LAC 61:I.1901 — Employer Tax Credits for Donations of Materials, Equipment, or Instructors to Certain Training Programs or Schools

A. Definitions
Department―the Department of Revenue.
Employer―an entity authorized to do business in the state of Louisiana that employs one or more individuals performing services on its behalf.
Instructor―an individual qualified, as determined by the training institution, to provide educational or instructional services designed to furnish technical knowledge to persons enrolled in a training program when the instructor's time or salary are donated by an employer.
a. The donation of an instructor's time is when the instructor, while on the payroll of the donating employer, is allowed to spend a portion or all of a work day providing instructional services either on the premises of the training institution or on the employer's premises, when approved by the training institution as part of the training curriculum.
b. The donation of an instructor's salary is when the funds for the salary of an instructor, who is an employee and on the payroll of the training institution, are provided by the donating employer.
Latest Technology Available in Materials and Equipment―machinery and equipment that:
a. has never been used except for normal testing by the manufacturer to ensure that the machinery or equipment is of proper quality and in good working order;
b. has been used by the retailer or wholesaler solely for the purpose of demonstrating the product to customers for sale;
c. is of the type currently manufactured for sale to customers; or
d. has been used by the donating employer for three years or less and was still used in production immediately prior to donation.
Training Institution―a public training provider, secondary or postsecondary vocational technical school, apprenticeship program registered with the Louisiana Department of Labor, or community college. The term does not include institutions or other entities organized for profit.
Value―the donor's actual cost for new machinery or equipment or the appraised worth of used materials and equipment and instructional services.
B. Tax Credit
1. A credit shall be allowed against the individual and corporate income tax and the corporate franchise tax for the donation of the latest technology available in materials and equipment and the donation of instructors made to public training providers, secondary and postsecondary vocational-technical schools, apprenticeship programs registered with the Louisiana Department of Labor, or community colleges within the state.
2. The tax credit shall be an amount equal to one-half the value of the donated materials, equipment, or services rendered by the instructor at the time of donation.
a. When used materials or equipment or instructional services are donated, the institution accepting the donation shall obtain an appraisal to establish the value of the materials, equipment, or instructional services, which is to be provided to the donating employer.
b. When new materials or equipment are donated, the donating employer shall submit an invoice showing the actual price paid, which shall be considered the value of the donated property.
3. A donation shall not qualify for the tax credit unless it is accepted by the training institution.
a. The training institution accepting the donation shall furnish to the donating employer certification of the donation that includes the date of the donation and the value of the donated materials, equipment, or instructional services.
b. The donating employer shall attach this certification to the income or franchise tax return filed with the department for the year in which the credit is claimed.
4. The tax credit shall be a credit against the applicable tax or taxes for the tax period that the donation was made and when combined with all other applicable tax credits, shall not exceed 20 percent of the employer's tax liability for any taxable year. The tax credits may only be taken by the donating employer entity and may not be passed through to partners or shareholders when the donating entity is a partnership, Subchapter S Corporation, or Limited Liability Company.
C. Maintenance or Service Agreement. If requested by the training institution receiving the donation, any employer donating material or equipment may agree to provide a minimum of three months maintenance or service to the institution in order to receive the tax credit. This agreement shall cover the cost of any maintenance required on the donated materials or equipment for the term of the agreement.
D. Orientation Agreement. Any employer donating materials or equipment to an eligible training institution shall agree to provide the training institution with materials or equipment operating instructions at no cost to the institution at a location specified in the agreement. Orientation instruction shall take place within two weeks after installation of the donated materials and equipment.
E. Eligible Donations. The tax credit shall be applicable to donations made after July 1, 1998 and before January 1, 2001.