SB591 SD1

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that section 235-110.7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to the capital goods excise tax credit, has been difficult to administer for both taxpayers and the department of taxation because the section references Internal Revenue Code provisions as of December 31, 1984. Since 1984, many of these Internal Revenue Code sections have been repealed or substantially amended. To assist the administration of this frequently used income tax credit, this Act amends section 235‑110.7 to eliminate, to the extent possible, references to outdated Internal Revenue Code provisions. This bill is not intended to change the application of section 235‑110.7.

SECTION 2. Section 235-110.7, Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended to read as follows:

"§235-110.7 Capital goods excise tax credit. [(a) There shall be allowed to each taxpayer subject to the tax imposed by this chapter a capital goods excise tax credit which shall be deductible from the taxpayer's net income tax liability, if any, imposed by this chapter for the taxable year in which the credit is properly claimed.

The amount of the tax credit shall be determined by the application of the following rates against the cost of the eligible depreciable tangible personal property used by the taxpayer in a trade or business and placed in service within Hawaii after December 31, 1987. For calendar years beginning after: December 31, 1987, the applicable rate shall be three per cent; December 31, 1988, and thereafter, the applicable rate shall be four per cent. For taxpayers with fiscal taxable years, the applicable rate shall be the rate for the calendar year in which the eligible depreciable tangible personal property used in the trade or business is placed in service within Hawaii.

In the case of a partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust, the tax credit allowable is for eligible depreciable tangible personal property which is placed in service by the entity. The cost upon which the tax credit is computed shall be determined at the entity level. Distribution and share of credit shall be determined by rules.

In the case of eligible depreciable tangible personal property for which a credit for sales or use taxes paid to another state is allowable under section 238-3(i), the amount of the tax credit allowed under this section shall not exceed the amount of use tax actually paid under chapter 238 relating to such tangible personal property.

If a deduction is taken under section 179 (with respect to election to expense certain depreciable business assets) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, no tax credit shall be allowed for that portion of the cost of property for which the deduction was taken.

(b) If the capital goods excise tax credit allowed under subsection (a) exceeds the taxpayer's net income tax liability, the excess of credit over liability shall be refunded to the taxpayer; provided that no refunds or payment on account of the tax credit allowed by this section shall be made for amounts less than $1.

All claims for tax credits under this section, including any amended claims, must be filed on or before the end of the twelfth month following the close of the taxable year for which the credits may be claimed. Failure to comply with the foregoing provision shall constitute a waiver of the right to claim the credit.

~~(c) Application for the capital goods excise tax credit shall be upon forms provided by the department of taxation.~~

(d) Sections 47 (with respect to dispositions of section 38 property and the recapture percentages) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, as of December 31, 1984, and 280F as operative for this chapter (with respect to limitation on investment tax credit and depreciation for luxury automobiles; limitation where certain property used for personal purposes) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, shall be operative for purposes of this section.

(e) As used in this section, the definition of section 38 property (with respect to investment in depreciable tangible personal property) as defined by section 48(a)(1)(A), (a)(1)(B), (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(7), (a)(8), (a)(10)(A), (b), (c), (f), (l), (m), and (s) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended as of December 31, 1984, is operative for the purposes of this section only.

~~As used in this section:~~

"Cost" means (1) the actual invoice price of the tangible personal property, or (2) the basis from which depreciation is taken under section 167 (with respect to depreciation) or from which a deduction may be taken under section 168 (with respect to accelerated cost recovery system) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, whichever is less.

"Eligible depreciable tangible personal property" is section 38 property as defined by the operative provisions of section 48 and having a depreciable life under section 167 or for which a deduction may be taken under section 168 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.

