HB2656 HD1

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to establish a tax credit for small craft beer producers to encourage and expand the growth of a local industry.

SECTION 2. Chapter 235, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§235- Small craft beer producers; income tax credit. (a) There shall be allowed to each qualified taxpayer subject to the taxes imposed by this chapter a small craft beer producer tax credit that 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.

(b) The amount of the tax credit shall be equal to per cent of the qualified expenses incurred by the qualified taxpayer during a taxable year.

(c) In the case of a partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust, the tax credit allowable is for qualified production costs incurred by the entity for the taxable year. 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 rule.

If a deduction is taken under section 179 (with respect to election to expense depreciable business assets) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, no tax credit shall be allowed for those costs for which the deduction is taken.

The basis for eligible property for depreciation of accelerated cost recovery system purposes for state income taxes shall be reduced by the amount of credit allowable and claimed.

(d) The credit allowed under this section shall be claimed against the net income tax liability for the taxable year. For the purposes of this section, "net income tax liability" means net income tax liability reduced by all other credits allowed under this chapter.

(e) A qualified taxpayer that intends to claim a tax credit pursuant to this section, before March 31 of each year in which qualified expenses were incurred by the taxpayer in the previous taxable year, shall submit a written, certified statement to the director of business, economic development, and tourism identifying:

(1) Qualified expenses incurred in the previous taxable year; and

(2) The amount of the tax credit claimed by the taxpayer pursuant to this section, if any, in the previous taxable year.

(f) The department of business, economic development, and tourism shall:

(1) Maintain records of the names and addresses of the qualified taxpayers claiming the credits under this section and the total amount of the qualified expenses upon which the tax credits are based;

(2) Verify the nature and amount of the qualified expenses;

(3) Calculate the total amount of all qualified and cumulative expenses that the department certifies; and

(4) Certify the amount of the tax credit for each taxpayer for each taxable year and the cumulative amount of the tax credit.

Upon each determination made under this subsection, the department of business, economic development, and tourism shall issue a certificate to the taxpayer verifying information submitted to the department of business, economic development, and tourism including amounts of qualified expenses, the credit amount certified for the taxpayer for each taxable year, and the cumulative amount of tax credits certified. The taxpayer shall file the certificate with the taxpayer's tax return with the department of taxation.

The director of business, economic development, and tourism may assess and collect a fee to offset the costs of certifying tax credit claims under this section.

(g) The director of taxation:

(1) Shall prepare any forms that may be necessary to claim a tax credit under this section;

(2) May require the taxpayer to furnish reasonable information to ascertain the validity of the claim for the tax credit made under this section; and

(3) May adopt rules under chapter 91 necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section.

(h) If the tax credit under this section exceeds the taxpayer's net income tax liability, the excess of the credit over liability may be used as a credit against the taxpayer's net income tax liability in subsequent years until exhausted.

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

(j) As used in this section:

"Beer" and "premises" shall have the same meaning as in section 281-1.

"Qualified expenses" means expenses incurred by a qualified taxpayer to manufacture beer; provided that it shall not include expenses incurred outside of the State.

"Qualified taxpayer" means a person that:

(1) Has a valid class 18 small craft producer pub license as described in section 281-31(r) and issued by the liquor commission of the county in which the taxpayer's premises is located; and

(2) Complies with manufacturing limitations established in section 281-31(r)(1)."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the monitoring, verification, and certification of tax credit claims by the department of business, economic development, and tourism.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2112, and shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2656
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII