AB544: Bill Text

This bill creates a workforce housing tax credit program administered by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.

Under the bill, WHEDA may certify a person to claim a nonrefundable credit to offset income and franchise taxes if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

1. The project for which the credit is issued is an eligible workforce housing project. Under the bill, a project is an eligible workforce housing project only if the project is for the construction or renovation of residential real property located in a county with a population density of less than 155 persons per square mile, there is a need for additional manufacturing workers in the area in which the project is located, and a lack of adequate housing in the area is a barrier to filling that need.

2. The person is a lender financing an eligible workforce housing project, the developer of the project, or the business for whose benefit the project is being carried out.

3. The person has exhausted all funding available for the project from community development block grants, local assistance, including tax incremental financing, and assistance otherwise available from WHEDA.

4. The occupants of the housing being constructed or renovated will have a household income that satisfies the income limitations applicable for the homeownership mortgage loan program administered by WHEDA under current law.

The bill requires WHEDA to establish a competitive process for the award of tax credits that gives priority to all of the following:

1. The number of jobs that will be created in connection with the eligible workforce housing project.

2. The amount of matching funds secured by the applicant.

3. The applicant's readiness to proceed with the project.

Under the bill, WHEDA may not certify a person to claim a workforce housing tax credit in an amount that exceeds 50 percent of the total cost of the eligible workforce housing project. Additionally, WHEDA may not award more than $10,000,000 in workforce housing tax credits and no credit may be awarded after December 31, 2021. The bill requires WHEDA to transfer $10,000,000 from its surplus fund to the state's general fund as an offset against the tax credits WHEDA awards under the program.

Additionally, the bill includes certain contracting and tax credit revocation requirements and requires WHEDA to coordinate with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to administer the tax credit program. WHEDA must submit a report on the program to the Joint Committee on Finance no later than September 31, 2022.

Reports on economic development revolving loan funds

This bill also requires the Department of Administration to submit an annual report to the Joint Committee on Finance concerning moneys held by DOA in connection with economic development revolving loan funds funded by federal community development block grants administered by DOA, including all moneys derived from the liquidation and close-out of such a revolving loan fund. The report must include all of the following:

1. The balance of the account associated with each revolving loan fund.

2. The accounts receivable for each such account.

3. A detailed description of all expenditures from the account, including a description of each project funded by a grant awarded from the account.

4. A detailed description of all expenditures from the account DOA intends to make before March 15 of the year following the report. Under the bill, if JCF objects to any such intended expenditure, JCF may reallocate the moneys consistent with federal requirements for expenditure of the moneys.

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:

AB544,1 Section 1. 16.309 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB544,3,6 16.309 (4) (a) In this subsection, “revolving loan fund account” means all moneys held by the department in connection with each economic development revolving loan fund that is funded by a community development block grant under this section, including all moneys derived from the liquidation and close-out of the revolving loan fund.

AB544,3,9 (b) Annually, no later than March 15, the department shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance that includes all of the following information for each revolving loan fund account:

AB544,3,10 1. The account balance.

AB544,3,11 2. All accounts receivable, if any.

AB544,3,13 3. A detailed description of all account expenditures, including a description of each project funded by a grant awarded from the account.

AB544,3,15 4. A detailed description of all account expenditures the department intends to make before March 15 of the year following the report.

AB544,3,18 (c) If the joint committee on finance objects to any intended expenditure of moneys detailed under par. (b) 4., the committee may reallocate those moneys consistent with federal requirements for expenditure of the moneys.

AB544,2 Section 2 . 71.07 (8f) of the statutes is created to read:

AB544,3,20 71.07 (8f) Workforce housing credit. (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

AB544,3,22 1. “Allocation certificate" means an allocation certificate issued by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority under s. 234.045 (3) (a).

AB544,3,23 2. “Claimant” means a person who files a claim under this subsection.

AB544,4,2 (b) Filing claims. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019, subject to the limitations provided in this subsection and in s. 234.045, a claimant may claim as a credit against the tax imposed under s. 71.02, up to the amount of the tax, the amount specified in the allocation certificate.

AB544,4,4 (c) Limitations. 1. No person may claim the credit under par. (b) unless the claimant includes with the claimant's return a copy of the allocation certificate.

AB544,4,11 2. A partnership, limited liability company, or tax-option corporation may not claim the credit under this subsection, but the eligibility for and amount of the credit are based on the amount specified in the allocation certificate. A partnership, limited liability company, or tax-option corporation shall compute the amount of credit that each of its partners, members, or shareholders may claim and shall provide that information to each of them. Partners, members, and shareholders may claim the credit in proportion to their ownership interests.

