238.302(4)
(4) Project related to persons with corporate headquarters in Wisconsin. A project that will result in the location or retention of a person's corporate headquarters in Wisconsin or that will result in the retention of employees holding full-time jobs in Wisconsin if the person's corporate headquarters are located in Wisconsin.
238.302 History
History: 2009 a. 2;
2011 a. 32 s.
3411; Stats. 2011 s. 238.302.
238.303
238.303
Limits on tax benefits and claiming tax benefits. 238.303(1)(a)(a) Except as provided in
pars. (am) and
(b), and subject to a reallocation by the corporation pursuant to rules adopted under
s. 238.15 (3) (d), the total tax benefits available to be allocated by the corporation under ss.
238.301 to
238.306 may not exceed the sum of the tax benefits remaining to be allocated under s.
560.71 to
560.785, 2009 stats., s.
560.797, 2009 stats., s.
560.798, 2009 stats., s.
560.7995, 2009 stats., and s.
560.96, 2009 stats., on March 6, 2009, plus $100,000,000.
238.303 Note
NOTE: Section 238.303 (1) (title) was renumbered from s. 560.703 (1) (title) by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2.
238.303(1)(am)
(am) The corporation may initially allocate only $61,000,000 of the additional $100,000,000 in tax benefits specified in
par. (a). Before the corporation allocates the remaining $39,000,000 in tax benefits specified in
par. (a), the corporation shall submit its plan for such allocation, including a report that describes the intended use of the tax benefits, to the joint committee on finance. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the corporation within 14 working days after the date of the corporation's submittal that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the plan, the plan may be implemented and the remaining amount may be allocated as proposed by the corporation. If, within 14 working days after the date of the corporation's submittal, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the corporation that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed plan, the plan may be implemented and the remaining amount allocated only upon approval of the committee.
238.303(1)(b)
(b) The corporation may submit to the joint committee on finance a request in writing to exceed the total tax benefits specified in
par. (a). The corporation shall submit with its request a justification for seeking an increase under this paragraph. The joint committee on finance, following its review, may approve or disapprove an increase in the total tax benefits available to be allocated under
ss. 238.301 to
238.306.
238.303(2)
(2) Authority to claim tax benefits. The corporation may authorize a person certified under
s. 238.301 (2) to claim tax benefits only after the person has submitted a report to the corporation that documents to the satisfaction of the corporation that the person has complied with the terms of the contract under
s. 238.301 (3) and the requirements of any applicable rules adopted under
s. 238.306 (2).
238.303(3)
(3) Notice of eligibility. The corporation shall provide to the person and to the department of revenue a notice of eligibility to receive tax benefits that reports the amount of tax benefits for which the person is eligible.
238.303 History
History: 2009 a. 2,
265;
2011 a. 4;
2011 a. 32 ss.
3412 to
3415; Stats. 2011 s. 238.303;
2013 a. 20; s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2.
238.304
238.304
Eligible activities in economically distressed areas and benefiting members of targeted groups. The corporation may authorize a person certified under
s. 238.301 (2) to claim additional tax benefits under
s. 238.303 if, after conducting an investigation, the corporation determines any of the following:
238.304(1)
(1) The person conducts at least one eligible activity in an area designated by the corporation as economically distressed. In designating an area as economically distressed under this subsection, the corporation shall follow the methodology established by rule under
s. 238.306 (2) (e).
238.304(2)
(2) The person conducts at least one eligible activity that benefits, creates, retains, or significantly upgrades full-time jobs for, that trains, or that reeducates, members of a targeted group.
238.304 History
History: 2009 a. 2;
2011 a. 32 s.
3416; Stats. 2011 s. 238.304.
238.3045
238.3045
Transferability of tax benefits. 238.3045(1)(a)(a) An applicant for certification for tax benefits under
s. 238.301 may submit with its application under
s. 238.301 (1) an application to the corporation on a form prescribed by the corporation to transfer those tax benefits to another person under this section. The application shall include the name, address, and tax identification number of the person to whom the applicant intends to transfer the tax benefits and any other information the corporation requires. The corporation shall notify the applicant of the corporation's determination concerning the transfer of tax benefits when the corporation notifies the applicant of the corporation's certification determination under
s. 238.301.
238.3045(1)(b)
(b) The corporation may approve the transfer of tax benefits under this section if the corporation certifies the applicant under
par. (a) for tax benefits under
s. 238.301 and finds that the applicant meets at least one of the following conditions:
238.3045(1)(b)1.
1. Is headquartered and employs at least 51 percent of its employees in this state.
238.3045(1)(b)2.
2. Intends to relocate its headquarters to this state and employ at least 51 percent of its employees in this state.
238.3045(1)(b)3.
