor publication, as the recommended guide of information for determining the true value of motor vehicles described in such publication. In the absence of a listing for a particular motor vehicle in such publication, the assessor shall use such information or publications which in the assessor's judgment will fairly estimate the true value in money of the motor vehicle.
10. Before the assessor may increase the assessed valuation of any parcel of subclass (1) real property by more than fifteen percent since the last assessment, excluding increases due to new construction or improvements, the assessor shall conduct a physical inspection of such property.
11. If a physical inspection is required, pursuant to subsection 10 of this section, the assessor shall notify the property owner of that fact in writing and shall provide the owner clear written notice of the owner's rights relating to the physical inspection. If a physical inspection is required, the property owner may request that an interior inspection be performed during the physical inspection. The owner shall have no less than thirty days to notify the assessor of a request for an interior physical inspection.
12. A physical inspection, as required by subsection 10 of this section, shall include, but not be limited to, an on-site personal observation and review of all exterior portions of the land and any buildings and improvements to which the inspector has or may reasonably and lawfully gain external access, and shall include an observation and review of the interior of any buildings or improvements on the property upon the timely request of the owner pursuant to subsection 11 of this section. Mere observation of the property via a "drive-by inspection" or the like shall not be considered sufficient to constitute a physical inspection as required by this section.
13. The provisions of subsections 11 and 12 of this section shall only apply in any county with a charter form of government with more than one million inhabitants.
14. A county or city collector may accept credit cards as proper form of payment of outstanding property tax or license due. No county or city collector may charge surcharge for payment by credit card which exceeds the fee or surcharge charged by the credit card bank, processor, or issuer for its service. A county or city collector may accept payment by electronic transfers of funds in payment of any tax or license and charge the person making such payment a fee equal to the fee charged the county by the bank, processor, or issuer of such electronic payment.
15. Any county or city not within a county in this state may, by an affirmative vote of the governing body of such county, opt out of the provisions of this section and sections 137.073, 138.060, and 138.100, RSMo, as enacted by house bill no. 1150 of the ninety-first general assembly, second regular session and section 137.073 as modified by [this act] house committee substitute for senate substitute for senate committee substitute for senate bill no. 960, ninety-second general assembly, second regular session, for the next year of the general reassessment, prior to January first of any year. No county or city not within a county shall exercise this opt-out provision after implementing the provisions of this section and sections 137.073, 138.060, and 138.100, RSMo, as enacted by house bill no. 1150 of the ninety-first general assembly, second regular session and section 137.073 as modified by [this act] house committee substitute for senate substitute for senate committee substitute for senate bill no. 960, ninety-second general assembly, second regular session, in a year of general reassessment. For the purposes of applying the provisions of this subsection, a political subdivision contained within two or more counties where at least one of such counties has opted out and at least one of such counties has not opted out shall calculate a single tax rate as in effect prior to the enactment of house bill no. 1150 of the ninety-first general assembly, second regular session. A governing body of a city not within a county or a county that has opted out under the provisions of this subsection may choose to implement the provisions of this section and sections 137.073, 138.060, and 138.100, RSMo, as enacted by house bill no. 1150 of the ninety-first general assembly, second regular session, and section 137.073 as modified by [this act] house committee substitute for senate substitute for senate committee substitute for senate bill no. 960, ninety-second general assembly, second regular session, for the next year of general reassessment, by an affirmative vote of the governing body prior to December thirty-first of any year.
16. The governing body of any city of the third classification with more than twenty-six thousand three hundred but fewer than twenty-six thousand seven hundred inhabitants located in any county that has exercised its authority to opt out under subsection 15 of this section may levy separate and differing tax rates for real and personal property only if such city bills and collects its own property taxes or satisfies the entire cost of the billing and collection of such separate and differing tax rates. Such separate and differing rates shall not exceed such city's tax rate ceiling.
