FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: February 07, 2024
Time Requested: 09:25 AM
Agency: Tax & Revenue Department, WV State
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
3123 Introduced SB564
CBD Subject: Taxation


FUND(S):

General Revenue Fund

Sources of Revenue:

General Fund

Legislation creates:

Decreases Existing Revenue, Increases Existing Expenses



Fiscal Note Summary


Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.


The stated purpose of this bill is to eliminate requirements that the credit base be limited to wages paid to apprentices in the construction trades and specifying an effective date. According to our interpretation, this bill would modify the current West Virginia Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit by expanding the credit beyond wages paid to apprentices in the construction trades and allowing any apprentice in the State to qualify. The amount of credit per apprentice would still be a maximum of $2,000 and the tax credit would be calculated by multiplying $2 per hour by the total number of hours worked during the tax year by an apprentice working for the participating taxpayer. Effective for tax years on or after January 1, 2024, for the employer to qualify for the proposed modified credit, the apprentice would need to be registered with the U.S Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship, and West Virginia State Office in the tax year that the apprentice and employer who participate in a qualified apprenticeship training program. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship, between FY2014 and FY2023, the number of active apprentices in West Virginia nearly doubled from 2,637 to 5,270. In FY2023 among the top five apprentices nationally, there were 77,339 active apprentices who were electricians, 31,978 carpenters, 25,404 plumbers, 20,990 construction craft laborers, and 19,110 pipe fitters. This modified tax credit would generate a greater loss to the General Revenue Fund compared to the existing Apprenticeship Training Credit, which costs roughly $300,000 per year. We cannot readily quantify the number of additional apprentices who would qualify for the modified credit and cannot determine the loss to the General Revenue Fund in FY2026 and subsequent fiscal years. However, based on available information, most tax credit claims will likely continue to be related to the construction industry. Additional administrative costs incurred by the State Tax Department would be $38,500 in FY2025 and $22,500 per year in subsequent fiscal years.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2024
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2025
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost 0 38,500 22,500
Personal Services 0 22,500 22,500
Current Expenses 0 0 0
Repairs and Alterations 0 0 0
Assets 0 0 0
Other 0 15,000 0
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 0 0


Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):


According to our interpretation, this bill would modify the current West Virginia Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit by expanding the credit beyond wages paid to apprentices in the construction trades and allowing any apprentice in the State to qualify. The amount of credit per apprentice would still be a maximum of $2,000 and the tax credit would be calculated by multiplying $2 per hour by the total number of hours worked during the tax year by an apprentice working for the participating taxpayer. Effective for tax years on or after January 1, 2024, for the employer to qualify for the proposed modified credit, the apprentice would need to be registered with the U.S Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship, and West Virginia State Office in the tax year that the apprentice and employer who participate in a qualified apprenticeship training program. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship, between FY2014 and FY2023, the number of active apprentices in West Virginia nearly doubled from 2,637 to 5,270. In FY2023 among the top five apprentices nationally, there were 77,339 active apprentices who were electricians, 31,978 carpenters, 25,404 plumbers, 20,990 construction craft laborers, and 19,110 pipe fitters. This modified tax credit would generate a greater loss to the General Revenue Fund compared to the existing Apprenticeship Training Credit, which costs roughly $300,000 per year. We cannot readily quantify the number of additional apprentices who would qualify for the modified credit and cannot determine the loss to the General Revenue Fund in FY2026 and subsequent fiscal years. However, based on available information, most tax credit claims will likely continue to be related to the construction industry. Additional administrative costs incurred by the State Tax Department would be $38,500 in FY2025 and $22,500 per year in subsequent fiscal years.



Memorandum






    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Mark Muchow
    Email Address: kerri.r.petry@wv.gov