H. B. 2055

(By Delegates Amores, Frederick and R. M. Thompson)
[Introduced January 8, 2003; referred to the
Committee on Finance.]

A BILL to amend chapter eleven of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated article thirteen-t, relating to taxation; and providing a tax credit for high technology manufacturing companies.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That chapter eleven of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated article thirteen-t, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 13T. TAX CREDIT FOR NEW HIGH TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES AFTER JULY 1, 1999.
§11-13T-1. Legislative purpose.
The Legislature finds that manufacture or production of high technology products is very important to the economy of this state and that a sound economy is in the public interest and promotes the general welfare of the people of this state. In order to encourage capital investment in this state, through the manufacture of high technology products after the thirtieth day of June, two thousand one, thereby increasing employment and economic development, there is hereby provided to eligible taxpayers a credit for each new job filled by a full-time hourly employee who works in a new high technology product manufacturing facility, or in a new high technology product line of an existing manufacturing facility, that begins operating in this state after the thirtieth day of June, two thousand one.
§11-13T-2. Definitions.
(a) When used in this article, or in the administration of this article, terms defined in subsection (b) of this section have the meanings ascribed to them by this section, unless a different meaning is clearly required by the context in which the term is used.
(b) Terms defined.
(1) "Affiliate" means and includes all persons, as defined in this section, which are affiliates of each other when either directly or indirectly:
(A) One person controls or has the power to control the other; or
(B) A third party or third parties control or have the power to control two persons, the two thus being affiliates. In determining whether concerns are independently owned and operated and whether or not an affiliation exists, consideration shall be given to all appropriate factors, including common ownership, common management and contractual relationships.
(2) "Business" means any person holding a valid current West Virginia business registration certificate under article twelve-c of this chapter engaging in business in this state.
(3) "Commercial computer property" means computer property directly used in manufacturing.
(4) "Commissioner" or "tax commissioner" means the tax commissioner of the state of West Virginia or the tax commissioner's delegate.
(5) "Computer" means an electronic, magnetic, optical, electrochemical, or other high speed data processing device the primary end use function of which includes performing logical, arithmetical, or data storage operations. The term "computer" includes any data storage apparatus or communication apparatus directly related to or operating in conjunction with such device. The term "computer" includes any connected or directly related device, equipment or apparatus which enables the computer to store, retrieve or communicate computer programs, computer data or the results of computer operations to or from a person, another computer or another device. The term "computer" includes, but is not limited to, personal computers, desk-top computers, lap-top computers, palm-top computers, microcomputers, mainframe computers, server computers, and super computers, but such term does not include an automated typewriter or typesetter, a portable hand-held calculator or other similar device, any device that is excluded from the definition of a computer supply, or any device with a processor, the function of which facilitates some other end use operation, such as a household appliance or motor vehicle.
(6) "Computer data" means any representation of knowledge, facts, concepts, instruction, or other information computed, classified, processed, transmitted, received, retrieved, originated, stored, manifested, measured, detected, recorded, reproduced, handled or utilized by a computer, computer network, computer program or computer software, and may be in any medium, including, but not limited to, computer printouts, microfilm, microfiche, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, punch paper tape or punch cards, or it may be stored internally in read-only memory or random access memory of a computer or any other peripheral device.
(7) "Computer network" means a set of connected devices and communication facilities, including more than one computer, with the capability to transmit computer data among such devices through such communication facilities, and includes local area networks.
(8) "Computer program" means an ordered set of computer data representing instructions or statements, in a form readable by a computer, which controls, directs, or otherwise influences the functioning of a computer or computer network.
(9) "Computer property" means all computers, computer software, computer data, computer networks, computer programs and computer supplies, but does not include any printer, or other peripheral devices connected to or operated by a computer, or any manufacturing machinery controlled by a computer or any other machine or device controlled by a computer which does not itself constitute a computer or computer supply.
(10) "Computer software" means a set of computer programs, procedures and associated documentation concerned with computer data or with the operation of a computer, computer program or computer network.