137.1018. 1. The commission shall ascertain the statewide average rate of property taxes levied the preceding year, based upon the total assessed valuation of the railroad and street railway companies and the total property taxes levied upon the railroad and street railway companies. It shall determine total property taxes levied from reports prescribed by the commission from the railroad and street railway companies. Total taxes levied shall not include revenues from the surtax on subclass three real property.
2. The commission shall report its determination of average property tax rate for the preceding year, together with the taxable distributable assessed valuation of each freight line company for the current year to the director no later than October first of each year.
3. Taxes on property of such freight line companies shall be collected at the state level by the director on behalf of the counties and other local public taxing entities and shall be distributed in accordance with sections 137.1021 and 137.1024. The director shall tax such property based upon the distributable assessed valuation attributable to Missouri of each freight line company, using the average tax rate for the preceding year of the railroad and street railway companies certified by the commission. Such tax shall be due and payable on or before December thirty-first of the year levied and, if it becomes delinquent, shall be subject to a penalty equal to that specified in section 140.100, RSMo.
4. (1) As used in this subsection, the following terms mean:
(a) "Eligible expenses", expenses incurred in this state to manufacture, maintain, or improve a freight line company's qualified rolling stock;
(b) "Qualified rolling stock", any freight, stock, refrigerator, or other railcars subject to the tax levied under this section.
(2) For all taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2009, a freight line company shall be allowed a credit against the tax levied under this section for the applicable tax year. The tax credit amount shall be equal to the amount of eligible expenses incurred during the calendar year immediately preceding the tax year for which the credit under this section is claimed. The amount of the tax credit issued shall not exceed the freight line company's liability for the tax levied under this section for the tax year for which the credit is claimed.
(3) A freight line company may apply for the credit by submitting to the commission an application in the form prescribed by the state tax commission.
(4) The state shall reimburse, on an annual basis, any political subdivision of this state for any decrease in revenue due to the provisions of this section.
144.057. In addition to the exemptions granted under this chapter, there shall also be specifically exempted from state and local sales and use taxes defined, levied, or calculated under section 32.085, RSMo, sections 144.010 to 144.525, sections 144.600 to 144.761, or section 238.235, RSMo, all tangible personal property included on the United States munitions list, as provided in 22 CFR 121.1, sold to or purchased by any foreign government or agency or instrumentality of such foreign government which is used for a governmental purpose.
348.273. As used in sections 348.273 and 348.274, the following terms shall mean:
(1) "Department", the Missouri department of economic development;
(2) "Distressed community", as defined in section 135.530, RSMo;
(3) "Equity investment", money or money equivalent in consideration for qualified securities. An equity investment shall be deemed to have been made on the date of acquisition of the qualified security, as such date is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code;
(4) "Investor":
(a) An individual who is an accredited investor, as defined in 17 CFR 230.501(a) as in effect on August 28, 2008; or
(b) Any partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, or not-for-profit entity that was established and is operated for the purpose of making preseed and seed stage investments in start-up companies, and is approved by the department;
(5) "Qualified Missouri business", an independently owned and operated business which is headquartered and located in this state and which is in need of venture capital. Such business shall have no more than two hundred employees, eighty percent of which are employed in this state. Such business shall be involved in commerce for the purpose of manufacturing, processing, or assembling products, conducting research and development, or providing services in interstate commerce but excluding retail, real estate, real estate development, insurance, and professional services provided by accountants, lawyers, or physicians. At the time approval is sought, such business shall be a small business concern that meets the requirements of the United States Small Business Administration's qualification size standards for its venture capital program, as defined in the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended, and rules promulgated in 13 CFR 121.301(c), as amended;
(6) "Qualified securities", securities that are not redeemable or repayable within seven years of issuance and that have been approved in form and substance by the department. Forms of such equity securities include:
(a) A general or limited partnership interest;
(b) Common stock;
(c) Preferred stock, with or without voting rights, without regard to seniority position, and whether or not convertible into common stock; or
(d) Convertible debt;
(7) "Rural area", any city, town, or village with fewer than fifteen thousand inhabitants and located in any county that is not part of a standard metropolitan statistical area as defined by the United States Department of Commerce or its successor agency. However, any such city, town, or village located in any county so defined as a standard metropolitan statistical area may be designated a rural area by the office of rural development if:
(a) A substantial number of persons in such county derive their income from agriculture;
(b) The county has only one city within the county having a population of more than fifteen thousand and is classified as a standard metropolitan statistical area; and
(c) All other cities, towns, and villages in that county have a population of less than fifteen thousand.