~~"Placed in service" means the earliest of the following taxable years:~~

~~(1)~~ ~~The taxable year in which, under the:~~

~~(A)~~ ~~Taxpayer's depreciation practice, the period for depreciation; or~~

~~(B)~~ ~~Accelerated cost recovery system, a claim for recovery allowances; with respect to such property begins; or~~

~~(2)~~ ~~The taxable year in which the property is placed in a condition or state of readiness and availability for a specifically assigned function.~~

~~"Purchase" means an acquisition of property.~~

"Tangible personal property" means tangible personal property which is placed in service within Hawaii after December 31, 1987, and the purchase or importation of which resulted in a transaction which was subject to the imposition and payment of tax at the rate of four per cent under chapter 237 or 238. "Tangible personal property" does not include tangible personal property which is an integral part of a building or structure or tangible personal property used in a foreign trade zone, as defined under chapter 212.] (a) Capital goods excise tax credit allowed. There shall be allowed to each taxpayer subject to the tax imposed by this chapter a capital goods excise tax credit which shall be deductible from the taxpayer's net income tax liability, if any, imposed by this chapter for the taxable year in which the credit is properly claimed, if the following conditions are met:

(1) The taxpayer purchases or imports eligible property;

(2) The purchase or import of eligible property results in a transaction that is subject to the imposition and payment of tax at the rate of four per cent under chapters 237 or 238;

(3) The eligible property is used by the taxpayer in a trade or business; and

(4) The eligible property is placed in service within Hawaii.

(b) Amount of credit. The amount of the tax credit shall be four per cent of the basis, as defined in subsection (q), of eligible property used by the taxpayer in a trade or business and placed in service within Hawaii. Any credit claimed under this section shall be subject to the following limitations:

(1) In the case of eligible property for which a credit for sales or use taxes paid to another state is allowable under section 238-3(i), the amount of the tax credit allowed under this section shall not exceed the amount of use tax actually paid under chapter 238 relating to such tangible personal property.

(2) If a deduction is taken under section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, no tax credit shall be allowed for that portion of the basis of property for which the deduction was taken.

(3) Solar and wind energy property. If a taxpayer is eligible for both the income tax credit under section 235‑12.5, and the capital goods excise tax credit for a particular solar or wind energy property, the credit under section 235-12.5, shall be deducted from the taxpayer's net income tax liability before the capital goods excise tax credit.

(c) Credit allowed to a partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust. In the case of a partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust, the tax credit allowable is for eligible property that is placed in service by the entity. The basis upon which the tax credit is computed shall be determined at the entity level.

(d) Credit is refundable. If the capital goods excise tax credit allowed under subsection (a) exceeds the taxpayer's net income tax liability, the excess of credit over liability shall be refunded to the taxpayer; provided that no refunds or payment on account of the tax credit allowed by this section shall be made for amounts less than $1.

(e) Time for claiming credit. All claims for tax credits under this section, including any amended claims, shall be filed on or before the end of the twelfth month following the close of the taxable year for which the credits may be claimed. Failure to comply with the foregoing provision shall constitute a waiver of the right to claim the credit.

(f) Taxable year in which credit is allowable. The credit shall be allowed only for the first taxable year in which the property is placed in service by the taxpayer. If in the first taxable year in which a taxpayer places property in service no portion of the property qualifies as eligible property, no credit shall be allowed to the taxpayer with respect to the property. If a portion of the property qualifies as eligible property in the first year in which the property is placed in service, then a credit only as to the portion that qualifies shall be allowed to the taxpayer.

(g) Department's forms. Application for the capital goods excise tax credit shall be upon forms provided by the department of taxation.

(h) Credit is a taxable income item. The taxpayer shall treat the amount of credit allowable and claimed as a taxable income item for the taxable year in which it is properly recognized under the method of accounting used to compute taxable income. Alternatively, the basis of eligible property for depreciation or ACRS purposes for state income taxes shall be reduced by the amount of credit allowable and claimed.

(i) Recapture of credit. Recapture of the previously claimed credit applies where a recapture event occurs under paragraph (2) and the percentage of credit provided in paragraph (1) shall be included as income under chapter 235 or 241 in the year a recapture event occurs.

(1) Recapture percentage. Where the recovery property or depreciable property ceases to be eligible property within the following period, which constitutes a full year after being placed in service, the accompanying percentage shall be the recapture percentage:

Recapture period Recapture percentage

One full year 100

Two full years 66

Three full years 33

Four full years 0

(2) Recapture event. A recapture event occurs when:

(A) Property ceases to be eligible property with respect to a taxpayer. Property ceases to be eligible property with respect to a taxpayer when:

(i) The property ceases to be owned by taxpayer. Recapture would be triggered upon disposition of the property.