(11) "Computer supply" or "computer supplies" means punch cards, paper tape, magnetic tape, magnetic disks or diskettes, optical disks or diskettes, disk or diskette packs, modems, computer input scanners, and any other tangible input, transmission or storage medium used in connection with a computer, a computer network, computer data, computer software or a computer program. The term "computer supplies" also includes, but is not limited to, computer work stations, computer monitors, computer keyboards, computer mice, computer track balls and other computer pointing devices, computer modems, computer central processing units, computer hard disk drives, computer floppy disk drives, computer tape drives, computer drum storage memory drives and computer compact disk read only memory units (CD ROMS). The term "computer supplies" includes computer driven and controlled printers or plotters for the printing of ordinary office correspondence and similar documents. However, no printer or printing press or other printing device used in the manufacture of newspapers or other large volume printing operations may be included as a computer supply for purposes of this article. The term "computer supply" does not include any manufacturing machinery controlled by a computer or any other machine or device controlled by a computer which does not itself constitute a computer or computer supply. The term "computer supplies" includes computer driven and controlled fax machines or facsimile machines that interface directly with a computer, but does not include ordinary stand alone fax machines not interfaced with a computer, notwithstanding the fact that such ordinary fax machines may have memory features and other electronic or cybernetic features similar to those found in a computer.
(12) "Corporation" includes any corporation, a joint-stock company and any association or other organization which is classified as a corporation under federal income tax law.
(13) "Delegate", when used in reference to the tax commissioner, means any officer or employee of the tax division of the department of tax and revenue duly authorized by the tax commissioner directly, or indirectly by one or more redelegations of authority, to perform the functions mentioned or described in this article.
(14) "Directly used in manufacturing," in relation to computer property directly used in manufacturing, means directly used in West Virginia by a manufacturer or manufacturing service provider in those activities or operations which constitute an integral and essential part of the manufacturing activity, as contrasted with and distinguished from those activities or operations which are simply incidental, convenient or remote to the manufacturing activity.
(15) "Eligible taxpayer" means a person who after the thirtieth day of June, two thousand one, begins manufacturing a high technology product at a new manufacturing facility located in this state, or begins manufacturing a new high technology product line at an existing manufacturing facility located in this state, which results in the creation of new jobs filled by full-time employees.
(16) "Employer" means the person for whom an individual performs or performed any service, of whatever nature, as the employee of such person, except that if the person for whom the individual performs or performed the service does not have control of the payment of wages for such services, the term "employer" means the person having control of the payment of such wages.
(17) "Existing manufacturing facility" means a building which at anytime during the twelve months preceding the month in which manufacture of a high technology product begins was used by the taxpayer, or by a related person, to manufacture tangible personal property.
(18) "Full-time employee" means a permanent hourly employee of an eligible taxpayer, who is a West Virginia domiciled resident, and works in a new high technology product manufacturing facility in this state, or in a new high technology product line of an existing manufacturing facility in this state, more than eighteen hundred hours during the entire twelve-month period ending on the last day of the taxable year of the eligible employer, whether these hours are hours worked at the manufacturing facility, or include hours of employer paid vacation leave or other employer paid leave. Full-time employee does not include an employee who is a part-time, seasonal or temporary employee.
(19) "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, of the United States.
(20) "Manufacturing facility" means any facility which is used in the manufacturing of tangible personal property (including processing resulting in a change in the condition of such property).
(21) "Manufacturer" means a person engaged in the activity of manufacturing in this state.
(22) "Manufacturing" means a systematic operation or integrated series of systematic operations engaged in as a business or segment of a business which transforms or converts tangible personal property by physical, chemical or other means into a different form, composition or character from that in which it originally existed. Manufacturing includes software development and software manufacturing. Manufacturing includes the production or use of advanced or sophisticated devices in the fields of electronics and computers which are commonly referred to as "high tech" or "high technology". In no case does the term "manufacturing" include the activities of building construction, construction of other structures or facilities affixed to or on realty, retailing or agriculture, food processing or food manufacturing, the operation of any restaurant or retail food preparation or sales operation, the production of any natural resource, contract mining or any other activity of severing, producing, processing or extracting any natural resource. Manufacturing production begins with the arrival of raw materials and ends when the property has reached that point where no further chemical, physical or other changes are to be made to the resultant property in the production process.