348.274. 1. The department may authorize tax credits to encourage equity investment into technology-based early stage Missouri companies.
2. If a qualified Missouri business is approved by the department, the investors who contribute the first five hundred thousand dollars in equity investment in the qualified Missouri business may be issued a tax credit in the year the equity investment is made. The tax credit shall be in a total amount equal to thirty percent of such investors' equity investment in any qualified Missouri business, subject to the limitations set forth in subsection 5 of this section. However, if the qualified Missouri business invested in is located in a rural area or a distressed community, the investors may be issued a tax credit for forty percent of such investment, subject to the limitations set forth in subsection 5 of this section.
3. (1) Before an investor may be entitled to receive tax credits, as authorized by this section, such investor shall have made an equity investment in a qualified security of a qualified Missouri business. This business shall have been approved by the department as a qualified Missouri business prior to the date on which the cash investment was made. To be designated as a qualified Missouri business, a business shall make application to department in accordance with the provisions of this section. Such application shall be in form and substance as required by the department but shall include at least the following:
(a) The name of the business and certified copies of the organizational documents of the business;
(b) A business plan, including a description of the business and the management, product, market, and financial plan of the business;
(c) A statement of the business' innovative and proprietary technology, product, or service;
(d) A statement of the potential economic impact of the enterprise including the number, location, and types of jobs expected to be created;
(e) A description of the qualified securities to be issued, the consideration to be paid for the qualified securities, the amount of any tax credits requested, and the earliest year in which the tax credits may be redeemed;
(f) A statement of the amount, timing, and projected use of the proceeds to be raised from the proposed sale of qualified securities; and
(g) Other information as the department may request, such as the names, addresses, and taxpayer identification numbers of all investors who may qualify for the tax credit. Such list of investors who may qualify for the tax credits shall be amended as new qualified securities are sold or as any information on the list changes.
(2) No business shall be designated as a qualified Missouri business unless such business meets all of the following criteria:
(a) The business shall not have had annual gross revenues of more than three million dollars in the most recent tax year of the business;
(b) The business shall not have ownership interests including, but not limited to, common or preferred shares of stock that can be traded by the public via a stock exchange, electronic exchange, bulletin board, or other public market place on or before the date that a qualifying investment is made;
(c) The business shall not be engaged primarily in any one or more of the following enterprises:
a. The business of banking, savings and loan or lending institutions, credit or finance, or financial brokerage or investments;
b. Professional services, such as legal, accounting or engineering services;
c. Governmental, charitable, religious or trade organizations;
d. The ownership, development, brokerage, sales, or leasing of real estate;
e. Insurance;
f. Construction or construction management or contracting;
g. Business consulting or brokerage;
h. Any business engaged primarily as a passive business, having irregular or noncontinuous operations, or deriving substantially all of the income of the business from passive investments that generate interest, dividends, royalties, or capital gains, or any business arrangements the effect of which is to immunize an investor from risk of loss;
i. Any Missouri certified capital formation company;
j. Any activity that is in violation of the law; and
k. Any business raising money primarily to purchase real estate, land, or fixtures;
(d) The business shall satisfy all other requirements of this section.
(3) The portions of documents and other materials submitted to the department that contain trade secrets shall be kept confidential and shall be maintained in a secured environment by the director of the department. For the purposes of this section, such portions of documents and other materials shall mean any customer list, any formula, compound, production data, or compilation of information certain individuals within a commercial concern using such portions of documents and other material means to fabricate, produce, or compound an article of trade, or, any service having commercial value, which gives the user an opportunity to obtain a business advantage over competitors who do not know or use such service.
(4) A qualified Missouri business shall have the burden of proof to demonstrate to the department the qualifications of the business under this section and shall have the obligation to notify the department in a timely manner of any changes in the qualifications of the business or in the eligibility of investors to claim a tax credit for cash investment in a qualified security.
4. The designation of a business as a qualified Missouri business shall be made by the department, and such designation shall be renewed annually. A business shall be so designated if the department determines, based upon the application submitted by the business and any additional investigation the staff of the department shall make, that the following criteria have been or shall be satisfied:
(1) The business has a reasonable chance of success;
(2) The ability of investors in the business to receive tax credits for cash investments in qualified securities of the business is necessary because funding otherwise available for the business is not available on commercially reasonable terms;
(3) The business has the reasonable potential to create measurable employment within the state;
(4) The business has an innovative and proprietary technology, product, and service;
(5) The existing owners of the business and other founders have made or are committed to make a substantial financial and time commitment to the business;
(6) The securities to be issued and purchased are qualified securities; and
(7) Binding commitments have been made by the business to the department for adequate reporting of financial data, including a requirement for an annual report, or, if required by the department, an annual audit of the financial and operational records of the business, the right of access to the financial records of the business, and the right of the department to record and publish normal and customary data and information related to the issuance of tax credits that are not otherwise determined to be trade or business secrets;
5. The department shall not issue tax credits of more than fifty thousand dollars to an investor per investment into a single, qualified Missouri company, or for tax credits totaling more than one hundred thousand dollars in a single year per investor. The total amount of tax credits that may be allowed under this section shall not exceed five million dollars per tax year.
6. This tax credit may be used in its entirety in the taxable year in which the equity investment is made or the credit may be carried forward for use in any of the next three consecutive tax years until the total amount of the credit is used. The tax credits may be sold, assigned, exchanged, or otherwise transferred.
7. Tax credits may be used against the tax otherwise due under chapter 143, RSMo, not including sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo.
8. A qualified Missouri business for which credits have been issued that, within seven years of receiving tax credits under this section relocates its headquarters out of Missouri, ceases to employ eighty percent of its employees in Missouri, alters the principal nature of its operations, or divests itself of key assets shall upon demand by the department pay the state of Missouri an amount equal to the amount of credits issued to its contributors.
9. The reasonable costs of the administration of this section, the review of applications for certification as qualified Missouri businesses, and the issuance of tax credits authorized by this section shall be reimbursed through fees paid by the qualified Missouri businesses and the investors or the transferees of investors, according to a reasonable fee schedule adopted by the department.
10. In addition to reports by the businesses to the department, the department shall also provide in its annual report information on the marketing and use of the investor tax credits. This report shall include the following:
(1) The amount of tax credits used in the previous fiscal year including what percentage was claimed by individuals and what percentage was claimed by firms and other entities;
(2) The types of businesses that benefited from the tax credits; and
(3) Any aggregate job creation or capital investment in Missouri that resulted from the use of the tax credits for a period of five years beginning from the date on which the tax credits were awarded.
In addition, the annual report shall provide information regarding what businesses deriving a benefit from the tax credits remained in Missouri, what businesses ceased business, what businesses were purchased, and what businesses may have moved out-of-state and the reason for such move.