(ii) The property ceases to be eligible property. The cessation shall be treated as having occurred on the first day of the taxable year.

(B) There is a decrease in the business use of listed property to less than fifty per cent. During the recapture period, all or a portion of the credit taken in an earlier year for listed property may be subject to recapture if:

(i) The percentage of business use falls below the percentage of business use for the year the listed property was placed in service; or

(ii) The listed property is converted from business to personal use and does not satisfy the more-than-fifty per cent business use test. The terms "listed property" and "the more-than-fifty per cent business use test" are defined in subsection (q).

(C) There is a decrease in basis of eligible property. During the recapture period, all or a portion of previously taken credit as determined in paragraph (1) may be subject to recapture if the basis of eligible property used to calculate the credit decreases, either through a refund in the purchase price or usage of the property for personal purposes.

(j) Application of recapture rules to partnerships, S corporations, estates, or trusts shall be as follows:

(1) In general. In the case of a partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust, the recapture rule applies to a partner, shareholder, or beneficiary who originally received the benefit of a credit if within the recapture period:

(A) The S corporation, partnership, estate, or trust disposes of eligible property;

(B) If eligible property otherwise ceases to be eligible property in the hands of the entity; or

(C) The partner's, shareholder's, or beneficiary's interest in the entity is reduced, for example, by sale of interest in the entity, below a specified percentage as defined in subsection (q).

(2) Prior recapture determination. In making a recapture determination, there may be taken into account any prior recapture determination made with respect to the partner, shareholder, or beneficiary in connection with the same property.

(k) Application of recapture rules to valid S corporation election shall be as follows:

(1) In general. If a C corporation makes a valid election under section 235-2.4 to be an S corporation, then on the last day of the taxable year immediately preceding the first taxable year for which the election is effective, any eligible property the basis of which was taken into account to compute the C corporation's credit allowable in taxable years before the first taxable year for which the election is effective and which has not been disposed of or otherwise ceased to be eligible property with respect to the C corporation before the last day shall be considered as having ceased to be eligible property with respect to the C corporation and the recapture rule shall apply. However, the recapture rule shall not apply if the S corporation and each of its shareholders on the first day of the first taxable year for which the election under section 235‑2.4 is to be effective, or on the date of the election, whichever is later, execute an agreement as is described in paragraph (2).

(2) The agreement shall:

(A) Be signed by the shareholders; and on behalf of the S corporation by a person who is duly authorized;

(B) State that if eligible property for which the credit was taken is later disposed of by, or ceases to be eligible property with respect to the S corporation during the recapture period and during a taxable year for which the S election is effective, each signer agrees to notify the director of a disposition or cessation and to be jointly and severally liable to pay the director an amount equal to the increase in tax provided by the recapture rule;

(D) Be filed with the department of taxation for the taxable year immediately preceding the first taxable year for which the S election is effective; and

(E) Be filed with the department of taxation on or before the due date, including extensions of time, of the return, unless the director permits, upon a showing of good cause, that the agreement may be filed on a later date.

(3) Shareholder's share of the amount of credit recapture. A shareholder's share of the amount of credit recapture shall be determined as if the property had ceased to be eligible property as of the last day of the taxable year immediately preceding the first taxable year for which the S election is effective; provided that, the recapture percentage shall be determined as if the property ceased to be eligible property on the date the property actually ceased to be eligible property.

(l) Transfer of eligible property out of Hawaii. During the recapture period, all or a portion of previously taken credit as determined in subsection (i)(1) shall be subject to recapture if the eligible property is transferred out of the State of Hawaii.

(m) Exceptions to the recapture rule shall be as follows:

(1) Transfer by reason of death. A transfer by reason of death is not considered to be a disposition of eligible property subject to the recapture rule. This exception to the recapture rule applies to transfers by reason of the death of a sole proprietor, partner, S corporation shareholder, or beneficiary of an estate or trust.

(2) Transaction to which section 381(a) of the Internal Revenue Code applies. A disposition of eligible property in a transaction to which section 381(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applies is not considered to be a disposition of eligible property, subject to the recapture rule; provided that, if the acquiring corporation disposes of the eligible property before the close of the recapture period, there shall be an early disposition and the recapture rule shall be triggered.