3. Intends to expand its operations in this state, and that expansion will result in an increase in the number of full-time employees employed by the applicant in this state in an amount equal to at least 10 percent of the applicant's full-time workforce in this state at the time of application.
238.3045(1)(b)4.
4. Intends to expand its operations in this state, and that expansion will result in the applicant making a significant capital investment in property located in this state, as determined by the corporation.
238.3045(1)(c)1.1. Subject to
subd. 2., a person that receives an approval under
par. (b) shall transfer tax benefits in accordance with the terms of the application under
par. (a) after the corporation authorizes the person to claim tax benefits under
s. 238.303 (2) and provides the notice of eligibility under
s. 238.303 (3). The notice of eligibility shall contain all relevant information concerning a transfer of tax benefits under this section. The person to whom tax benefits are transferred may carry forward, beginning on the date of the notice of eligibility, any unused amount of the value of those tax benefits as provided under the appropriate provision in
ch. 71 or in
s. 76.636.
238.3045(1)(c)2.
2. Tax benefits may be transferred under this paragraph only in exchange for some consideration, other than money, in connection with the eligible activity for which the tax benefits were initially awarded.
238.3045(2)(a)(a) If the corporation revokes a person's certification for tax benefits under
s. 238.305, and, at the time of revocation, that person has transferred those tax benefits under this section, that person shall be liable for the full value of the tax benefits, and the person to whom the tax benefits were transferred may not claim any tax benefits that were not claimed prior to revocation.
238.3045(2)(b)
(b) The corporation shall notify the department of revenue of a revocation of tax benefits subject to
par. (a), including the value of the tax benefits for which the person is liable.
238.3045(2)(c)
(c) The department of revenue has full power to administer tax benefits transferred under this section and may take any action, conduct any proceeding, and proceed as it is authorized in respect to income and franchise taxes imposed under
ch. 71. The income and franchise tax provisions in
ch. 71 relating to assessments, refunds, appeals, collection, interest, and penalties apply to tax benefits transferred under this section.
238.3045(3)
(3) Annual report. Annually, the corporation shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance that provides a detailed assessment of the progress to date of the program under this section.
238.3045(4)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), the corporation may not authorize the transfer of tax benefits under this section that total more than $15,000,000, and the corporation may not authorize the transfer of tax benefits after 36 months after April 4, 2014.
238.3045(4)(b)
(b) Upon expiration of the 36-month period under
par. (a), the corporation may continue to authorize the transfer of tax benefits under this section for up to an additional 36 months, and the corporation may authorize the transfer of up to an additional $15,000,000 in tax benefits, if the corporation determines that a continuation of the program under this section will promote significant economic development in this state. Before the corporation authorizes the transfer of tax benefits under this paragraph, the chief executive officer of the corporation shall notify the joint committee on finance in writing that the corporation intends to continue authorizing the transfer of tax benefits under this section. That notice shall state the reasons supporting the corporation's determination that the transfer of additional tax benefits will promote significant economic development in this state. If, within 14 working days after the date of that notice, the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the corporation that the committee has scheduled a meeting to review the corporation's proposed continuation of the program, the corporation may proceed to authorize the transfer of additional tax benefits under this section. If, within 14 working days after the date of that notice, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the corporation that the committee has scheduled a meeting to review the proposed continuation of the program, the corporation may proceed to authorize the transfer of additional tax benefits only upon approval of the committee.
238.3045 History
History: 2013 a. 184.
238.305
238.305
Revocation of certification. The corporation shall revoke the certification of a person who does any of the following:
238.305(2)
(2) Supplies false or misleading information to obtain tax benefits under
s. 238.303.
238.305(3)
(3) Leaves the state to conduct substantially the same business outside of the state.
238.305(4)
(4) Ceases operations in the state and does not renew operation of the business or a similar business within 12 months.
238.305 History
History: 2009 a. 2;
2011 a. 32 s.
3417; Stats. 2011 s. 238.305.
238.306
238.306
Responsibilities of the corporation. The corporation shall do all of the following:
238.306(1)(b)
(b) Notify and obtain written approval from the chief executive officer of the corporation for any certification under
sub. (2) (j).
238.306(2)
(2) Rules. Establish by rule all of the following:
238.306(2)(a)
(a) A schedule of hourly wage ranges to be paid, and health insurance benefits to be provided, to an employee by a person certified under
s. 238.301 (2) and the corresponding per employee tax benefit for which a person certified under
s. 238.301 (2) may be eligible.
