§ 135.110 RSMo — Tax credit for new or expanded business facility — computation — maximum years and amount allowed — no credit allowed a public utility and certain businesses — definitions

1. Any taxpayer who shall establish a new business facility shall be allowed a credit, each year for ten years, in an amount determined pursuant to subsection 2 or 3 of this section, whichever is applicable, against the tax imposed by chapter 143 , excluding withholding tax imposed by sections 143.191 to 143.265 , or an insurance company which shall establish a new business facility by satisfying the requirements in subdivision (9) of section 135.100 shall be allowed a credit against the tax otherwise imposed by chapter 148 , and in the case of an insurance company exempt from the thirty percent employee requirement of section 135.230 , against any obligation imposed pursuant to section 375.916 , except that no taxpayer shall be entitled to multiple ten-year periods for subsequent expansions at the same facility, except as otherwise provided in this section. For the purpose of this section, the term "facility" shall mean, and be limited to, the facility or facilities which are located on the same site in which the new business facility is located, and in which the business conducted at such facility or facilities is directly related to the business conducted at the new business facility. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a taxpayer may be entitled to an additional ten-year period, and an additional six-year period after the expiration of such additional ten-year period, if a new business facility is expanded in the eighth, ninth or tenth year of the current ten-year period or in subsequent years following the expiration of the ten-year period, if the number of new business facility employees attributed to such expansion is at least twenty-five and the amount of new business facility investment attributed to such expansion is at least one million dollars. Credits may not be carried forward but shall be claimed for the taxable year during which commencement of commercial operations occurs at such new business facility, and for each of the nine succeeding taxable years. A letter of intent, as provided for in section 135.258 , must be filed with the department of economic development no later than fifteen days prior to the commencement of commercial operations at the new business facility. The initial application for claiming tax credits must be made in the taxpayer's tax period immediately following the tax period in which commencement of commercial operations began at the new business facility. This provision shall have effect on all initial applications filed on or after August 28, 1992. No credit shall be allowed pursuant to this section unless the number of new business facility employees engaged or maintained in employment at the new business facility for the taxable year for which the credit is claimed equals or exceeds two; except that the number of new business facility employees engaged or maintained in employment by a revenue-producing enterprise other than a revenue-producing enterprise defined in paragraphs (a) to (g) and (i) to (l) of subdivision (12) of section 135.100 which establishes an office as defined in subdivision (9) of section 135.100 shall equal or exceed twenty-five.

2. For tax periods beginning after August 28, 1991, in the case of a taxpayer operating an existing business facility, the credit allowed by subsection 1 of this section shall offset the greater of:

(1) Some portion of the income tax otherwise imposed by chapter 143 , excluding withholding tax imposed by sections 143.191 to 143.265 , or in the case of an insurance company, the tax on the direct premiums, as defined in chapter 148 , and in the case of an insurance company exempt from the thirty percent employee requirement of section 135.230 , against any obligation imposed pursuant to section 375.916 with respect to such taxpayer's new business facility income for the taxable year for which such credit is allowed; or

(2) Up to fifty percent or, in the case of an economic development project located within a distressed community as defined in section 135.530 , seventy-five percent of the business income tax otherwise imposed by chapter 143 , excluding withholding tax imposed by sections 143.191 to 143.265 , or in the case of an insurance company, the tax on the direct premiums, as defined in chapter 148 , and in the case of an insurance company exempt from the thirty percent employee requirement of section 135.230 , against any obligation imposed pursuant to section 375.916 if the business operates no other facilities in Missouri. In the case of an existing business facility operating more than one facility in Missouri, the credit allowed in subsection 1 of this section shall offset up to the greater of the portion prescribed in subdivision (1) of this subsection or twenty-five percent or, in the case of an economic development project located within a distressed community as defined in section 135.530 , thirty-five percent of the business' tax, except that no taxpayer operating more than one facility in Missouri shall be allowed to offset more than twenty-five percent or, in the case of an economic development project located within a distressed community as defined in section 135.530 , thirty-five percent of the taxpayer's business income tax in any tax period under the method prescribed in this subdivision. Such credit shall be an amount equal to the sum of one hundred dollars or, in the case of an economic development project located within a distressed community as defined in section 135.530 , one hundred fifty dollars for each new business facility employee plus one hundred dollars or, in the case of an economic development project located within a distressed community as defined in section 135.530 , one hundred fifty dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars, or major fraction thereof (which shall be deemed to be fifty-one percent or more) in new business facility investment. For the purpose of this section, tax credits earned by a taxpayer, who establishes a new business facility because it satisfies the requirements of paragraph (c) of subdivision (5) of section 135.100 , shall offset the greater of the portion prescribed in subdivision (1) of this subsection or up to fifty percent or, in the case of an economic development project located within a distressed community as defined in section 135.530 , seventy-five percent of the business' tax provided the business operates no other facilities in Missouri. In the case of a business operating more than one facility in Missouri, the credit allowed in subsection 1 of this section shall offset up to the greater of the portion prescribed in subdivision (1) of this subsection or twenty-five percent or, in the case of an economic development project located within a distressed community as defined in section 135.530 , thirty-five percent of the business' tax, except that no taxpayer operating more than one facility in Missouri shall be allowed to offset more than twenty-five percent or, in the case of an economic development project located within a distressed community as defined in section 135.530 , thirty-five percent of the taxpayer's business income tax in any tax period under the method prescribed in this subdivision.