(3) Mere change in form of conducting a trade or business. Recapture is not required as a result of a mere change in the form of conducting a trade or business if:

(A) The property is retained as eligible property in the same trade or business;

(B) The transferor, or in a case where the transferor is a partnership, estate or trust, or S corporation, the partner, beneficiary, or shareholder, of eligible property retains a substantial interest in the trade or business;

(C) Substantially all the property, whether or not eligible property, necessary to the trade or business is transferred in the change in form; and

(D) The basis of eligible property in the hands of the transferee is determined in whole or in part by reference to the basis of eligible property in the hands of the transferor.

(4) Paragraph (3) shall not apply to the transfer of eligible property if section 381 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applies to the transfer.

(5) S corporation. Neither an election to be treated as an S corporation, nor a termination or loss of S corporation status automatically triggers recapture. However, recapture may result if one or more of the recapture events discussed in paragraph (6) occurs. In determining whether a reduction in a shareholder's interest will result in recapture, the 66 2/3 per cent and 33 1/3 per cent rules apply even if the corporation is no longer an S corporation.

(6) Disposition or cessation. Property ceases to be eligible property with respect to a transferor, or in a case where the transferor is a partnership, estate or trust, or S corporation, the partner, beneficiary or shareholder, and the transferor shall make a recapture determination if during the recapture period:

(A) The transferee disposes of eligible property;

(B) Eligible property otherwise ceases to be eligible property in the hands of the transferee; or

(C) The transferor, or in a case where the transferor is a partnership, estate or trust, or S corporation, the partner, beneficiary, or shareholder, does not retain a substantial interest in the trade or business directly or indirectly through ownership in other entities; provided that the other entities' bases in the interests are determined in whole or in part by reference to the bases of the interest in the hands of the transferor.

(n) Transfer between spouses incident to divorce. A transfer between spouses incident to divorce is not considered to be a disposition, subject to the recapture rule. Subsequent to a transfer between spouses or incident to divorce, a disposition by the transferee during the recapture period may result in recapture to the same extent as if the disposition had been made by the transferor at that later date.

(o) Property destroyed by casualty. The recapture rule shall not apply to eligible property which is disposed of or otherwise ceases to be eligible property with respect to the taxpayer as a result of its destruction or damage by fire, storm, shipwreck, or other casualty, or theft.

(p) Downward basis adjustment pursuant to section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code. In the case of a partnership, a downward basis adjustment pursuant to section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, is not subject to recapture because use of the property is not considered to be terminated for purposes of the credit.

(q) Definitions. For purposes of this section:

"33 1/3 per cent rule" means that once there has been a recapture by reason of the 66 2/3 per cent rule, there is no further recapture until the partner's, shareholder's, or beneficiary's interest is reduced to less than 33 1/3 per cent of its interest at the time the credit was taken. Thereafter, any reduction in interest, however small, shall again subject the partner, shareholder, or beneficiary to the recapture provisions.

"66 2/3 per cent rule" means that if a partner's, shareholder's, or beneficiary's interest in the entity is reduced below 66 2/3 per cent of its interest at the time the credit was taken, a pro rata share of the partner's, shareholder's, or beneficiary's interest in the entity's eligible property shall cease to be eligible property with respect to the partner, shareholder, or beneficiary, and credit recapture shall be required.

"ACRS" means the accelerated cost recovery system.

"Alternative energy property" consists of the following types of property:

(1) A boiler, the primary fuel for which shall be an alternate substance. An alternate substance is any substance other than oil, natural gas, or any product of oil and natural gas;

(2) A burner, including necessary on-site equipment to bring the alternate substance to the burner, for a combustor other than a boiler if the primary fuel for the burner will be an alternate substance;

(3) Equipment for turning an alternate substance into a synthetic liquid, gaseous, or solid fuel;

(4) Equipment designed to modify existing equipment which uses oil or natural gas as fuel or as feedstock so that the existing equipment will use either a substance other than oil and natural gas or oil mixed with a substance other than oil and natural gas where the other substance will provide not less than twenty‑five per cent of the fuel or feedstock;