AB544,4,18 (d) Carry-forward credit. If the credit that a claimant may claim under par. (b) is not entirely offset against Wisconsin income or franchise taxes otherwise due, the unused balance shall be carried forward and credited against Wisconsin income or franchise taxes otherwise due for the following 10 taxable years to the extent not offset by these taxes in all intervening years between the year in which the credit is allowed under the allocation certificate and the year in which the carry-forward credit is claimed.

AB544,4,23 (e) Transfer. Any person may sell or otherwise transfer the credit under par. (b), in whole or in part, to another person who is subject to the taxes or fees imposed under s. 71.02, 71.23, or 71.43 or subch. III of ch. 76 if the person notifies the department of the transfer and submits with the notification a copy of the transfer documents, and the department certifies the change in the credit's ownership.

AB544,4,25 (f) Administration. Section 71.28 (4) (e), (g), and (h), as it applies to the credit under s. 71.28 (4), applies to the credit under this subsection.

AB544,3 Section 3. 71.10 (4) (fd) of the statutes is created to read:

AB544,5,2 71.10 (4) (fd) Workforce housing credit under s. 71.07 (8f).

AB544,4 Section 4 . 71.28 (8f) of the statutes is created to read:

AB544,5,4 71.28 (8f) Workforce housing credit. (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

AB544,5,6 1. “Allocation certificate" means an allocation certificate issued by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority under s. 234.045 (3) (a).

AB544,5,7 2. “Claimant” means a person who files a claim under this subsection.

AB544,5,11 (b) Filing claims. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019, subject to the limitations provided in this subsection and in s. 234.045, a claimant may claim as a credit against the tax imposed under s. 71.23, up to the amount of the tax, the amount specified in the allocation certificate.

AB544,5,13 (c) Limitations. 1. No person may claim the credit under par. (b) unless the claimant includes with the claimant's return a copy of the allocation certificate.

AB544,5,20 2. A partnership, limited liability company, or tax-option corporation may not claim the credit under this subsection, but the eligibility for and amount of the credit are based on the amount specified in the allocation certificate. A partnership, limited liability company, or tax-option corporation shall compute the amount of credit that each of its partners, members, or shareholders may claim and shall provide that information to each of them. Partners, members, and shareholders may claim the credit in proportion to their ownership interests.

AB544,6,2 (d) Carry-forward credit. If the credit that a claimant may claim under par. (b) is not entirely offset against Wisconsin income or franchise taxes otherwise due, the unused balance shall be carried forward and credited against Wisconsin income or franchise taxes otherwise due for the following 10 taxable years to the extent not offset by these taxes in all intervening years between the year in which the credit is allowed under the allocation certificate and the year in which the carry-forward credit is claimed.

AB544,6,7 (e) Transfer. Any person may sell or otherwise transfer the credit under par. (b), in whole or in part, to another person who is subject to the taxes or fees imposed under s. 71.02, 71.23, or 71.43 or subch. III of ch. 76 if the person notifies the department of the transfer and submits with the notification a copy of the transfer documents, and the department certifies the change in the credit's ownership.

AB544,6,9 (f) Administration. Subsection (4) (e), (g), and (h), as it applies to the credit under sub. (4), applies to the credit under this subsection.

AB544,5 Section 5 . 71.30 (3) (cu) of the statutes is created to read:

AB544,6,11 71.30 (3) (cu) Workforce housing credit under s. 71.28 (8f).

AB544,6 Section 6 . 71.47 (8f) of the statutes is created to read:

AB544,6,13 71.47 (8f) Workforce housing credit. (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

AB544,6,15 1. “Allocation certificate" means an allocation certificate issued by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority under s. 234.045 (3) (a).

AB544,6,16 2. “Claimant” means a person who files a claim under this subsection.

AB544,6,20 (b) Filing claims. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019, subject to the limitations provided in this subsection and in s. 234.045, a claimant may claim as a credit against the tax imposed under s. 71.43, up to the amount of the tax, the amount specified in the allocation certificate.

AB544,6,22 (c) Limitations. 1. No person may claim the credit under par. (b) unless the claimant includes with the claimant's return a copy of the allocation certificate.

AB544,7,4 2. A partnership, limited liability company, or tax-option corporation may not claim the credit under this subsection, but the eligibility for and amount of the credit are based on the amount specified in the allocation certificate. A partnership, limited liability company, or tax-option corporation shall compute the amount of credit that each of its partners, members, or shareholders may claim and shall provide that information to each of them. Partners, members, and shareholders may claim the credit in proportion to their ownership interests.

AB544,7,11 (d) Carry-forward credit. If the credit that a claimant may claim under par. (b) is not entirely offset against Wisconsin income or franchise taxes otherwise due, the unused balance shall be carried forward and credited against Wisconsin income or franchise taxes otherwise due for the following 10 taxable years to the extent not offset by these taxes in all intervening years between the year in which the credit is allowed under the allocation certificate and the year in which the carry-forward credit is claimed.

