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Blue Collar Job Act


Tax Credit for the Creation of Employment & Qualified Investments in Business Facilities (Blue Collar Job Act)


Statutory Basis

Title 30, Delaware Code, Chapter 20, Subchapters II-III, V (More specific statutory references are also noted below.)

Description

Generally, business taxpayers that: (1) are engaged in a qualified activity; (2) hire five or more qualified employees; and, (3) make an investment of at least $200,000 ($40,000 per qualified employee) in a qualified facility are entitled to tax credits against the corporation or personal income taxes, gross receipts tax, and public utility tax. To apply for the Delaware corporate income tax and gross receipts tax reduction, Form 402AP 9901, Application for New Business Facility Tax Credits, must be completed and returned to the Division of Revenue. The Division of Revenue will notify the applicant in writing if the application is approved or disapproved. Approval by the Division of Revenue must be granted before the corporation can claim these tax credits. A separate Form 402AP 9901 must be completed for each new or expanded facility.

Corporation and Personal Income Tax Credits

Eligible businesses receive credits of $500 for each qualified employee and $500 for each $100,000 invested. These credits may be taken during the tax year in which the qualified facility is placed in service and for any of the nine following years. The aggregate amount of credits claimed in any given year may not exceed fifty percent of the firm’s tax liability. Credits may be carried forward. Form 1100CR 9901, Worksheet for Credit for Approved New Business Facilities, must be completed and attached to the Delaware Corporate Income Tax return. Businesses that are not subject to the corporation income tax (e.g., pass through entities such as S-Corporations) are entitled to use the credits against the personal income tax. Form 700, Business Tax Credits, must be completed and attached to the Delaware Resident Personal Income Tax return of shareholders/partners/sole proprietors.

[1] Larger credits are available for businesses which, in addition to meeting the Blue Collar Job Act’s employment and investment requirements, engage in other desirable behaviors.

Amount of Credits for Property Placed in Service After 12/31/96
Tax Credit Description Amt. Title 30, Delaware Code
Blue Collar Jobs (BCJ) Tax credit for job creation and investment in Delaware. $500 section 2011(a)-(b)
BCJ in a Targeted Area (Qualified Activities) Additional incentive for businesses investing in a qualified activity in certain underdeveloped areas of the state. $650 section 2021(a)
BCJ in a Targeted Area (Commercial or Retail Activities) Tax credit for businesses investing in a commercial or retail activity in certain underdeveloped areas of the state. $500 section 2021(b)
BCJ + “Clean Energy Technology Device Manufacturers” Recycling [2] Additional incentive for firms engaged in the business of removing materials from the Delaware solid waste stream. $750 sections 2042-2044
BCJ + Brownfield Additional incentive for the development of an unoccupied site which is thought to have been environmentally contaminated. $650 section 2011(l)
BCJ + Clean Energy Technology Device Manufacturers in a Targeted Area Additional incentives for firms engaged in the business of removing materials from the Delaware solid waste stream and operating in an underdeveloped area. $900 sections 2042-2044
BCJ + Brownfield in a Targeted Area Additional incentives for investment in an unoccupied site which is thought to have been environmentally contaminated and is located in an underdeveloped area. $900 section 2021(d)

 

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES

Generally speaking, in order to qualify for tax credits, investment and employment must occur within a “qualified activity.” Another, less restrictive standard for investments made within targeted areas exists for “commercial and retail activities.”

QUALIFYING ACTIVITIES [3] (Activities eligible for the $500 Blue Collar Jobs credit in non-targeted areas and for a $650 credit in targeted areas.)

  1. Manufacturing;
  2. Wholesaling;
  3. Scientific, agricultural or industrial research, development or testing;
  4. Computer processing or data preparation or processing services;
  5. Engineering services;
  6. Consumer credit reporting services, including adjustment and collection services and credit reporting services;
  7. Aviation services;
  8. Non-custom computer software;
  9. Telecommunications services;
  10. Any combination of the activities described above; or,
  11. The administration, management or support operations, including marketing, of any activity described above

COMMERCIAL RETAIL ACTIVITIES [4] (Additional activities eligible for a $500 credit within targeted census tracks)

Commercial Activity includes all services except: amusement conductor, amusement park operator, auctioneer, automobile race operator, bowling alley operator, circus exhibitor, entertainment agent, finance or small loan agency, floor show operator, health spa or health club, junk dealer, motion picture theater, outdoor music festival promoter, pawnbroker, pool table operator, public bath keeper, salvage yard operator, and self-service laundry or dry cleaner.

Retail Activity includes all retail trade except: eating and drinking places, automobile sales, or providing recreation or entertainment.