(5) Equipment to convert coal, including lignite, or any non-marketable substance derived therefrom, into a substitute for a petroleum or natural gas derived feedstock for the manufacture of chemicals or other products, or coal, including lignite, or any substance derived therefrom, into methanol, ammonia, or a hydroprocessed coal liquid or solid;

(6) Pollution control equipment required by federal, state, or local law, ordinances, regulations, or rules to be installed on or in connection with equipment described in paragraphs (1) to (5) of this definition;

(7) Equipment used for the unloading, transfer, storage, reclaiming from storage, and preparation, including, but not limited to, washing, crushing, drying, and weighing, at the point of use for an alternate substance for use in equipment described in paragraphs (1) to (6) of this definition. This includes equipment used for the storage of fuel derived from garbage at the site at which fuel was produced from garbage; and

(8) Equipment used to produce, distribute, or use energy from a geothermal deposit, but only, in the case of electricity generated by geothermal power, up to, but not including, the electrical transmission state.

"Basis" means the cost of property.

(1) In general. The basis of new eligible property which has been constructed, reconstructed, or erected for the taxpayer's use includes that portion of the cost of the property that is subject to the imposition and payment of tax at the rate of four per cent under chapter 237 or 238.

(2) Whether the cost or other basis of the construction, reconstruction, or erection is attributable to all or part of a property placed in service may be determined by engineering estimates or by cost accounting records.

(3) In the case of reconstructed property, the cost of the property does not include the adjusted basis of the reconstructed property at the time the reconstruction commences. However, the reconstructed property may qualify as used eligible property, as discussed in this subsection, and the cost of the property may include the adjusted basis of the reconstructed property at the time the reconstruction commences if the adjusted basis of the property is subject to the imposition and payment of tax at the rate of four per cent under chapter 237 or 238.

(4) If constructed, reconstructed, or erected property is placed in service over a span of more than one taxable year, the credit shall be allowed to the taxpayer for a particular taxable year with respect to so much of the eligible property that is subject to the imposition and payment of tax at the rate of four per cent under chapter 237 or 238.

(5) Basis of used eligible property. The basis of used eligible property is the cost of the property that is subject to the imposition and payment of tax at the rate of four per cent under chapter 237 or 238.

(6) Basis for eligible property of a partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust. In the case of a partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust, the credit allowable is for eligible property that is placed in service by the entity. The basis upon which the credit is computed is determined at the entity level. Each partner, S corporation shareholder, or beneficiary of an estate or trust shall separately take into account for its taxable year with or within which the entity's taxable year ends, the partner's, shareholder's, or beneficiary's share of the basis and resulting credit. A partner's share of the basis shall be determined in accordance with the ratio in effect on the date on which the eligible property is placed in service in which the partners divide the general profits of the partnership. The basis of partnership eligible property that is subject to a special allocation that is recognized under section 704(a) and 704(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be recognized for purposes of the credit, and an upward basis adjustment pursuant to section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, is not eligible for the credit. A basis adjustment under section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, is not eligible for the credit because the adjustment is not a transaction that is subject to the imposition and payment of tax at the rate of four per cent under chapter 237 or 238. Each S corporation shareholder's basis of eligible property is the shareholder's allocated share of the corporation's basis in the eligible property. A beneficiary's share of the basis is apportioned between the entity and the beneficiaries, based on the income of the entity allocable to each on the date the eligible property is placed in service. The term "beneficiary" includes an heir, legatee, or devisee.

(7) Basis limitation if a deduction is taken under section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code. If a deduction is taken under section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the portion of the basis of property for which the deduction is taken is not considered in determining the amount of credit allowable.

(8) Basis limitation for vehicles subject to section 280F of the Internal Revenue Code. For purposes of determining the amount of credit available, the basis for vehicles subject to section 280F of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, used predominantly for business purposes is limited to an amount equal to the amount necessary to obtain the maximum depreciation deduction allowed in the first year for both luxury passenger automobiles and trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles under section 280F of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Use is predominantly for business purposes if over fifty per cent of the total use is for business purposes. This limitation applies before any percentage reduction for personal use, as discussed in paragraph (9). If more than one taxpayer has an interest in a vehicle subject to section 280F of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, they are treated as one taxpayer for purposes of the basis limitation. The limitation is to be apportioned among the taxpayers according to their interests in the passenger automobile.