(23) "Manufacturing service provider" means a person engaged in a manufacturing activity who does not have legal title to or any economic interest in the tangible personal property transformed or converted by the manufacturing process, and who engages in the manufacturing activity as a service to another person.
(24) "New high technology" means the manufacture of a high technology product in an existing manufacturing facility in this state that first begins manufacturing the new high technology product line after the thirtieth day of June, two thousand three.
(25) "New high technology product manufacturing facility" means a building that is primarily used by the eligible taxpayer to manufacture a high technology product that is first placed in service and used for that purpose by the eligible taxpayer after the thirtieth day of June, two thousand one. If the facility was used by the taxpayer, or by a related person, to manufacture tangible personal property at any time during the twelve months preceding the month in which the facility is first used by the taxpayer to manufacture a high technology product, the building is not a new high technology product manufacturing facility.
(26) "New job" means a job at a new high technology product manufacturing facility located in this state, or at a new high technology product line at an existing manufacturing facility located in this state, which did not exist in this state with any employer as of the first day of the second calendar month preceding the calendar month in which the new high technology product manufacturing facility begins to manufacture high technology products, or in which the new high technology product line begins to manufacture high technology products in an existing manufacturing facility located in this state, that is filled by a full-time employee of the eligible taxpayer.
(27) "Partnership" means and includes a syndicate, group, pool, joint venture or other unincorporated organization through or by means of which any business, financial operation, or venture is carried on, which is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes for the taxable year.
(28) "Partner" includes a member in a syndicate, group, pool, joint venture or organization classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes for the taxable year.
(29) "Part-time employee" means any employee who normally works twenty hours or less per week.
(30) "Person" means any natural person, individual, firm, general partnership, limited partnership, trust, association, corporation, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, this state or any subdivision, branch, department or agency thereof, or any county or municipal government of this state or any subdivision, branch, department or agency thereof, the government of the United States or any subdivision, branch, department or agency thereof, any public or private corporation, municipal corporation of this state, cooperative, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, executor, administrator, any other fiduciary, any representative appointed by order of any court or otherwise acting on behalf of others, or any other group or combination acting as a unit.
(31) "Seasonal employee" means an employee who normally works on a full-time basis less than five months in a year.
(32) "Temporary employee" means an employee performing services under a contractual arrangement with the employer of two years or less duration.
(33) "Related entity", "related person", "entity related to" or "person related to" means:
(A) An individual, corporation, partnership, affiliate, association or trust or any combination or group thereof controlled by the taxpayer;
(B) An individual, corporation, partnership, affiliate, association or trust or any combination or group thereof that is in control of the taxpayer;
(C) An individual, corporation, partnership, affiliate, association or trust or any combination or group thereof controlled by an individual, corporation, partnership, affiliate, association or trust or any combination or group thereof that is in control of the taxpayer; or
(D) A member of the same controlled group as the taxpayer.
For purposes of subdivision (3) of this subsection, "control," with respect to a corporation, means ownership, directly or indirectly, of stock possessing fifty percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of the corporation which entitles its owner to vote. "Control," with respect to a trust, means ownership, directly or indirectly, of fifty percent or more of the beneficial interest in the principal or income of the trust. The ownership of stock in a corporation, of a capital or profits interest in a partnership or association or of a beneficial interest in a trust shall be determined in accordance with the rules for constructive ownership of stock provided in section 267(c) of the Internal Revenue Code: Provided, That paragraph (3) of section 267(c) of the Internal Revenue Code shall not apply.
(34) "Tax year" or "taxable year," means the tax year of the taxpayer for federal income tax purposes.
(35) "Taxpayer" means any person subject to the tax imposed by article twenty-one, twenty-three or twenty-four of this chapter.
§11-13T-3. Eligibility for tax credits; creation of the credit.
There is allowed to every eligible taxpayer a credit against the taxes imposed in articles twenty-one, twenty-three and twenty- four of this chapter. The amount of this credit shall be determined and applied as provided in this article.
§11-13T-4. Amount of credit allowed; expiration of the credit.
