AB1046: Bill Text

LRB-3775/2

MES:jld:rs

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 1046

February 20, 2006 - Introduced by Representatives Freese, Richards, Vos, Hahn, Mursau, Berceau, Ott, Albers and Hines, cosponsored by Senator Risser. Referred to Committee on Tourism.

AB1046,1,3 An Act to amend 44.02 (24) and 71.74 (8) (d); and to create 71.05 (6) (a) 21., 71.07 (9s) and 71.10 (4) (cf) of the statutes; relating to: creating a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for historic barns.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, an individual who owns a historic building in this state that is used as an owner-occupied personal residence, and is not used for business purposes, may claim an income tax credit for the costs incurred by that person to rehabilitate the historic building. The amount of the tax credit is equal to 25 percent of the costs incurred to rehabilitate the historic building. To qualify for the tax credit, the State Historical Society must certify, to the Department of Revenue (DOR), that the historic building is listed on the national or state register of historic places, or is eligible for listing on the national or state register of historic places. The maximum credit amount that may be claimed for preserving or rehabilitating the building may not exceed $10,000 for each project.

This bill creates a similar credit for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic barns, or historic buildings that contribute to the significance of a complex that contains a historic barn. Under the bill, the credit may be claimed by an individual for 25 percent of the costs incurred by the claimant to preserve or rehabilitate an eligible historic barn or building. The costs for which the credit may be claimed are limited to the exterior, the structural elements, or the electrical, plumbing, heating, and ventilation systems of an eligible barn or building. The bill does not contain a maximum credit amount that may be claimed.

The bill requires the State Historical Society to promulgate rules and standards to govern the certification of barns as historic barns, to certify to DOR that the proposed preservation or rehabilitation plan meets such standards, and to certify to DOR that the completed work substantially complies with the proposed plan.

For a claimant to be eligible to claim the credit, the expenditures for the preservation or rehabilitation work must exceed $10,000, and such work must be completed within five years after the date on which the physical work of construction or destruction in preparation for construction begins.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB1046, s. 1 Section 1. 44.02 (24) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1046,2,6 44.02 (24) Promulgate by rule procedures, standards and forms necessary to certify, and shall certify, expenditures for preservation or rehabilitation of historic property for the purposes of s. 71.07 (9r) and (9s). These standards shall be substantially similar to the standards used by the secretary of the interior to certify rehabilitations under 26 USC 47 (c) (2).

AB1046, s. 2 Section 2. 71.05 (6) (a) 21. of the statutes is created to read:

AB1046,2,16 71.05 (6) (a) 21. For a claimant who claims and receives the credit under s. 71.07 (9s), one of the following percentages of the amount of the credit received if the claimant, within 5 years after the date on which the preservation or rehabilitation work that was the basis of the credit is completed, either sells or conveys the property by deed or land contract or if, with regard to the property, within 5 years after the date on which the preservation or rehabilitation work that was the basis of the credit is completed the state historical society certifies to the department of revenue that the historic property has been altered to the extent that it does not comply with the standards promulgated under s. 44.02 (24):

AB1046,3,2 a. If the sale, conveyance, or noncompliance occurs during the first year after the date on which the preservation or rehabilitation is completed, 100 percent.

AB1046,3,4 b. If the sale, conveyance, or noncompliance occurs during the 2nd year after the date on which the preservation or rehabilitation is completed, 80 percent.

AB1046,3,6 c. If the sale, conveyance, or noncompliance occurs during the 3rd year after the date on which the preservation or rehabilitation is completed, 60 percent.

AB1046,3,8 d. If the sale, conveyance. or noncompliance occurs during the 4th year after the date on which the preservation or rehabilitation is completed, 40 percent.

AB1046,3,10 e. If the sale, conveyance, or noncompliance occurs during the 5th year after the date on which the preservation or rehabilitation is completed, 20 percent.

AB1046, s. 3 Section 3. 71.07 (9s) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1046,3,13 71.07 (9s) Historic barns preservation and rehabilitation credit. (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

AB1046,3,15 1. "Claimant" means an individual who owns a historic barn or historic building and claims the credit under this subsection.

AB1046,3,16 2. "Department" means the department of revenue.

AB1046,3,18 3. "Historic barn" means a barn, or building, about which the state historical society certifies to the department at least one of the following:

AB1046,3,22 a. The barn is a contributing element within a property that has been listed in the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places, or has been determined by the state historical society to be eligible for listing on the state register of historic places.

AB1046,3,24 b. The barn contributes to the significance of a district that is listed on the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places.

AB1046,4,4 c. The building was constructed as a barn for agricultural purposes before 1960 as determined by the state historical society, was originally clad with wood or constructed of masonry, and retains physical characteristics dating to its agricultural use.

AB1046,4,7 4. "Historic building" means a nonresidential building or structure that the state historical society certifies to the department was constructed before 1960 and contributes to the significance of a complex containing a historic barn.

AB1046,4,13 (b) Filing claims. Subject to the limitations provided in this subsection, a claimant may claim as a credit against the tax imposed under s. 71.02, up to the amount of those taxes, an amount equal to 25 percent of the costs incurred by the claimant in the preservation or rehabilitation of a historic barn or historic building located in this state, including architectural fees, if the physical work of construction or destruction in preparation for construction begins after January 1, 2006.

AB1046,4,15 (c) Limitations. 1. No credit may be allowed under this subsection unless all of the following apply:

AB1046,4,16 a. The credit is claimed within the time period under s. 71.75 (2).

AB1046,4,19 b. The state historical society certifies to the department that the proposed preservation or rehabilitation plan complies with the standards promulgated under s. 44.02 (24).

AB1046,4,22 c. The preservation or rehabilitation work is completed within 5 years after the date that the physical work of construction or destruction in preparation for construction begins.

AB1046,4,24 d. The expenditures for preservation or rehabilitation of the historic barn or historic building exceed $10,000.

AB1046,5,2 e. The state historical society certifies to the department that the completed preservation or rehabilitation substantially complies with the proposed plan.

AB1046,5,4 f. The costs are not incurred to acquire any building or interest in a building or to enlarge existing building.

AB1046,5,6 g. The costs were not incurred before the state historical society certified the proposed preservation or rehabilitation plan under subd. 1. b.

AB1046,5,9 2. The costs incurred for the preservation or rehabilitation of a historic barn or historic building , for which a claim may be made under this subsection, are limited to costs to preserve or rehabilitate the following:

AB1046,5,10 a. The exterior of such a barn or building.

AB1046,5,11 b. Structural repair to such a barn or building.

AB1046,5,12 c. Electrical or plumbing systems in such a barn or building.

AB1046,5,13 d. Heating or ventilation systems in such a barn or building.

AB1046,5,16 3. With regard to certification by the state historical society that is described in par. (a) 3. and 4., the society's certification shall be based on standards promulgated under s. 44.02 (24).

AB1046,5,18 4. The Wisconsin adjusted basis of the historic barn or historic building shall be reduced by the amount of any credit awarded under this subsection.

AB1046,5,20 5. If a claimant files a claim under this subsection, the claimant may not claim a credit under sub. (9m) or (9r) for the same expenses.

AB1046,5,24 6. If an individual files a claim for a rehabilitation credit under section 47 of the Internal Revenue Code for qualified rehabilitation expenditures, as defined in 26 USC 47 (c) (2), the individual may not file a claim under this subsection for the same expenses.