3. For tax periods beginning after August 28, 1991, in the case of a taxpayer not operating an existing business facility, the credit allowed by subsection 1 of this section shall offset the greater of:

(1) Some portion of the income tax otherwise imposed by chapter 143 , excluding withholding tax imposed by sections 143.191 to 143.265 , or in the case of an insurance company, the tax on the direct premiums, as defined in chapter 148 , and in the case of an insurance company exempt from the thirty percent employee requirement of section 135.230 , against any obligation imposed pursuant to section 375.916 with respect to such taxpayer's new business facility income for the taxable year for which such credit is allowed; or

(2) Up to one hundred percent of the business income tax otherwise imposed by chapter 143 , excluding withholding tax imposed by sections 143.191 to 143.265 , or in the case of an insurance company, the tax on the direct premiums, as defined in chapter 148 , and in the case of an insurance company exempt from the thirty percent employee requirement of section 135.230 , against any obligation imposed pursuant to section 375.916 if the business has no other facilities operating in Missouri. In the case of a taxpayer not operating an existing business and operating more than one facility in Missouri, the credit allowed by subsection 1 of this section shall offset up to the greater of the portion prescribed in subdivision (1) of this subsection or twenty-five percent or, in the case of an economic development project located within a distressed community as defined in section 135.530 , thirty-five percent of the business' tax, except that no taxpayer operating more than one facility in Missouri shall be allowed to offset more than twenty-five percent or, in the case of an economic development project located within a distressed community as defined in section 135.530 , thirty-five percent of the taxpayer's business income tax in any tax period under the method prescribed in this subdivision. Such credit shall be an amount equal to the sum of seventy-five dollars or, in the case of an economic development project located within a distressed community as defined in section 135.530 , one hundred twenty-five dollars for each new business facility employee plus seventy-five dollars or, in the case of an economic development project located within a distressed community as defined in section 135.530 , one hundred twenty-five dollars for each one hundred thousand dollars, or major fraction thereof (which shall be deemed to be fifty-one percent or more) in new business facility investment.

4. The number of new business facility employees during any taxable year shall be determined by dividing by twelve the sum of the number of individuals employed on the last business day of each month of such taxable year. If the new business facility is in operation for less than the entire taxable year, the number of new business facility employees shall be determined by dividing the sum of the number of individuals employed on the last business day of each full calendar month during the portion of such taxable year during which the new business facility was in operation by the number of full calendar months during such period. For the purpose of computing the credit allowed by this section in the case of a facility which qualifies as a new business facility because it qualifies as a separate facility pursuant to subsection 6 of this section, and, in the case of a new business facility which satisfies the requirements of paragraph (c) of subdivision (5) of section 135.100 , or subdivision (11) of section 135.100 , the number of new business facility employees at such facility shall be reduced by the average number of individuals employed, computed as provided in this subsection, at the facility during the taxable year immediately preceding the taxable year in which such expansion, acquisition, or replacement occurred and shall further be reduced by the number of individuals employed by the taxpayer or related taxpayer that was subsequently transferred to the new business facility from another Missouri facility and for which credits authorized in this section are not being earned, whether such credits are earned because of an expansion, acquisition, relocation or the establishment of a new facility.

5. For the purpose of computing the credit allowed by this section in the case of a facility which qualifies as a new business facility because it qualifies as a separate facility pursuant to subsection 6 of this section, and, in the case of a new business facility which satisfies the requirements of paragraph (c) of subdivision (5) of section 135.100 or subdivision (11) of section 135.100 , the amount of the taxpayer's new business facility investment in such facility shall be reduced by the average amount, computed as provided in subdivision (8) of section 135.100 for new business facility investment, of the investment of the taxpayer, or related taxpayer immediately preceding such expansion or replacement or at the time of acquisition. Furthermore, the amount of the taxpayer's new business facility investment shall also be reduced by the amount of investment employed by the taxpayer or related taxpayer which was subsequently transferred to the new business facility from another Missouri facility and for which credits authorized in this section are not being earned, whether such credits are earned because of an expansion, acquisition, relocation or the establishment of a new facility.