(a) Credit allowable. -- The amount of annual credit allowable under this article to an eligible taxpayer is two hundred fifty dollars for each new job at a new high technology manufacturing facility located in this state, or at a new high technology product line of an existing manufacturing facility located in this state, that is filled by a full-time employee of the eligible taxpayer during the taxable year, subject to the following:
(1) When the new high technology product manufacturing facility, or the new high technology product line of an existing high technology product manufacturing facility, is in operation for less than twelve months of the taxable year in which it is placed in service, the credit allowed by subsection (a) of this section shall be prorated by the ratio that the number of months in the taxpayer's taxable year during which the new high technology product facility, or the new products line of an existing high technology product manufacturing facility, was in service bears to twelve;
(2) When the eligible taxpayer stops manufacturing high technology products at the new high technology product manufacturing facility, or at the new high technology product line of an existing high technology product manufacturing facility, during the taxable year, the credit allowed by subsection (a) of this section shall be prorated by the ratio that the number of months in the taxpayer's taxable year during which the new high technology product facility, or the new products line of an existing high technology product manufacturing facility, was in operation manufacturing high technology products bears to twelve;
(3) When determining the number of full-time employees who fill new jobs at the new high technology product manufacturing facility located in this state, or who fill new jobs at a new high technology product line of an existing manufacturing facility located in this state, the eligible taxpayer may not include any position occupied by any employee of the eligible taxpayer, or of a related person, which existed in this state as of the first day of the second calendar month preceding the calendar month in which the new high technology product manufacturing facility, or a new high technology product line at an existing high technology products manufacturing facility first becomes operational, whether such positions are filled by permanent, seasonal, temporary or part-time employees;
(4) The amount of credit allowable each taxable year shall be calculated annually based upon the number of new jobs filled by full-time employees during the taxable year: Provided, That the credit provided for in this article may only be taken one time for each new job created, and once claimed in a tax year for a new job the credit may not be claimed in a subsequent year for that position.
(b) Expiration of credit. -- This credit shall expire on the first day of July, two thousand six. When the first day of July in the year two thousand six falls during the taxable year of the eligible taxpayer, the amount of credit allowable for that taxable year shall be limited to that portion of the amount of credit that would have been allowable had the credit not expired multiplied by the ratio the number of months during taxpayers taxable year ending before the first day of July, two thousand six, bears to twelve.
§11-13T-5. Application of annual credit allowance.
(a) Application of credit against business franchise tax. -- The amount of credit allowed under section four of this article shall first be applied against the eligible taxpayer's liability for the tax imposed by article twenty-three of this chapter that is attributable to a new high technology product manufacturing facility located in this state and to a new high technology product production line at an existing manufacturing facility located in this state.
(b) Application of remaining credit against income tax. -- After application of the allowable credit against the tax imposed by article twenty-three of this chapter, as provided in subsection (a) of this section, any remaining credit may be applied against the taxes imposed by article twenty-one or twenty-four of this chapter to the extent those taxes are attributable to a new high technology product manufacturing facility located in this state and to a new high technology product production line at an existing manufacturing facility located in this state: Provided, That no credit may be allowed against employer withholding taxes due under article twenty-one of this chapter.
(c) Excess credit forfeited. -- If after application of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, any credit remains for the taxable year, the amount remaining and not used is forfeited. Unused credit may not be carried back to any prior taxable year and shall not carry forward to any subsequent taxable year.
(d) Application of this credit when other credits apply. -- The credit allowed under this article shall be applied after application of all other applicable tax credits allowed for the taxable year against the taxes imposed by article twenty-one, twenty-three or twenty-four of this chapter.
(e) Completion of annual schedule to assert credit. -- To assert this credit against tax, the eligible taxpayer shall prepare and file with the annual tax return filed under article twenty-one, twenty-three or twenty-four of this chapter, an annual schedule showing the amount of tax paid for the taxable year, and the amount of credit allowed under this article. This annual schedule shall set forth the information and be in the form prescribed by the tax commissioner.
