AB601: Bill Text

2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE

2011 Assembly BILL 601

February 21, 2012 - Introduced by Representatives Kuglitsch, Klenke and Tauchen, cosponsored by Senators Leibham and Darling. Referred to Committee on Jobs, Economy and Small Business.

AB601,1,4 An Act to repeal 71.07 (5d) (c) 1.; to amend 73.03 (63), 238.15 (1) (intro.), 238.15 (1) (h), 238.15 (1) (j), 238.15 (1) (km) and 238.15 (3) (d) (intro.); and to create 238.15 (1) (m) of the statutes; relating to: the angel investment and early stage seed investment tax credit programs.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the angel investment tax credit program allows a taxpayer to claim a tax credit that equals 25 percent of a bona fide angel investment made directly in a qualified new business venture (QNBV) for the tax year. Current law provides that a QNBV is a business that is certified by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). Under current law, WEDC may certify a business as a QNBV if the business meets certain conditions, including being headquartered in this state, employing at least 51 percent of its employees in this state, and having less than 100 employees. Under this bill, in addition to the existing certification conditions, to be certified as a QNBV a business must agree to stay in this state for at least three years following the receipt of a bona fide angel investment and must agree to pay a penalty to WEDC if the business relocates outside of this state within three years of receiving a bona fide angel investment. Additionally, the bill provides that certain conditions that a business must satisfy to be certified as a QNBV, such as having less than 100 employees and not having operated in Wisconsin for more than ten consecutive years, apply only to initial certifications.

Under current law, a person who claims a tax credit for an early stage seed or angel investment must hold the investment for at least three years. If the person does not hold the investment for at least three years, the person must pay to the Department of Revenue (DOR) the amount of the credit that the person received related to the investment. Under this bill, a person that holds such an investment for less than three years does not have to repay the tax credit to DOR, if the person's investment becomes worthless, as determined by WEDC, or if a bona fide liquidity event occurs, as determined by WEDC.

Under current law, the maximum amount of angel investment credits that may be claimed by all claimants for all taxable years combined is $47,500,000. The bill eliminates this limitation.

For further information see the state 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:

AB601, s. 1 Section 1. 71.07 (5d) (c) 1. of the statutes is repealed.

AB601, s. 2 Section 2. 73.03 (63) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, is amended to read:

AB601,2,12 73.03 (63) Notwithstanding the amount limitations specified under s. 71.07 (5d) (c) 1. and s. 238.15 (3) (d) or s. 560.205 (3) (d), 2009 stats., in consultation with the department of commerce or the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, to carry forward to subsequent taxable years unclaimed credit amounts of the early stage seed investment credits under ss. 71.07 (5b), 71.28 (5b), 71.47 (5b), and 76.638 and the angel investment credit under s. 71.07 (5d). Annually, no later than July 1, the department of commerce or the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation shall submit to the department of revenue its recommendations for the carry forward of credit amounts as provided under this subsection.

AB601, s. 3 Section 3. 238.15 (1) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, is amended to read:

AB601,3,7 238.15 (1) Angel investment tax credits. (intro.) The corporation shall implement a program to certify businesses for purposes of s. 71.07 (5d). A business desiring certification shall submit an application to the corporation in each taxable year for which the business desires certification. The business shall specify in its application the investment amount it wishes to raise and the corporation may certify the business and determine the amount that qualifies for purposes of s. 71.07 (5d). A business may be certified under this subsection, and may maintain such certification, The corporation may certify or recertify a business for purposes of s. 71.07 (5d) only if the business satisfies all of the following conditions:

AB601, s. 4 Section 4. 238.15 (1) (h) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, is amended to read:

AB601,3,11 238.15 (1) (h) It At the time it is initially certified under this subsection, it has less than 100 employees.

AB601, s. 5 Section 5. 238.15 (1) (j) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, is amended to read:

AB601,3,15 238.15 (1) (j) It At the time it is initially certified under this subsection, it has been in operation in this state for not more than 10 consecutive years.