(9) Basis limitation for listed property that does not satisfy the more-than-fifty per cent business use test. Listed property will not be treated as eligible property, and the credit is denied if the listed property does not satisfy the more-than-fifty per cent business use test. If the qualified business use satisfies the more-than-fifty per cent business use test, but is not used one hundred per cent for business, the amount of credit is limited to the percentage of business use. The amount of credit allowable in the taxable year in which the listed property is placed in service is unaffected by any increase in the business use percentage in a subsequent year; provided that, if there is a reduction in the business use of property, then the credit taken with respect to the listed property may be subject to recapture as provided in subsection (i).

"Biomass property" means property that is a boiler, the primary fuel for which is an alternate substance, a burner, including necessary on-site equipment to bring the alternate substance to the burner, for a combustor other than a boiler if the primary fuel will be an alternate substance, or equipment for converting an alternate substance into a qualified fuel, including equipment used to store fuel derived from garbage at the site at which such fuel was produced from garbage. For purposes of defining biomass property, an alternate substance means any substance other than an inorganic substance and coal, including lignite, or any coal product. Biomass property also includes pollution control equipment which is required to be installed on or in connection with the above equipment, as well as equipment used for the unloading, transfer, storage, reclaiming from storage, and preparation at point of use of an alternate substance for use in that equipment.

"Building" means any structure or edifice that encloses a space within its walls, and is usually covered by a roof. The term also includes any such structure that is constructed by or for a lessee, even if the structure must be removed, or ownership of the structure reverts to the lessor at the termination of the lease.

"Bulk storage" means the storage of a commodity in a large mass before its consumption or use.

"Cogeneration equipment" means property which is an integral part of a system for using the same fuel to produce both qualified energy and electricity at an industrial or commercial facility. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "industrial" means the purification of water and the desalinization of water.

"Cost" means the lesser of either:

(1) The actual invoice price of eligible property; or

(2) The basis from which a deduction is taken under section 167 or 168 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

"Credit" means the capital goods excise tax credit.

"Eligible property."

(1) Eligible property is defined as:

(A) Property which is tangible personal property or other tangible property;

(B) Recovery property, within the meaning of section 168 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, without regard to useful life, or any other property with respect to which depreciation is allowable to the taxpayer; and

(C) Property which has an estimated useful life or recovery period, determined as of the time the property is placed in service, of three years or more. A property shall have the same estimated useful life or recovery period as that which is used for depreciation or ACRS purposes.

(2) Property which is eligible for the credit is (A) new eligible property or (B) used eligible property. The terms "new eligible property" and "used eligible property" are defined in this subsection.

(3) Tangible personal property, other than a central air conditioning or heating unit, may qualify as eligible property regardless of whether it is used as an "integral part" of an activity, as defined in this subsection, or constitutes a research or storage facility used in connection with such activity, as required for "other tangible property," as defined in this subsection.

(4) Recovery or depreciable property requirement. Eligible property shall be either recovery property within the meaning of section 168 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, without regard to useful life, or any other property with respect to which depreciation is allowed by the taxpayer.

(A) If only part of a property is depreciable, only a pro rata portion of the property may qualify as eligible property.

(B) Property does not qualify as eligible property to the extent that a deduction for depreciation thereon is disallowed under section 274 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(5) Boilers fueled by oil or gas. Generally, any boiler, used in Hawaii, which is primarily fueled by petroleum or petroleum products, including natural gas, qualifies as eligible property.

(6) Energy property. Energy property, as defined in this subsection, qualifies as eligible property.

(7) Property which generally does not qualify as eligible property. Certain classes of property that generally do not qualify as eligible property and thereby are not eligible for the credit include:

(A) A building or its structural components.

(B) Property purchased for use in a foreign trade zone as defined in chapter 212.

(C) Property used by an organization which is exempt from the tax imposed by chapter 235, unless the property is used predominantly in an unrelated trade or business, the income from which is subject to tax under chapter 235.

(D) Intangible property.

(E) Property used for lodging.