238.306(2)(b)
(b) A definition of "significant investment of capital" for purposes of
s. 238.302 (2), together with a corresponding schedule of tax benefits for which a person who is certified under
s. 238.301 (2) and who conducts a project described in
s. 238.302 (2) may be eligible. The corporation shall include in the definition required under this paragraph a schedule of investments that takes into consideration the size or nature of the business.
238.306(2)(c)
(c) A definition of "significant investments in the training or reeducation of employees" for purposes of
s. 238.302 (3), together with a corresponding schedule of tax benefits for which a person who is certified under
s. 238.301 (2) and who conducts a project under
s. 238.302 (3) may be eligible.
238.306(2)(d)
(d) A schedule of tax benefits for which a person who is certified under
s. 238.301 (2) and who conducts a project that will result in the location or retention of a person's corporate headquarters in Wisconsin may be eligible.
238.306(2)(e)
(e) The methodology for designating an area as economically distressed under
s. 238.304 (1). The methodology under this paragraph shall require the corporation to consider the most current data available for the area and for the state on the following indicators:
238.306(2)(e)7.
7. Other significant or irregular indicators of economic distress, such as a natural disaster.
238.306(2)(f)
(f) A schedule of additional tax benefits for which a person who is certified under
s. 238.301 (2) and who conducts an eligible activity described under
s. 238.304 may be eligible.
238.306(2)(g)
(g) Reporting requirements, minimum benchmarks, and outcomes expected of a person certified under
s. 238.301 (2) before that person may receive tax benefits under
s. 238.303.
238.306(2)(h)
(h) Policies, criteria, and methodology for allocating a portion of the tax benefits available under
s. 238.303 to rural areas.
238.306(2)(i)
(i) Policies, criteria, and methodology for allocating a portion of the tax benefits available under
s. 238.303 to small businesses.
238.306(2)(j)
(j) Policies and criteria for certifying a person who may be eligible for tax benefits greater than or equal to $3,000,000.
238.306(3)
(3) Reporting. Annually, 6 months after the report has been submitted under
s. 238.07 (2), submit to the joint legislative audit committee and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under
s. 13.172 (3) a comprehensive report assessing the program under
ss. 238.301 to
238.306. The report under this subsection shall update the applicable information provided in the report under
s. 238.07 (2).
238.306 History
History: 2009 a. 2;
2011 a. 32 s.
3418; Stats. 2011 s. 238.306.
238.31
238.31
Designation of development zone. 238.31(1)
(1) The corporation may designate an area as a development zone if all of the following apply:
238.31(1)(ac)
(ac) The corporation has invited a local governing body to nominate the area under
s. 238.315.
238.31(1)(b)
(b) The corporation has evaluated the local governing body's application as described in
s. 238.325.
238.31(1)(e)
(e) The corporation determines all of the following:
238.31(1)(e)1.
1. That designation of the area as a development zone will serve a public purpose.
238.31(1)(e)2.
2. That designation of the area as a development zone will likely retain or increase employment in the area.
238.31(1)(e)3.
3. That economic development in the area is not likely to occur or continue without the corporation's designation of the area as a development zone.
238.31(1)(e)4.
4. That the area meets at least 3 of the following criteria:
238.31(1)(e)4.a.
a. The unemployment rate in the area is higher than the state average for the 18 months immediately preceding the date on which the application under
s. 238.32 (2) or
(3) was submitted to the corporation.
238.31(1)(e)4.b.
b. The percentage of persons residing in the area who are members of households with household income levels at or below 80% of the statewide median household income is higher than the state average.
238.31(1)(e)4.c.
c. The percentage of households in the area receiving unemployment insurance under
ch. 108, relief funded by a relief block grant under
ch. 49, or aid to families with dependent children under
s. 49.19 is higher than the state average.
238.31(1)(e)4.d.
d. In the 36 months immediately preceding the date on which the application under
s. 238.32 (2) or
(3) was submitted to the corporation, a number of workers in the area were permanently laid off by their employer or became unemployed as a result of a business action subject to
s. 109.07 (1m).
238.31(1)(e)4.e.
e. An employer in the vicinity of the area has given public notice under
s. 109.07 (1m) (a) of either a business closing or a mass layoff of at least 25 employees, or 25% of the employees, of a business, whichever is greater, that will result in a number of workers in the area being laid off permanently.
238.31(1m)
(1m) In making a determination under
sub. (1) (e), the corporation shall consider all of the following:
238.31(1m)(a)
(a) The extent of poverty, unemployment, or other factors contributing to general economic hardship in the area.
238.31(1m)(b)
(b) The prospects for new investment and economic development in the area.
238.31(1m)(c)
(c) The amount of investment that is likely to result from the designation of the area as a development zone.
238.31(1m)(d)
(d) The number of full-time jobs that are likely to be created or retained in the area as a result of its designation as a development zone.
