168.00.07 Ark. Code R. 003

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 10, October, 2024

Rule 168.00.07-003 - Equity Investment Incentive Act

I.Introduction

Act 566 of 2007 also known as the "Equity Investment Incentive Act of 2007" provides a tax incentive for equity investments in targeted, early stage, and start-up businesses.

The purpose of the equity investment incentives is to encourage capital investment in certain types of businesses that are creating new higher paying jobs for the State of Arkansas.

II.Definitions

"Commission" means the Arkansas Economic Development Commission;

"Director" means the Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission;

"Eligible Business" means a business that has been approved by the Commission to participate and solicit equity investments in the business;

"Investor" means a person or entity purchasing an equity investment in an eligible business.

III.Eligibility

The award of the equity investment incentive tax credit to a qualified business shall be at the discretion of the Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Eligibility for the equity investment incentive tax credit under this subchapter is limited to investments in:

(1) Targeted businesses as defined in Arkansas Code § 15-4-2703(43); or

(2) Businesses that receive assistance in the form of equity investments from capital investment funds that target early-stage businesses and start-up businesses, if the business:

(A) Pays at least one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the lesser of the county average wage or the state average wage; and

(B) Meets at least two (2) of the following conditions:

(i) The business is in one (1) of the business sectors set forth in § 15-4-2703(43)(A)(i) -(vi);

(ii) The business is identified in a local or regional economic development plan as the type of business targeted for recruitment or growth within the community or region;

(iii) The business is supported by a resolution of the city council or quorum court in the municipality or county in which the business is located or plans to locate;

(iv) The business is supported by business incubators certified under § 26-51-815(d);

(v) The business is supported by federal small business innovation research grants; or

(vi) The business is supported by technology development or seed capital investments made by instrumentalities of the state.

IV.Approval

A business that seeks eligibility for an equity investment incentive tax credit under this subchapter shall file an application with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

The application shall include:

(1) A business plan describing the proposed business for which an equity investment incentive tax credit is sought;

(2) A projection of the amount of capital being sought for the proposed business; and

(3) Other information requested by the Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

The Commission shall gather information necessary to determine the eligibility of a business that seeks an equity investment incentive tax credit and process the application.

The Commission shall share the application and all information concerning the business with the Arkansas Development Finance Authority and the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority.

The Arkansas Science and Technology Authority shall decide whether an equity investment incentive shall be offered to the business, however, approval of any application submitted for this program shall be a cooperative effort of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, The Arkansas Development Finance Authority, and The Arkansas Science and Technology Authority.

Upon approval of the application, the approved business shall sign an equity investment incentive agreement with the Commission.

V.Equity Investment Tax Credits

After the equity investment incentive agreement has been signed by the business and the Commission, the business may solicit investors and offer the equity investment incentive tax credit to the investors. Only cash investments shall qualify for the equity investment incentive tax credit under this subchapter.

For the equity investment tax credit to be awarded to an investor, the eligible business shall verify that all conditions to the award of an equity investment incentive tax credit stated in the equity investment incentive agreement have been met within the time set forth in the agreement.

A purchaser of an equity interest in an eligible business is entitled to a credit against any state income tax liability that may be imposed on the person for any tax year commencing on or after the date of the purchase.

The equity investment must be made in the calendar years 2007 through 2019.

The equity investment tax credit incentive shall be equal to thirty-three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) of the approved amount invested by an investor in an eligible business.

In any one (1) tax year, the credit allowed shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the net Arkansas state income tax liability or premium tax liability of the taxpayer after all other credits and reductions in tax have been calculated;

Any unused credit may be carried forward and applied against Arkansas state income tax for the next-succeeding tax year and annually thereafter for a total period of nine (9) years succeeding the year in which the equity interest in a business was purchased or until the credit is exhausted, whichever occurs first.

VI.Issuance of Tax Credit

Upon receipt of the equity investment by the company from the investor, the qualified business shall provide the following documentation to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission:

(A) The name and address of the original purchaser(s);

(B) The tax identification number of the person(s) entitled to the credit;

(C) The original date of purchase of the equity interest;

(D) The number and type of equity investment purchased;

(E) The amount paid by the original purchaser for the equity interest;

(F) The amount of the tax credit associated with the purchase of the equity interest; and

(G) The amount of dividends and distributions previously paid by the business to the purchaser.

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission will issue a certificate of tax credit that must be attached to the income tax return on which the credit is first claimed.

Issuance of credit to a pass-through entity shall be according to the each member's proportional ownership interest of the pass through entity.

VII.Sale or Transfer of Credit

The income tax credits earned under this program may be sold upon approval by the Commission. Any sale of tax credits through this program must be fully documented by the Commission and that information will be transmitted to the Department of Finance and Administration.

The purchaser of the tax credits provided by this program shall obtain certification from the Commission and attach the appropriate documentation provided by the Commission to the tax return on which the credit is first claimed.

The tax credit must be sold within one year of its being issued by the Commission and may only be sold one (1) time.

The purchaser of the tax credit shall be subject to the same carry forward provisions of the credits as the original owner of the credits.

VIII.Sale or Disposition of Equity Interest

For the purpose of ascertaining the gain or loss from the sale or other disposition of an equity interest in a business, the owner of the equity interest shall reduce his or her basis in the equity interest by the amount of the tax credits claimed under these rules and regulations. However, sale or other disposition does not include a transfer from the holder of an equity interest to the business in liquidation of the equity interest. This reduced basis shall be used by the original purchaser or transferee when calculating tax due under the Income Tax Act of 1929, § 26-51-101 et seq.

IX.Limitations

The total cumulative amount of tax credits available to all purchasers of equity interest in qualified businesses under these rules and regulations and under § 15-4-1026 in any calendar year shall not exceed six million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($6,250,000).

X.Coordination with the Arkansas Capital Development Company Act

All agreements and commitments of the capital development company related to the purchase of equity interests in existence before July 1, 2007, and certified to the Commission shall remain valid and enforceable, shall be entitled to the tax credits set forth in Act 566 of 2007, and shall be completed in accordance with their respective terms.

A person who purchases an equity interest in a capital development company in any of the calendar years 2003 - 2015 under the Arkansas Capital Development Act is entitled to a credit against any state income tax liability or premium tax liability that may be imposed on the purchaser for any tax year commencing on or after the date of the purchase.

No capital development company shall enter into an agreement or a commitment for the purchase by any person of equity interests in the capital development company on or after July 1, 2007.

168.00.07 Ark. Code R. 003

8/31/2007