MCL 208.1429 — Taxpayer certified under Michigan next energy authority act; tax credit; definitions

(1) A taxpayer may claim a credit against the tax imposed by this act for 1 or more of the following as applicable:
(a) The credit allowed under subsection (2).
(b) The credit allowed under subsection (5).
(2) A taxpayer that is certified under the Michigan next energy authority act, 2002 PA 593, MCL 207.821 to 207.827, as an eligible taxpayer may claim a nonrefundable credit for the tax year equal to the amount determined under subdivision (a) or (b), whichever is less:
(a) The amount by which the taxpayer's tax liability attributable to qualified business activity for the tax year exceeds the taxpayer's baseline tax liability attributable to qualified business activity.
(b) Ten percent of the amount by which the taxpayer's adjusted qualified business activity performed in this state outside of a renaissance zone for the tax year exceeds the taxpayer's adjusted qualified business activity performed in this state outside of a renaissance zone for the 2001 tax year under section 39e of former 1975 PA 228.
(3) For any tax year in which the eligible taxpayer's tax liability attributable to qualified business activity for the tax year does not exceed the taxpayer's baseline tax liability attributable to qualified business activity, the eligible taxpayer shall not claim the credit allowed under subsection (2).
(4) A taxpayer that claims a credit under subsection (2) shall attach a copy of each of the following as issued pursuant to the Michigan next energy authority act, 2002 PA 593, MCL 207.821 to 207.827, to the annual return required under this act for each tax year in which the taxpayer claims the credit allowed under subsection (2):
(a) The proof of certification that the taxpayer is an eligible taxpayer for the tax year.
(b) The proof of certification of the taxpayer's tax liability attributable to qualified business activity for the tax year.
(c) The proof of certification of the taxpayer's baseline tax liability attributable to qualified business activity.
(5) A taxpayer that is a qualified alternative energy entity may claim a credit for the taxpayer's qualified payroll amount. A taxpayer shall claim the credit under this subsection after all allowable nonrefundable credits under this act.
(6) If the credit allowed under subsection (5) exceeds the tax liability of the taxpayer for the tax year, that portion of the credit that exceeds the tax liability shall be refunded.
(7) As used in this section:
(a) "Adjusted qualified business activity performed in this state outside of a renaissance zone" means either of the following:
(i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii), the taxpayer's payroll for qualified business activity performed in this state outside of a renaissance zone.
(ii) For a partnership, limited liability company, S corporation, or individual, the amount determined under subparagraph (i) plus the product of the following as related to the taxpayer:
(A) Business income.
(B) The apportionment factor as determined under chapter 3.
(C) The alternative energy business activity factor.
(b) "Alternative energy business activity factor" means a fraction, the numerator of which is the ratio of the value of the taxpayer's property used for qualified business activity and located in this state outside of a renaissance zone for the year for which the factor is being calculated to the value of all of the taxpayer's property located in this state for that year plus the ratio of the taxpayer's payroll for qualified business activity performed in this state outside of a renaissance zone for that year to all of the taxpayer's payroll in this state for that year and the denominator of which is 2.
(c) "Alternative energy marine propulsion system", "alternative energy system", "alternative energy vehicle", and "alternative energy technology" mean those terms as defined in the Michigan next energy authority act, 2002 PA 593, MCL 207.821 to 207.827.
(d) "Alternative energy zone" means a renaissance zone designated as an alternative energy zone by the board of the Michigan strategic fund under section 8a of the Michigan renaissance zone act, 1996 PA 376, MCL 125.2688a.
(e) "Baseline tax liability attributable to qualified business activity" means the taxpayer's tax liability for the 2001 tax year under former 1975 PA 228 multiplied by the taxpayer's alternative energy business activity factor for the 2001 tax year under former 1975 PA 228. A taxpayer with a 2001 tax year of less than 12 months under former 1975 PA 228 shall annualize the amount calculated under this subdivision as necessary to determine baseline tax liability attributable to qualified business activity that reflects a 12-month period.
(f) "Eligible taxpayer" means a taxpayer that has proof of certification of qualified business activity under the Michigan next energy authority act, 2002 PA 593, MCL 207.821 to 207.827.
(g) "Payroll" means total salaries and wages before deducting any personal or dependency exemptions.
(h) "Qualified alternative energy entity" means a taxpayer located in an alternative energy zone.
(i) "Qualified business activity" means research, development, or manufacturing of an alternative energy marine propulsion system, an alternative energy system, an alternative energy vehicle, alternative energy technology, or renewable fuel.
(j) "Qualified employee" means an individual who is employed by a qualified alternative energy entity, whose job responsibilities are related to the research, development, or manufacturing activities of the qualified alternative energy entity, and whose regular place of employment is within an alternative energy zone.
(k) "Qualified payroll amount" means an amount equal to payroll of the qualified alternative energy entity attributable to all qualified employees in the tax year of the qualified alternative energy entity for which the credit under subsection (6) is being claimed, multiplied by the tax rate for that tax year.
(l) "Renaissance zone" means a renaissance zone designated under the Michigan renaissance zone act, 1996 PA 376, MCL 125.2681 to 125.2696.
(m) "Renewable fuel" means 1 or more of the following:
(i) Biodiesel or biodiesel blends containing at least 20% biodiesel. As used in this subparagraph, "biodiesel" means a diesel fuel substitute consisting of methyl or ethyl esters produced from the transesterification of animal or vegetable fats with methanol or ethanol.
(ii) Biomass. As used in this subparagraph, "biomass" means residues from the wood and paper products industries, residues from food production and processing, trees and grasses grown specifically to be used as energy crops, and gaseous fuels produced from solid biomass, animal wastes, municipal waste, or landfills.
(n) "Tax liability attributable to qualified business activity" means the taxpayer's tax liability multiplied by the taxpayer's alternative energy business activity factor for the tax year.
(o) "Tax rate" means the rate imposed under section 51 of the income tax act of 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.51, annualized as necessary, for the tax year in which the qualified alternative energy entity claims a credit under subsection (5).