(f) Payments of estimated tax. -- A taxpayer may consider the amount of credit allowed under this article when determining the taxpayer's liability under articles twenty-one, twenty-three and twenty-four of this chapter for periodic payments of estimated tax for the taxable year, in accordance with the procedures and requirements prescribed by the tax commissioner. The annual total tax liability and total tax credit allowed under this article are subject to adjustment and reconciliation pursuant to the filing of the annual schedule required by subsection (e) of this section.

§11-13T-6. Proration of credit among partners, members of limited liability companies, or shareholders in small business corporations.

The amount of credit allowed under this article for the taxable year to a partnership or limited liability company classified as a partnership for the taxable year, or to an electing small business corporation, that remains after application of the credit against the tax imposed by article twenty-three of this chapter as provided in subsection (a), section five of this article shall be allocated to the individual partners, members or shareholders, as the case may be, in proportion to their ownership interest in the partnership, limited liability company or electing small business corporation. The amount of credit allocated to the individual partners, members or shareholders, as the case may be, may be applied against the taxes imposed by articles twenty-one and twenty-four of this chapter in accordance with the rule set forth in subsection (b), section five of this article.
§11-13T-7. Annual computation of the number of new jobs held by full-time employees.
(a) The eligible taxpayer shall annually determine the number of new jobs held by full-time permanent employees of the eligible taxpayer in the taxable year by calculating the average number of full-time employees holding jobs for each month of the taxable year by averaging the beginning and ending monthly employment of full-time employees, then totaling the monthly averages and dividing that total by twelve.
(b) The eligible taxpayer shall also annually determine the number of new jobs filled during the taxable year by full-time employees of the eligible taxpayer employed at a new high technology product manufacturing facility, or at a new high technology product line at an existing manufacturing facility, located in this state that is owned or operated by the eligible taxpayer, by calculating the average number of new jobs held by full-time employees for each month of the taxable year by averaging the beginning and ending monthly employment of full-time employees holding new jobs, then totaling the monthly averages and dividing that total by twelve.
(c) Preexisting jobs carried over from a corporation or other entity merged with the taxpayer, and not reflective of a true increase in the number of new jobs in West Virginia, or preexisting jobs formerly in place with a contract service provider which are taken over or supplanted by the internal operations of the taxpayer, or any other increase in the count of jobs in place with a taxpayer which is not reflective of new jobs, as defined in section two of this article, shall not count as new jobs for purposes of the credit allowed under this article.
(d) The tax commissioner may prescribe by rule alternative methods for determining the number of jobs held by full-time permanent employees in the taxable year upon a finding by the tax commissioner that an alternative method is appropriate for ascertaining an accurate and realistic determination of new jobs held by full-time employees in the taxable year. For purposes of prescribing alternative methods, the tax commissioner may require the deduction or inclusion of jobs in place with contract service providers that provide or at any time provided any service to any eligible taxpayer or to any member of the affiliated group related to any eligible taxpayer or to any one or more entities related to the eligible taxpayer: Provided, That deduction, or inclusion of those jobs shall only pertain to jobs held by employees of the contract service provider that are attributable or that were formerly attributable to the service provided by the contract service provider to the taxpayer. The tax commissioner may require any deconsolidation of any filing entity, or may require an alternative method based on separate accounting, unitary combination, combination of the affiliated group or combination of the taxpayer and one or more entities related to the taxpayer, or any other method determined by the tax commissioner to be appropriate for ascertaining an accurate and realistic determination of new jobs held by full-time employees in the taxable year.
§11-13T-8. Availability of credit to successors.
(a) Transfer or sale. -- When there is a transfer or sale of the business assets of an eligible taxpayer to a successor taxpayer which continues to operate the new high technology product manufacturing facility located in this state, or the new high technology product line of an existing manufacturing facility located in this state, the successor taxpayer is entitled to the credit allowed under this article: Provided, That the successor taxpayer otherwise remains in compliance with the requirements of this article for entitlement to the credit.