(8) Exceptions to paragraph (7):

(A) A nonlodging commercial facility that is available to persons not using the lodging facility on the same basis as it is available to tenants of the lodging facility may qualify as eligible property.

(B) Property used by a hotel, motel, or other similar establishment in connection with the trade or business of furnishing lodging where more than one half of the accommodation in the hotel, motel, or other similar establishment is used by transients may qualify as eligible property. An accommodation will be considered to accommodate transients if the rental period is normally less than thirty days.

"Energy property" means certain property intended to reduce the amount of oil, natural gas, or other energy consumed in heating or cooling a building or used in an industrial process. Energy property includes:

(1) Alternative energy property;

(2) Solar or wind energy property;

(3) Specially defined energy property;

(4) Recycling equipment;

(5) Hydroelectric generating property;

(6) Cogeneration equipment; and

(7) Biomass property.

"Hydroelectric generating property" means property installed at a hydroelectric site which is:

(1) Equipment for increased capacity to generate electricity by water up to, but not including, the electrical transmission stage; and

(2) Structures for housing the generating equipment, fish passageways, and dam rehabilitation property, required by reason of the installation of equipment described in paragraph (1) of this definition.

"Integral part" means property used directly in one of the activities specified as a condition under which other tangible property may be considered eligible property.

"Lease" is defined as it is for federal income tax purposes.

"Listed property" means passenger automobiles and other property used as a means of transportation; property generally used for purposes of entertainment, recreation, or amusement; computers and related peripheral equipment; and other property as determined by the department of taxation.

"Manufacturing, production, and extraction" means:

(1) Construction, reconstruction, or making of property out of scrap, salvage, junk, new, or raw material by processing, manipulating, refining, or changing the form of an article, or by combining or assembling two or more articles;

(2) Cultivation of the soil;

(3) Raising of livestock; or

(4) Mining of minerals.

"More-than-fifty per cent business use test" means that certain business use of listed property, referred to as "qualified business use," must exceed fifty per cent. For purposes of determining the more-than-fifty per cent business use test, use in a trade or business does not include use in an investment or other activity conducted for the production of income. However, if the more-than-fifty-per-cent-business-use test has been met, the percentage of investment use may be added in when figuring the total business use for purposes of calculating the amount of credit allowable.

"New eligible property" means property that qualifies under at least one of the following conditions:

(1) The property is eligible property, the original use of which commences with the taxpayer after the date the taxpayer acquires it;

(2) The property is eligible property that is:

(A) Sold and leased back by the same taxpayer within three months of the date the property was originally placed in service by the taxpayer; or

(B) Leased to the same taxpayer within three months of the date the property was originally placed in service by that taxpayer; or

(3) The property is eligible property, the construction, reconstruction, or erection of which is placed in service by the taxpayer, but only with respect to that portion of the basis as is discussed in paragraphs (1) through (5) of the definition of "basis" in this subsection. It is not necessary that the materials entering into the construction, reconstruction, or erection be new in use. Construction, reconstruction, or erection begins when physical work is started on the construction, reconstruction, or erection.

"Original use" means the first use to which the property is put, whether or not it is the taxpayer's first use of the property.

"Other tangible property" is tangible property, other than tangible personal property, as defined in this subsection, which qualifies as eligible property by meeting one of the following three conditions:

(1) The property is used as an integral part of manufacturing, production, extraction, or furnishing transportation, communication, electrical energy, gas water, or sewage disposal services;

(2) The property is used as a research or storage facility used in connection with an activity referred to in paragraph (1) of this definition; or

(3) The property is a facility used in connection with an activity referred to in paragraph (1) of this definition for the bulk storage of fungible commodities, including commodities in a liquid or gaseous state.

"Placed in service" means property that is placed in service in the earliest of the following taxable years:

(1) The taxable year in which the period for depreciation with respect to the property begins;

(2) The taxable year in which, under ACRS, a claim for recovery allowances with respect to the property begins; or

(3) The taxable year in which the property is placed in a condition or state of readiness and available for a specifically assigned function by the taxpayer.

In a sale-leaseback transaction, the property shall be considered to be placed in service on the date the property was first placed in service by the seller-lessee.