447.708. 1. For eligible projects, the director of the department of economic development, with notice to the directors of the departments of natural resources and revenue, and subject to the other provisions of sections 447.700 to 447.718, may not create a new enterprise zone but may decide that a prospective operator of a facility being remedied and renovated pursuant to sections 447.700 to 447.718 may receive the tax credits and exemptions pursuant to sections 135.100 to 135.150, RSMo, and sections 135.200 to 135.257, RSMo. The tax credits allowed pursuant to this subsection shall be used to offset the tax imposed by chapter 143, RSMo, excluding withholding tax imposed by sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo, or the tax otherwise imposed by chapter 147, RSMo, or the tax otherwise imposed by chapter 148, RSMo. For purposes of this subsection:
(1) For receipt of the ad valorem tax abatement pursuant to section 135.215, RSMo, the eligible project must create at least ten new jobs or retain businesses which supply at least twenty-five existing jobs. The city, or county if the eligible project is not located in a city, must provide ad valorem tax abatement of at least fifty percent for a period not less than ten years and not more than twenty-five years;
(2) For receipt of the income tax exemption pursuant to section 135.220, RSMo, and tax credit for new or expanded business facilities pursuant to sections 135.100 to 135.150, and 135.225, RSMo, the eligible project must create at least ten new jobs or retain businesses which supply at least twenty-five existing jobs, or combination thereof. For purposes of sections 447.700 to 447.718, the tax credits described in section 135.225, RSMo, are modified as follows: the tax credit shall be four hundred dollars per employee per year, an additional four hundred dollars per year for each employee exceeding the minimum employment thresholds of ten and twenty-five jobs for new and existing businesses, respectively, an additional four hundred dollars per year for each person who is "a person difficult to employ" as defined by section 135.240, RSMo, and investment tax credits at the same amounts and levels as provided in subdivision (4) of subsection 1 of section 135.225, RSMo;
(3) For eligibility to receive the income tax refund pursuant to section 135.245, RSMo, the eligible project must create at least ten new jobs or retain businesses which supply at least twenty-five existing jobs, or combination thereof, and otherwise comply with the provisions of section 135.245, RSMo, for application and use of the refund and the eligibility requirements of this section;
(4) The eligible project operates in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations, including permitting and registration requirements, of this state as well as the federal and local requirements;
(5) The eligible project operator shall file such reports as may be required by the director of economic development or the director's designee;
(6) The taxpayer may claim the state tax credits authorized by this subsection and the state income exemption for a period not in excess of ten consecutive tax years. For the purpose of this section, "taxpayer" means an individual proprietorship, partnership or corporation described in section 143.441 or 143.471, RSMo, who operates an eligible project. The director shall determine the number of years the taxpayer may claim the state tax credits and the state income exemption based on the projected net state economic benefits attributed to the eligible project;
(7) For the purpose of meeting the new job requirement prescribed in subdivisions (1), (2) and (3) of this subsection, it shall be required that at least ten new jobs be created and maintained during the taxpayer's tax period for which the credits are earned, in the case of an eligible project that does not replace a similar facility in Missouri. "New job" means a person who was not previously employed by the taxpayer or related taxpayer within the twelve-month period immediately preceding the time the person was employed by that taxpayer to work at, or in connection with, the eligible project on a full-time basis. "Full-time basis" means the employee works an average of at least thirty-five hours per week during the taxpayer's tax period for which the tax credits are earned. For the purposes of this section, "related taxpayer" has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (9) of section 135.100, RSMo;
(8) For the purpose of meeting the existing job retention requirement, if the eligible project replaces a similar facility that closed elsewhere in Missouri prior to the end of the taxpayer's tax period in which the tax credits are earned, it shall be required that at least twenty-five existing jobs be retained at, and in connection with the eligible project, on a full-time basis during the taxpayer's tax period for which the credits are earned. "Retained job" means a person who was previously employed by the taxpayer or related taxpayer, at a facility similar to the eligible project that closed elsewhere in Missouri prior to the end of the taxpayer's tax period in which the tax credits are earned, within the tax period immediately preceding the time the person was employed by the taxpayer to work at, or in connection with, the eligible project on a full-time basis. "Full-time basis" means the employee works an average of at least thirty-five hours per week during the taxpayer's tax period for which the tax credits are earned;
(9) In the case where an eligible project replaces a similar facility that closed elsewhere in Missouri prior to the end of the taxpayer's tax period in which the tax credits are earned, the owner and operator of the eligible project shall provide the director with a written statement explaining the reason for discontinuing operations at the closed facility. The statement shall include a comparison of the activities performed at the closed facility prior to the date the facility ceased operating, to the activities performed at the eligible project, and a detailed account describing the need and rationale for relocating to the eligible project. If the director finds the relocation to the eligible project significantly impaired the economic stability of the area in which the closed facility was located, and that such move was detrimental to the overall economic development efforts of the state, the director may deny the taxpayer's request to claim tax benefits;
(10) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, for the purpose of this section, the number of new jobs created and maintained, the number of existing jobs retained, and the value of new qualified investment used at the eligible project during any tax year shall be determined by dividing by twelve, in the case of jobs, the sum of the number of individuals employed at the eligible project, or in the case of new qualified investment, the value of new qualified investment used at the eligible project, on the last business day of each full calendar month of the tax year. If the eligible project is in operation for less than the entire tax year, the number of new jobs created and maintained, the number of existing jobs retained, and the value of new qualified investment created at the eligible project during any tax year shall be determined by dividing the sum of the number of individuals employed at the eligible project, or in the case of new qualified investment, the value of new qualified investment used at the eligible project, on the last business day of each full calendar month during the portion of the tax year during which the eligible project was in operation, by the number of full calendar months during such period;
(11) For the purpose of this section, "new qualified investment" means new business facility investment as defined and as determined in subdivision (7) of section 135.100, RSMo, which is used at and in connection with the eligible project. "New qualified investment" shall not include small tools, supplies and inventory. "Small tools" means tools that are portable and can be hand held.