(b) Allocation of credit between eligible taxpayer and successor eligible taxpayer. -- For any taxable year during which a transfer, or sale of the business assets of an eligible taxpayer to a successor taxpayer under this section occurs, or a merger allowed under this section occurs, the credit allowed under this article shall be apportioned between the predecessor eligible taxpayer and the successor taxpayer based on the number of days during the taxable year that each taxpayer acted as the legal employer of individuals filling new jobs for which the credit allowed under this article is based and the number of days during the taxable year that each taxpayer owned the new high technology product manufacturing facility located in this state, or the new high technology product line of an existing manufacturing facility located in this state.
(c) Stock purchases. -- When a corporation which is an eligible taxpayer entitled to the credit allowed under this article is purchased through a stock purchase by a new owner, and the corporation remains a legal entity so as to retain its corporate identity, the entitlement of that corporation to the credit allowed under this article will not be affected by the ownership change.
(d) Mergers. --
(1) When a corporation or other entity which is an eligible taxpayer entitled to the credit allowed under this article is merged with another corporation or entity, the surviving corporation or entity, shall be entitled to the credit to which the predecessor eligible taxpayer was originally entitled only if the surviving corporation or entity, otherwise complies with the provisions of this article.
(2) The amount of credit available in any taxable year during which a merger occurs shall be apportioned between the predecessor eligible taxpayer and the successor eligible taxpayer based on the number of days during the taxable year that each taxpayer acted as the legal employer of employees holding the new jobs upon which the credit allowed under this article is based and the number of days during the taxable year that each owned the transferred business assets: Provided, That when the taxable year of the predecessor eligible taxpayer and the taxable year of the successor eligible taxpayer are different, the apportionment shall be made in accordance with legislative rules prescribed by the tax commissioner.
(e) No provision of this section or of this article may be construed to allow sales or other transfers of the tax credit allowed under this article. The credit allowed under this article may be transferred only in circumstances where there is a valid successorship as described under this section.
§11-13T-9. Credit recapture; interest; penalties; additions to tax; statute of limitations.
(a) If it appears upon audit or otherwise that any person has improperly claimed the credit allowed by this article, the amount improperly claimed and which the person was not entitled to take shall be recaptured. Amended returns shall be filed for any taxable year for which the credit was improperly taken. Any additional taxes due under this chapter shall be remitted with the amended return or returns filed with the tax commissioner, along with interest, as provided in section seventeen, article ten of this chapter, and a ten percent penalty plus such other penalties and additions to tax as may be applicable under the provisions of article ten of this chapter.
(b) Recapture for jobs lost. --
(1) In any tax year the number of individuals employed in full-time positions by the eligible taxpayer decreases by more than ten percent, credit recapture shall apply, and the taxpayer shall return to the state an amount of tax determined by multiplying five hundred dollars by the number of full-time jobs lost which exceed ten percent. An amended return shall be filed for the tax year for which credit recapture is required. Any additional taxes due under this chapter shall be remitted with the amended return filed with the tax commissioner, along with interest, as provided in section seventeen, article ten of this chapter, and a ten percent penalty plus such other penalties and additions to tax as may be applicable under the provisions of article ten of this chapter.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of article ten of this chapter, penalties and additions to tax imposed under article ten of this chapter and the ten percent penalty imposed under this section may be waived, in whole or in part, at the discretion of the tax commissioner. However, interest may not be waived.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of article ten of this chapter, the time within which a notice of assessment may be issued by the tax commissioner to recover recaptured tax shall be five years from the date of filing of any tax return on which this credit was taken or five years from the date of payment of any tax liability calculated pursuant to the assertion of the credit allowed under this article, whichever is later.
§11-13T-10. Administrative rules.
The tax commission may prescribe such rules as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this article, including, but not limited to, rules relating to applicability of credit, method of claiming credit, credit recapture, documentation necessary to claim credit and rules preventing abuse of this article by related persons or by change in the form of doing business. All rules promulgated under this article shall be promulgated in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.
§11-13T-11. Construction of article.
The provisions of this article shall be reasonably construed. The burden of proof is on the person claiming the credit allowed by this article to establish by clear and convincing evidence that the person is entitled to the amount of credit asserted for the taxable year.
§11-13T-12. Effective date.
This article shall be effective for taxable years beginning on or after the first day of July, two thousand three.



NOTE: This bill provides for a tax credit for new high technology products and manufacturing.

This article is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.