"Property used for lodging" means property which is used predominantly to furnish lodging; or in connection with the furnishing of lodging.

(1) Property used predominantly to furnish lodging includes that which is used in the living quarters of a lodging facility such as, for example, beds, other furniture, refrigerators, ranges, and other equipment.

(2) A lodging facility includes an apartment house, hotel, motel, dormitory or other facility, or part of a facility, where sleeping accommodations are provided and let; provided that the term does not include a facility which is used primarily as a means of transportation such as, for example, an aircraft or vessel, or to provide medical or convalescent services, even though sleeping accommodations are provided.

(3) Property used predominantly in connection with the furnishing of lodging includes that which is used to operate a lodging facility or to serve tenants, whether furnished by the owner of the lodging facility or another person; provided that, property used in furnishing, to the management of a lodging facility or its tenants, electrical energy, water, sewage disposal services, gas, telephone services or other similar utility services shall not be treated as property used in connection with the furnishing of lodging.

"Purchase" means an acquisition of property.

"Qualified business use" means use of listed property that meets the more-than-fifty per cent business use test.

"Qualified energy" means steam, heat, or other forms of useful energy, other than electric energy, to be used for industrial, commercial, or space-heating purposes other than in the production of electricity.

"Recapture period" means the period beginning on the first day of the month the eligible property is placed in service, and extending for a full three years.

"Recycling equipment" means any equipment that is used exclusively to sort and prepare solid waste for recycling or in the recycling of solid waste. The term recycling equipment does not include any equipment used in a process after the first marketable product is produced or in the case of recycling iron or steel, any equipment used to reduce the waste to a molten state, and in any process thereafter.

(1) Ten per cent virgin material allowed. Any equipment used in the recycling of material which includes some virgin materials shall not be treated as failing to meet the exclusive requirements of this definition if the amount of the virgin materials is ten per cent or less.

(2) The term recycling equipment includes any equipment that is used in the conversion of solid waste into a fuel or into useful energy such as steam, electricity, or hot water.

"Sale-leaseback" is defined as it is for federal income tax purposes.

"Solar or wind energy property" means any equipment which uses solar or wind energy to generate electricity, heat or cool, or provide hot water for use in a structure, or provide solar process heat.

"Specially defined energy property" means property which is installed in an existing industrial or commercial facility to reduce the amount of energy consumed in the existing industrial or commercial process.

"Specified percentage" means whichever of these two rules applies: 66 2/3 per cent rule; or 33 1/3 per cent rule.

"Structural component" means parts of a building such as walls, partitions, floors, ceilings, and permanent coverings; all components of a central air conditioning or heating system; plumbing and plumbing fixtures; electric wiring and lighting fixtures, chimneys; stairs, escalators, and elevators. The term structural component does not include property which is contained in or attached to a building such as production machinery, the sole justification for the installation of which is to meet temperature or humidity requirements that are essential for the operation of other machinery of the processing of materials or foodstuffs. Machinery may also meet this sole justification test even though it incidentally provides for the comfort of employees, or serves, to an insubstantial degree, areas where the temperature or humidity requirements are not essential.

"Substantial interest" means when a transferor, or in a case where the transferor is a partnership, estate or trust, or S corporation, the partner, beneficiary, or shareholder, is considered to have retained a substantial interest in the trade or business if, after the change in form, the transferor's interest in the trade or business is:

(1) Substantial in relation to the total income interest of all the owners; or

(2) Equal to or greater than the transferor's interest before the change in form.

A taxpayer shall not be considered to have retained a substantial interest where the only basis for claiming substantial interest is that the values of the interests exchanged are equal. The determination of whether a taxpayer has retained a substantial interest in the trade or business is to be made immediately after the change in the form of conducting the trade or business, and after each time the taxpayer disposes of a portion of the taxpayer's interest in the new enterprise.

"Tangible personal property" means any tangible property except land and improvements thereto, such as buildings or other inherently permanent structures, including items that are structural, components of the buildings, or structures.

"Transportation business" means airlines, bus companies, shipping or trucking companies, and oil pipeline companies.

"Used eligible property" means property that is eligible property as defined in this subsection and the property is not new eligible property as defined in this subsection."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take affect upon approval and shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	591
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII