Iowa Admin. Code r. 701-304.12

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024

Rule 701-304.12 - New jobs credit

A tax credit is available to an individual who has entered into an agreement under Iowa Code chapter 260E and has increased employment by at least 10 percent.

(1)Definitions.

a. The term "new jobs" means those jobs directly resulting from a project covered by an agreement authorized by Iowa Code chapter 260E (Iowa industrial new jobs training Act) but does not include jobs of recalled workers or replacement jobs or other jobs that formerly existed in the industry in this state.

b. The term "jobs directly related to new jobs" means those jobs which directly support the new jobs but do not include in-state employees transferred to a position which would be considered to be a job directly related to new jobs unless the transferred employee's vacant position is filled by a new employee. The burden of proof that a job is directly related to new jobs is on the taxpayer.

EXAMPLE A. A taxpayer who has entered into a chapter 260E agreement to train new employees for a new product line, transfers an in-state employee to be foreman of the new product line but does not fill the transferred employee's position. The new foreman's position would not be considered a job directly related to new jobs even though it directly supports the new jobs because the transferred employee's old position was not refilled.

EXAMPLE B. A taxpayer who has entered into a chapter 260E agreement to train new employees for a new product line transfers an in-state employee to be foreman of the new product line and fills the transferred employee's position with a new employee. The new foreman's position would be considered a job directly related to new jobs because it directly supports the new jobs and the transferred employee's old position was filled by a new employee.

c. The term "taxable wages" means those wages upon which an employer is required to contribute to the state unemployment fund as defined in Iowa Code section 96.1A(36) for the year in which the taxpayer elects to take the new jobs tax credit. For fiscal year taxpayers, "taxable wages" shall not be greater than the maximum wage upon which an employer is required to contribute to the state unemployment fund for the calendar year in which the taxpayer's fiscal year begins.

d. The term "agreement" means an agreement entered into under Iowa Code chapter 260E after July 1, 1985, an amendment to that agreement, or an amendment to an agreement entered into before July 1, 1985, if the amendment sets forth the base employment level as of the date of the amendment. The term "agreement" also includes a preliminary agreement entered into under Iowa Code chapter 260E provided the preliminary agreement contains all the elements of a contract and includes the necessary elements and commitments relating to training programs and new jobs.

e. The term "base employment level" means the number of full-time jobs an industry employs at a plant site which is covered by an agreement under Iowa Code chapter 260E on the date of the agreement.

f. The term "project" means a training arrangement which is the subject of an agreement entered into under Iowa Code chapter 260E.

g. The term "industry" means a business engaged in interstate or intrastate commerce for the purpose of manufacturing, processing, or assembling products, conducting research and development, or providing services in interstate commerce, but excludes retail, health, and professional services. "Industry" does not include a business which closes or substantially reduces its operations in one area of the state and relocates substantially the same operation in another area of the state. "Industry" is a business engaged in the above-listed activities rather than the generic definition encompassing all businesses in the state engaged in the same activities. For example, in the meat-packing business, an industry is considered to be a single corporate entity or operating division, rather than the entire meat-packing business in the state.

h. The term "new employees" means the same as new jobs or jobs directly related to new jobs.

i. The term "full-time job" means any of the following:

(1) An employment position requiring an average work week of 35 or more hours;

(2) An employment position for which compensation is paid on a salaried full-time basis without regard to hours worked; or

(3) An aggregation of any number of part-time or job-sharing employment positions which equal one full-time employment position. For purposes of this subrule, each part-time or job-sharing employment position shall be categorized with regard to the average number of hours worked each week as one-quarter, half, three-quarters, or full-time position, as set forth in the following table:

Average Number of Weekly Hours	Category
More than 0 but less than 15	¼
15 or more but less than 25	½
25 or more but less than 35	¾
35 or more	1 (full-time)

(2)How to compute the credit. The credit is 6 percent of the taxable wages paid to employees in new jobs or jobs directly related to new jobs for the taxable year in which the taxpayer elects to take the credit.

EXAMPLE 1. A taxpayer enters into an agreement to increase employment by 20 new employees which is greater than 10 percent of the taxpayer's base employment level of 100 employees. In year one of the agreement, the taxpayer hires 20 new employees but elects not to take the credit in that year. In year two of the agreement, only 18 of the new employees hired in year one are still employed and the taxpayer elects to take the credit. The credit would be 6 percent of the taxable wages of the 18 remaining new employees. In year three of the agreement, the taxpayer hires two additional new employees under the agreement to replace the two employees that left in year two and elects to take the credit. The credit would be 6 percent of the taxable wages paid to the two replacement employees. In year four of the agreement, three of the employees for which a credit had been taken left employment and three additional employees were hired. No credit is available for these employees. A credit can only be taken one time for each new job or job directly related to a new job.

EXAMPLE 2. A taxpayer operating two plants in Iowa enters into a chapter 260E agreement to train new employees for a new product line at one of the taxpayer's plants. The base employment level on the date of the agreement at plant A is 300 and at plant B is 100. Under the agreement, 20 new employees will be trained for plant B which is greater than a 10 percent increase of the base employment level for plant B. In the year in which the taxpayer elects to take the credit, the employment level at plant A is 290 and at plant B is 120. The credit would be 6 percent of the wages of 10 new employees at plant B as 10 new jobs were created by the industry in the state. A credit for the remaining 10 employees can be taken if the employment level at plant A increases back to 300 during the period of time that the credit can be taken.

(3)When the credit can be taken. The taxpayer may elect to take the credit in any tax year which either begins or ends during the period beginning with the date of the agreement and ending with the date by which the project is to be completed under the agreement. However, the taxpayer may not take the credit until the base employment level has been exceeded by at least 10 percent.

EXAMPLE: A taxpayer enters into an agreement to increase employment from a base employment level of 200 employees to 225 employees. In year one of the agreement, the taxpayer hires 20 new employees which is a 10 percent increase over the base employment level but elects not to take the credit. In year two of the agreement, two of the new employees leave employment. The taxpayer elects to take the credit which would be 6 percent of the taxable wages of the 18 employees currently employed. In year three, the taxpayer hires 7 new employees and elects to take the credit. The credit would be 6 percent of the taxable wages of the 7 new employees.

A taxpayer may claim on the taxpayer's individual income tax return the pro rata share of the Iowa new jobs credit from a partnership, subchapter S corporation, estate or trust. The portion of the credit claimed by the individual shall be in the same ratio as the individual's pro rata share of the earnings of the partnership, subchapter S corporation, or estate or trust. All partners in a partnership, shareholders in a subchapter S corporation and beneficiaries in an estate or trust shall elect to take the Iowa new jobs credit the same year.

For tax years beginning prior to January 1, 2007, any Iowa new jobs credit in excess of the individual's tax liability less the credits authorized in Iowa Code sections 422.12 and 422.12B may be carried forward for ten years or until it is used, whichever is the earlier. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2007, any Iowa new jobs credit in excess of the individual's tax liability less the credits authorized in Iowa Code section 422.12 may be carried forward for ten years or until it is used, whichever is the earlier.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 422.11A.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 701-304.12

ARC 8702B, IAB 4/21/10, effective 5/26/10; Editorial change: IAC Supplement 11/2/22