2. The determination of the director of economic development pursuant to subsection 1 of this section, shall not affect requirements for the prospective purchaser to obtain the approval of the granting of real property tax abatement by the municipal or county government where the eligible project is located.
3. (1) The director of the department of economic development, with the approval of the director of the department of natural resources, may, in addition to the tax credits allowed in subsection 1 of this section, grant a remediation tax credit to the applicant for up to one hundred percent of the costs of materials, supplies, equipment, labor, professional engineering, consulting and architectural fees, permitting fees and expenses, demolition, asbestos abatement, and direct utility charges for performing the voluntary remediation activities for the preexisting hazardous substance contamination and releases, including, but not limited to, the cost to backfill to grade in the areas where excavation is required to complete site remediation, the costs of performing operation and maintenance of the remediation equipment at the property beyond the year in which the systems and equipment are built and installed at the eligible project and the costs of performing the voluntary remediation activities over a period not in excess of four tax years following the taxpayer's tax year in which the system and equipment were first put into use at the eligible project, provided the remediation activities are the subject of a plan submitted to, and approved by, the director of natural resources pursuant to sections 260.565 to 260.575, RSMo. The tax credit may also include up to one hundred percent of the costs of demolition that are not directly part of the remediation activities, provided that the demolition is on the property where the voluntary remediation activities are occurring, the demolition is necessary to accomplish the planned use of the facility where the remediation activities are occurring, and the demolition is part of a redevelopment plan approved by the municipal or county government and the department of economic development. The demolition may occur on an adjacent property if the project is located in a municipality which has a population less than twenty thousand and the above conditions are otherwise met. The adjacent property shall independently qualify as abandoned or underutilized. The amount of the credit available for demolition not associated with remediation can not exceed the total amount of credits approved for remediation including demolition required for remediation.
(2) [The director of the department of economic development, with the approval of the director of the department of natural resources, may, in addition to the tax credits otherwise allowed in this section, grant a demolition tax credit to the applicant for up to one hundred percent of the costs of demolition that are not part of the voluntary remediation activities, provided that the demolition is either on the property where the voluntary remediation activities are occurring or on any adjacent property, and that the demolition is part of a redevelopment plan approved by the municipal or county government and the department of economic development.
(3)] The amount of remediation [and demolition] tax credits issued shall be limited to the least amount necessary to cause the project to occur, as determined by the director of the department of economic development.
[(4)] (3) The director may, with the approval of the director of natural resources, extend the tax credits allowed for performing voluntary remediation maintenance activities, in increments of three-year periods, not to exceed five consecutive three-year periods. The tax credits allowed in this subsection shall be used to offset the tax imposed by chapter 143, RSMo, excluding withholding tax imposed by sections 143.191 to 143.265, RSMo, or the tax otherwise imposed by chapter 147, RSMo, or the tax otherwise imposed by chapter 148, RSMo. The remediation [and demolition] tax credit may be taken in the same tax year in which the tax credits are received or may be taken over a period not to exceed twenty years.
[(5)] (4) The project facility shall be projected to create at least ten new jobs or at least twenty-five retained jobs, or a combination thereof, as determined by the department of economic development, to be eligible for tax credits pursuant to this section.
[(6)] (5) No more than seventy-five percent of earned remediation tax credits may be issued when the remediation costs were paid, and the remaining percentage may be issued when the department of natural resources issues a "Letter of Completion" letter or covenant not to sue following completion of the voluntary remediation activities. It shall not include any costs associated with ongoing operational environmental compliance of the facility or remediation costs arising out of spills, leaks, or other releases arising out of the ongoing business operations of the facility.
4. In the exercise of the sound discretion of the director of the department of economic development or the director's designee, the tax credits and exemptions described in this section may be terminated, suspended or revoked, if the eligible project fails to continue to meet the conditions set forth in this section. In making such a determination, the director shall consider the severity of the condition violation, actions taken to correct the violation, the frequency of any condition violations and whether the actions exhibit a pattern of conduct by the eligible facility owner and operator. The director shall also consider changes in general economic conditions and the recommendation of the director of the department of natural resources, or his or her designee, concerning the severity, scope, nature, frequency and extent of any violations of the environmental compliance conditions. The taxpayer or person claiming the tax credits or exemptions may appeal the decision regarding termination, suspension or revocation of any tax credit or exemption in accordance with the procedures outlined in subsections 4 to 6 of section 135.250, RSMo. The director of the department of economic development shall notify the directors of the departments of natural resources and revenue of the termination, suspension or revocation of any tax credits as determined in this section or pursuant to the provisions of section 447.716.
5. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no taxpayer shall earn the tax credits, exemptions or refund otherwise allowed in subdivisions (2), (3) and (4) of subsection 1 of this section and the tax credits otherwise allowed in section 135.110, RSMo, or the tax credits, exemptions and refund otherwise allowed in sections 135.215, 135.220, 135.225 and 135.245, RSMo, respectively, for the same facility for the same tax period.
6. The total amount of the tax credits allowed in subsection 1 of this section may not exceed the greater of:
(1) That portion of the taxpayer's income attributed to the eligible project; or
(2) One hundred percent of the total business' income tax if the eligible facility does not replace a similar facility that closed elsewhere in Missouri prior to the end of the taxpayer's tax period in which the tax credits are earned, and further provided the taxpayer does not operate any other facilities besides the eligible project in Missouri; fifty percent of the total business' income tax if the eligible facility replaces a similar facility that closed elsewhere in Missouri prior to the end of the taxpayer's tax period in which the credits are earned, and further provided the taxpayer does not operate any other facilities besides the eligible project in Missouri; or twenty-five percent of the total business income if the taxpayer operates, in addition to the eligible facility, any other facilities in Missouri. In no case shall a taxpayer operating more than one eligible project in Missouri be allowed to offset more than twenty-five percent of the taxpayer's business income in any tax period. That portion of the taxpayer's income attributed to the eligible project as referenced in subdivision (1) of this subsection, for which the credits allowed in sections 135.110 and 135.225, RSMo, and subsection 3 of this section, may apply, shall be determined in the same manner as prescribed in subdivision (6) of section 135.100, RSMo. That portion of the taxpayer's franchise tax attributed to the eligible project for which the remediation tax credit may offset, shall be determined in the same manner as prescribed in paragraph (a) of subdivision (6) of section 135.100, RSMo.
7. Taxpayers claiming the state tax benefits allowed in subdivisions (2) and (3) of subsection 1 of this section shall be required to file all applicable tax credit applications, forms and schedules prescribed by the director during the taxpayer's tax period immediately after the tax period in which the eligible project was first put into use. Otherwise, the taxpayer's right to claim such state tax benefits shall be forfeited. Unused business facility and enterprise zone tax credits shall not be carried forward but shall be initially claimed for the tax period during which the eligible project was first capable of being used, and during any applicable subsequent tax periods.