AB544,7,16 (e) Transfer. Any person may sell or otherwise transfer the credit under par. (b), in whole or in part, to another person who is subject to the taxes or fees imposed under s. 71.02, 71.23, or 71.43 or subch. III of ch. 76 if the person notifies the department of the transfer and submits with the notification a copy of the transfer documents, and the department certifies the change in the credit's ownership.

AB544,7,18 (f) Administration. Section 71.28 (4) (e), (g), and (h), as it applies to the credit under s. 71.28 (4), applies to the credit under this subsection.

AB544,7 Section 7 . 71.49 (1) (cu) of the statutes is created to read:

AB544,7,20 71.49 (1) (cu) Workforce housing credit under s. 71.47 (8f).

AB544,8 Section 8 . 76.6395 of the statutes is created to read:

AB544,7,22 76.6395 Workforce housing credit. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB544,7,24 (a) “Allocation certificate" means an allocation certificate issued by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority under s. 234.045 (3) (a).

AB544,7,25 (b) “Claimant” means a person who files a claim under this subsection.

AB544,8,4 (2) Filing claims. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019, subject to the limitations provided in this section and in s. 234.045, a claimant may claim as a credit against the fees imposed under s. 76.60, 76.63, 76.65, 76.66, or 76.67 the amount specified in the allocation certificate.

AB544,8,6 (3) Limitations. No person may claim the credit under sub. (2) unless the claimant includes with the claimant's return a copy of the allocation certificate.

AB544,8,12 (4) Carry-forward. If the credit that a claimant may claim under sub. (2) is not entirely offset against the fees under s. 76.60, 76.63, 76.65, 76.66, or 76.67 otherwise due, the unused balance shall be carried forward and credited against those fees for the following 10 taxable years to the extent not offset by the fees in all intervening years between the year in which the credit is allowed under the allocation certificate and the year in which the carry-forward credit is claimed.

AB544,8,18 (5) Transfer. Any person may sell or otherwise transfer the credit under sub. (2), in whole or in part, to another person who is subject to the taxes or fees imposed under s. 71.02, 71.23, 71.43, 76.60, 76.63, 76.65, 76.66, or 76.67 if the person notifies the department of the transfer and submits with the notification a copy of the transfer documents, and the department certifies the change in the credit's ownership.

AB544,9 Section 9 . 76.67 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB544,9,5 76.67 (2) If any domestic insurer is licensed to transact insurance business in another state, this state may not require similar insurers domiciled in that other state to pay taxes greater in the aggregate than the aggregate amount of taxes that a domestic insurer is required to pay to that other state for the same year less the credits under ss. 76.635, 76.636, 76.637, 76.638, 76.639, 76.6395, and 76.655, except that the amount imposed shall not be less than the total of the amounts due under ss. 76.65 (2) and 601.93 and, if the insurer is subject to s. 76.60, 0.375 percent of its gross premiums, as calculated under s. 76.62, less offsets allowed under s. 646.51 (7) or under ss. 76.635, 76.636, 76.637, 76.638, 76.639, 76.6395, and 76.655 against that total, and except that the amount imposed shall not be less than the amount due under s. 601.93.

AB544,10 Section 10 . 234.045 of the statutes is created to read:

AB544,9,7 234.045 Workforce housing tax credits. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB544,9,10 (a) “Allocation certificate" means a statement issued by the authority certifying that an eligible recipient may claim tax benefits and specifying the amount of the tax benefits that the eligible recipient may claim.

AB544,9,12 (b) “Lender" means any banking institution, savings bank, savings and loan association, or credit union organized under the laws of this state.

AB544,9,14 (c) “Tax benefits” means the tax credit under ss. 71.07 (8f), 71.28 (8f), 71.47 (8f), and 76.6395.

AB544,9,17 (2) Establishment of program. The authority shall establish and administer a program under this section for the award of tax benefits to encourage the creation of workforce housing in this state.

AB544,9,21 (3) Certifications. (a) The authority may certify a person to claim tax benefits in an amount determined by the authority by issuing the person an allocation certificate. The allocation certificate shall state the amount the authority determines the person is eligible to claim.

AB544,9,23 (b) With respect to any eligible workforce housing project, the authority may issue an allocation certificate under par. (a) to only one of the following:

AB544,9,24 1. The lender financing the project.

AB544,9,25 2. The business for whose benefit the project is being carried out.

AB544,10,1 3. The developer of the project.

AB544,10,3 (c) A project is an eligible workforce housing project under par. (b) only if all of the following requirements are satisfied:

AB544,10,6 1. The project is for the construction or renovation of residential real property that is located in a county with a population density of less than 155 persons per square mile.