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT (No Employee Option) [5]

For qualified investments of at least $1 million (or 15% of the adjusted basis in the facility) in manufacturing, wholesaling, or aviation services, an alternative tax credit is available. The amount of the alternative investment credit is equal to 75% of the corresponding “regular” Blue Collar Jobs tax credit. (E.g., if it had qualified for an investment that would have earned a $500 regular BCJ credit, the alternative investment credit would be $300 [$500 x 0.75]).

Alternative Investment and Employment Requirements Required for Telecommunications Services [6] and Banking [7]

Instead of five employees and $40,000 of investment per employee, telecommunication service businesses are required to hire at least 50 qualified employees and make a minimum investment of $15,000 per qualified employee. Like other firms under the BCJ, telecommunication service businesses meeting these criteria are entitled to a $500 tax credit for each qualified employee hired and a $500 credit for each $100,000 in qualified investment made.

Tax credits earned by banks are used to reduce their liability under the bank franchise tax. Like telecommunication services, banks must also increase employment by a minimum of 50 employees and make a minimum investment of $15,000 per qualified employee. Unlike telecommunications services, however, there is no tax credit for each $100,000 of investment. Furthermore, only full-time employees receiving health insurance benefits are counted when calculating the $500 credit (per qualified employee).

Business and Occupational Gross Receipts Tax Reductions

Businesses meeting the regular Blue Collar Jobs employment and investment qualifications are entitled to a reduction in their gross receipts tax liability attributable to the operation of a qualified (new or expanded) facility. Tax liabilities resulting out of gross receipts derived from manufacturing, wholesaling, occupational [8] and general services, food processing, commercial feed sales, or the retail element of aviation services may be reduced according to the following schedules. [9] In order to take the gross receipts reduction, Form 402LTR 9901, Computation Schedule for Claiming License Tax Reduction for Approved New Business Facility Gross Receipts, must be completed and attached to the gross receipts tax return coupon.

For Firms Not Operating in a Targeted Area
Months Elapsed Since the Qualified Facility was Placed in Service Percent Reduction in Gross Receipts Tax
1 through 12 90%
13 through 24 80%
25 through 36 70%
37 through 48 60%
49 through 60 50%
61 through 72 40%
73 through 84 30%
85 through 96 20%
97 through 108 10%
109 through 120 5%
Over 120 0%

 

For Firms Operating in a Targeted Area
Months Elapsed Since the Qualified Facility was Placed in Service Percent Reduction in Gross Receipts Tax
1 through 60 100%
61 through 72 90%
73 through 84 80%
85 through 96 70%
97 through 108 60%
109 through 120 50%
121 through 132 40%
133 through 144 30%
169 through 180 5%
Over 180 0%

 

As is the case with the corporate and personal income tax credits, businesses qualifying under the alternative investment standard (no employee option) are entitled to a gross receipts tax reduction equal to 75% of the amounts listed above. (E.g., if the “regular” gross receipts tax reduction was set at 60%, the amount under the alternative investment standard would be 45% [0.60 x 0.75]).

Public Utility Tax Rebates [10]

Any business that is eligible for tax credits by virtue of meeting the general BCJ employment and investment requirements is entitled to a 50% rebate of public utility taxes derived from utility consumption attributable to the qualified new or expanded facility. Eligible businesses are may claim the rebate for five years. To qualify, each Delaware business location must submit a completed Form 5507, Claim for Refund for Public Utility Tax, to the Division of Revenue, PO Box 2340, Wilmington, DE 19899-2340. If you have any questions regarding the qualifications, please contact Kathy Revel, (302) 577-8445.

[1] 30 Del. C., Chapter 20 section 2024

[2] The Clean Energy Technology Device Manufacturers Credit program also offers a $500 tax credit for every 10% reduction in emissions as measured by the Toxic Release Inventory. This provision has no employment or investment requirements and, as such, is not considered an economic development tool. (See 30 Del., C. Chapter 20, section 2041.)
[3] 30 Del. C., Chapter 20, section 2010(3)(a)-(k)
[4] 30 Del. C., Chapter 20, section 2020(3)-(4)
[5] 30 Del. C., Chapter 20, section 2011(k)
[6] 30 Del. C., Chapter 20, section 2011(b)(3)
[7] Del. C., Chapter 11, section 1105(d)-(f)
[8] Pursuant to 30 Del. C., Chapter 20, section 2012(a), petroleum wholesalers may claim reductions exclusively against the General Fund portion of the tax. Tax reductions may not be applied to the tax levied pursuant to the Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act (Chapter 91, Title 7 of the Delaware Code.)
[9] Firms not operating in a targeted area: (30 Del. C., Chapter 20, section 2012); Firms operating in a targeted area: (30 Del. C., Chapter 20, section 2022)
[10] 30 Del. C., Chapter 55, section 5507

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