8. Taxpayers claiming the remediation tax credit allowed in subsection 3 of this section shall be required to file all applicable tax credit applications, forms and schedules prescribed by the director during the taxpayer's tax period immediately after the tax period in which the eligible project was first put into use, or during the taxpayer's tax period immediately after the tax period in which the voluntary remediation activities were performed.
9. The recipient of remediation tax credits, for the purpose of this subsection referred to as assignor, may assign, sell or transfer, in whole or in part, the remediation tax credit allowed in subsection 3 of this section, to any other person, for the purpose of this subsection referred to as assignee. To perfect the transfer, the assignor shall provide written notice to the director of the assignor's intent to transfer the tax credits to the assignee, the date the transfer is effective, the assignee's name, address and the assignee's tax period and the amount of tax credits to be transferred. The number of tax periods during which the assignee may subsequently claim the tax credits shall not exceed twenty tax periods, less the number of tax periods the assignor previously claimed the credits before the transfer occurred.
10. In the case where an operator and assignor of an eligible project has been certified to claim state tax benefits allowed in subdivisions (2) and (3) of subsection 1 of this section, and sells or otherwise transfers title of the eligible project to another taxpayer or assignee who continues the same or substantially similar operations at the eligible project, the director shall allow the assignee to claim the credits for a period of time to be determined by the director; except that, the total number of tax periods the tax credits may be earned by the assignor and the assignee shall not exceed ten. To perfect the transfer, the assignor shall provide written notice to the director of the assignor's intent to transfer the tax credits to the assignee, the date the transfer is effective, the assignee's name, address, and the assignee's tax period, and the amount of tax credits to be transferred.
11. For the purpose of the state tax benefits described in this section, in the case of a corporation described in section 143.471, RSMo, or partnership, in computing Missouri's tax liability, such state benefits shall be allowed to the following:
(1) The shareholders of the corporation described in section 143.471, RSMo;
(2) The partners of the partnership.
The credit provided in this subsection shall be apportioned to the entities described in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection in proportion to their share of ownership on the last day of the taxpayer's tax period.
620.495. 1. This section shall be known as the "Small Business Incubators Act".
2. As used in this section, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following words and phrases shall mean:
(1) "department", the department of economic development;
(2) "Incubator", a program in which small units of space may be leased by a tenant and in which management maintains or provides access to business development services for use by tenants or a program without infrastructure in which participants avail themselves of business development services to assist in the growth of their start-up small businesses;
(3) "Local sponsor" or "sponsor", an organization which enters into a written agreement with the department to establish, operate and administer a small business incubator program or to provide funding to an organization which operates such a program;
(4) "Participant", a sole proprietorship, business partnership or corporation operating a business for profit through which the owner avails himself or herself of business development services in an incubator program;
(5) "Tenant", a sole proprietorship, business partnership or corporation operating a business for profit and leasing or otherwise occupying space in an incubator.
3. There is hereby established under the direction of the department a loan, loan guarantee and grant program for the establishment, operation and administration of small business incubators, to be known as the "Small Business Incubator Program". A local sponsor may submit an application to the department to obtain a loan, loan guarantee or grant to establish an incubator. Each application shall:
(1) Demonstrate that a program exists that can be transformed into an incubator at a specified cost;
(2) Demonstrate the ability to directly provide or arrange for the provision of business development services for tenants and participants of the incubator. These services shall include, but need not be limited to, financial consulting assistance, management and marketing assistance, business education, and physical services;
(3) Demonstrate a potential for sustained use of the incubator program by eligible tenants and participants, through a market study or other means;
(4) Demonstrate the ability to manage and operate the incubator program;
(5) Include such other information as the department may require through its guidelines.
4. The department shall review and accept applications based on the following criteria:
(1) Ability of the local sponsor to carry out the provisions of this section;
(2) Economic impact of the incubator on the community;
(3) Conformance with areawide and local economic development plans, if such exist;
<