AB601, s. 6 Section 6. 238.15 (1) (km) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, is amended to read:

AB601,3,20 238.15 (1) (km) It has not received aggregate private equity investment in cash of more than $10,000,000 prior to being before it is initially certified under this subsection.

AB601, s. 7 Section 7. 238.15 (1) (m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB601,4,3 238.15 (1) (m) 1. It agrees that it will not relocate outside of this state during the 3 years after it receives an investment for which a person may claim a tax credit under s. 71.07 (5d) and agrees to pay the corporation a penalty, in an amount determined under subd. 2., if the business relocates outside of this state during that 3-year period. For the purposes of this paragraph, a business relocates outside of this state when the business locates more than 51 percent of any of the following outside of this state:

AB601,4,4 a. The business's employees.

AB601,4,5 b. The business's total payroll.

AB601,4,7 c. The activities of the business's headquarters, as determined by the corporation.

AB601,4,8 2. The amount of a penalty payment under subd. 1. is any of the following:

AB601,4,10 a. If the relocation occurs less than 12 months after the investment, 100 percent of the tax credit that was claimed under s. 71.07 (5d) as the result of the investment.

AB601,4,13 b. If the relocation occurs 12 months or more after the investment but less than 24 months after the investment, 80 percent of the tax credit that was claimed under s. 71.07 (5d) as the result of the investment.

AB601,4,16 c. If the relocation occurs occurs 24 months or more after the investment but less than 36 months after the investment, 60 percent of the tax credit that was claimed under s. 71.07 (5d) as the result of the investment.

AB601, s. 8 Section 8. 238.15 (3) (d) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, is amended to read:

AB601,5,24 238.15 (3) (d) Rules. (intro.) The corporation, in consultation with the department of revenue, shall adopt rules to administer this section. The rules shall further define "bona fide angel investment" for purposes of s. 71.07 (5d) (a) 1. The rules shall limit the aggregate amount of tax credits under s. 71.07 (5d) that may be claimed for investments in businesses certified under sub. (1) at $3,000,000 per calendar year for calendar years beginning after December 31, 2004, and before January 1, 2008, $5,500,000 per calendar year for calendar years beginning after December 31, 2007, and before January 1, 2010, $6,500,000 for calendar year 2010, and $20,000,000 per calendar year for calendar years beginning after December 31, 2010, plus, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010, an additional $250,000 for tax credits that may be claimed for investments in nanotechnology businesses certified under sub. (1). The rules shall also limit the aggregate amount of the tax credits under ss. 71.07 (5b), 71.28 (5b), 71.47 (5b), and 76.638 that may be claimed for investments paid to fund managers certified under sub. (2) at $3,500,000 per calendar year for calendar years beginning after December 31, 2004, and before January 1, 2008, $6,000,000 per calendar year for calendar years beginning after December 31, 2007, and before January 1, 2010, $8,000,000 for calendar year 2010, and $20,500,000 per calendar year for calendar years beginning after December 31, 2010, plus, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010, an additional $250,000 for tax credits that may be claimed for investments in nanotechnology businesses certified under sub. (1). The rules shall also provide that, for calendar years beginning after December 31, 2007, no a person may receive who receives a credit under ss. 71.07 (5b) and (5d), 71.28 (5b), 71.47 (5b), or 76.638 unless the person's must keep the investment is kept in a certified business, or with a certified fund manager, for no less than 3 years, unless the person's investment becomes worthless, as determined by the corporation, during the 3-year period or the person has kept the investment for no less than 12 months and a bona fide liquidity event, as determined by the corporation, occurs during the 3-year period. The rules shall permit the corporation to reallocate credits under this section that are unused in any calendar year to a person eligible for tax benefits, as defined under s. 238.16 (1) (d), if all of the following apply:

AB601,5,25 (End)