6. If a facility, which does not constitute a new business facility, is expanded by the taxpayer, the expansion shall be considered a separate facility eligible for the credit allowed by this section if:

(1) The taxpayer's new business facility investment in the expansion during the tax period in which the credits allowed in this section are claimed exceeds one hundred thousand dollars, or, if less, one hundred percent of the investment in the original facility prior to expansion and if the number of new business facility employees engaged or maintained in employment at the expansion facility for the taxable year for which credit is claimed equals or exceeds two, except that the number of new business facility employees engaged or maintained in employment at the expansion facility for the taxable year for which the credit is claimed equals or exceeds twenty-five if an office as defined in subdivision (9) of section 135.100 is established by a revenue-producing enterprise other than a revenue-producing enterprise defined in paragraphs (a) to (g) and (i) to (l) of subdivision (12) of section 135.100 and the total number of employees at the facility after the expansion is at least two greater than the total number of employees before the expansion, except that the total number of employees at the facility after the expansion is at least greater than the number of employees before the expansion by twenty-five, if an office as defined in subdivision (9) of section 135.100 is established by a revenue-producing enterprise other than a revenue-producing enterprise defined in paragraphs (a) to (g) and (i) to (l) of subdivision (12) of section 135.100 ; and

(2) The expansion otherwise constitutes a new business facility. The taxpayer's investment in the expansion and in the original facility prior to expansion shall be determined in the manner provided in subdivision (8) of section 135.100 .

7. No credit shall be allowed pursuant to this section to a public utility, as such term is defined in section 386.020 . Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection to the contrary, motor carriers, barge lines or railroads engaged in transporting property for hire, or any interexchange telecommunications company or local exchange telecommunications company that establishes a new business facility shall be eligible to qualify for credits allowed in this section.

8. For the purposes of the credit described in this section, in the case of a corporation described in section 143.471 or partnership, in computing Missouri's tax liability, this credit shall be allowed to the following:

(1) The shareholders of the corporation described in section 143.471 ;

(2) The partners of the partnership.

9. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any employee-owned engineering firm classified as SIC 8711, architectural firm as classified SIC 8712, or accounting firm classified SIC 8721 establishing a new business facility because it qualifies as a headquarters as defined in subsection 10 of this section, shall be allowed the credits described in subsection 11 of this section under the same terms and conditions prescribed in sections 135.100 to 135.150 ; provided:

(1) Such facility maintains an average of at least five hundred new business facility employees as defined in subdivision (6) of section 135.100 during the taxpayer's tax period in which such credits are being claimed; and

(2) Such facility maintains an average of at least twenty million dollars in new business facility investment as defined in subdivision (8) of section 135.100 during the taxpayer's tax period in which such credits are being claimed.

10. For the purpose of the credits allowed in subsection 9 of this section:

(1) "Employee-owned" means the business employees own directly or indirectly, including through an employee stock ownership plan or trust at least:

(a) Seventy-five percent of the total business stock, if the taxpayer is a corporation described in section 143.441 ; or

(b) One hundred percent of the interest in the business if the taxpayer is a corporation described in section 143.471 , a partnership, or a limited liability company; and

(2) "Headquarters" means:

(a) The administrative management of at least three integrated facilities operated by the taxpayer or related taxpayer; and

(b) The taxpayer's business has been headquartered in this state for more than fifty years.

11. The tax credits allowed in subsection 9 of this section shall be the greater of:

(1) Four hundred dollars for each new business facility employee as computed in subsection 4 of this section and four percent of new business facility investment as computed in subsection 5 of this section; or

(2) Five hundred dollars for each new business facility employee as computed in subsection 4 of this section, and five hundred dollars of each one hundred thousand dollars of new business facility investment as computed in subsection 5 of this section.

12. For the purpose of the credit described in subsection 9 of this section, in the case of a small corporation described in section 143.471 , or a partnership, or a limited liability company, the credits allowed in subsection 9 of this section shall be apportioned in proportion to the share of ownership of each shareholder, partner or stockholder on the last day of the taxpayer's tax period for which such credits are being claimed.

13. For the purpose of the credit described in subsection 9 of this section, tax credits earned, to the extent such credits exceed the taxpayer's Missouri tax on taxable business income, shall constitute an overpayment of taxes and in such case, be refunded to the taxpayer provided such refunds are used by the taxpayer to purchase specified facility items. For the purpose of the refund as authorized in this subsection, "specified facility items" means equipment, computers, computer software, copiers, tenant finishing, furniture and fixtures installed and in use at the new business facility during the taxpayer's taxable year. The taxpayer shall perfect such refund by attesting in writing to the director, subject to the penalties of perjury, the requirements prescribed in this subsection have been met and submitting any other information the director may require.

14. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any taxpayer may sell, assign, exchange, convey or otherwise transfer tax credits allowed in subsection 9 of this section under the terms and conditions prescribed in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection. Such taxpayer, referred to as the assignor for the purpose of this subsection, may sell, assign, exchange or otherwise transfer earned tax credits:

(1) For no less than seventy-five percent of the par value of such credits; and

(2) In an amount not to exceed one hundred percent of such earned credits.