SB172: Bill Text

SB172,6 Section 6 . 71.49 (1) (cu) of the statutes is created to read:

SB172,13,17 71.49 (1) (cu) State workforce housing credit under s. 71.47 (8f).

SB172,7 Section 7 . 76.6395 of the statutes is created to read:

SB172,13,19 76.6395 State workforce housing credit. (1) Definitions. In this section:

SB172,13,23 (a) “Allocation certificate” means a statement issued by the authority certifying that a qualified housing development is eligible for a credit under this section and specifying the amount of the credit that the owners of the qualified housing development may claim for each taxable year of the credit period.

SB172,13,25 (b) “Area median gross income” has the meaning as used for purposes of 26 USC 42.

SB172,14,2 (c) “Authority” means the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.

SB172,14,4 (d) “Claimant” means a person who has an ownership interest in a qualified housing development and who files a claim under this section.

SB172,14,6 (e) “Compliance period” means the 10-year period beginning with the first taxable year of the credit period.

SB172,14,11 (f) “Credit period” means the 6-year period beginning with the taxable year in which a qualified housing development is placed in service. For purposes of this paragraph, if a qualified housing development consists of more than one building, the qualified housing development is placed in service in the taxable year in which the last building is placed in service.

SB172,14,22 (g) “Qualified basis” means the amount equal to the applicable fraction of the adjusted basis of the qualified housing development as of the close of the first taxable year of the credit period. The applicable fraction is the smaller of a fraction whose numerator is the number of qualified units in the qualified housing development and denominator is the total number of residential rental units in the qualified housing development or a fraction whose numerator is the total floor space of the qualified units in the qualified housing development and denominator is the total floor space of all the residential rental units in the qualified housing development. In calculating the applicable fraction, the number of qualified units and residential rental units and the amount of floor space shall be determined as of the close of the taxable year.

SB172,15,2 (h) “Qualified housing development” means a residential rental property development located in this state if at least 25 percent of the development's residential rental units are rent-restricted units and occupied by individuals whose tenant income is at least 61 percent but not more than 100 percent of area median gross income.

SB172,15,5 (i) “Qualified unit” means a rent-restricted unit that is occupied by individuals whose tenant income is at least 61 percent but not more than 100 percent of area median gross income.

SB172,15,9 (j) “Rent-restricted unit” means a residential rental unit if the gross rent with respect to the unit does not exceed 30 percent of area median gross income, determined as if the unit is occupied by one individual in a unit without a separate bedroom and 1.5 individuals for each separate bedroom in any other unit.

SB172,15,11 (k) “Tenant income” means the income determined under 26 USC 142 (d) (2) (B) of individuals occupying a residential rental unit.

SB172,15,16 (2) Filing claims. Subject to the limitations provided in this section and in s. 234.46, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020, 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 allocated to the claimant by the authority under s. 234.46 for each taxable year within the credit period.

SB172,15,19 (3) Limitations. (a) No insurer may claim the credit under sub. (2) unless the claimant includes with the claimant's return a copy of the allocation certificate issued for the qualified housing development.

SB172,16,2 (b) An insurer that is a partner or member of a partnership or limited liability company that directly or indirectly owns a qualified housing development may claim the credit under sub. (2) in proportion to the insurer's percentage ownership interest in the partnership or limited liability company or in accordance with the allocation of credits to the insurer pursuant to a written agreement among the partners or members of the partnership or limited liability company that is entered into no later than the last day of the taxable year of the partnership or limited liability company.

SB172,16,11 (4) Recapture. (a) As of the last day of any taxable year during the compliance period, if the qualified basis of a qualified housing development with respect to a claimant is less than the qualified basis as of the last day of the previous taxable year, the amount of the claimant's tax liability under s. 76.60, 76.63, 76.65, 76.66, or 76.67 shall be increased by an amount equal to the excess of the aggregate credit claimed under this section in prior taxable years over the aggregate credit that would be claimed in those years if the full credit amount allocated to the claimant for the credit period was claimed ratably over 10 years, plus interest at the overpayment rate established under 26 USC 6621.

SB172,16,17 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply if the reduction in qualified basis for the taxable year is by reason of a casualty loss if the loss is restored by reconstruction or replacement within a reasonable period; a minimal change in floor space; or a disposition of an interest in the qualified housing development if it is reasonably expected that the development will continue to be operated as a qualified housing development for the remainder of the compliance period.

SB172,16,20 (c) In the event that the recapture of a credit is required in a taxable year, the taxpayer shall include the recaptured amount of the credit on the return submitted for the taxable year in which the recapture event is identified.

SB172,16,21 (d) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this subsection.

SB172,17,2 (5) Carry-forward. If the credit 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 may be carried forward and credited against those fees for the following 15 years to the extent that it is not offset by those fees otherwise due in all the years between the year in which the expense was made and the year in which the carry-forward credit is claimed.

SB172,8 Section 8. 76.67 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB172,17,14 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.

SB172,9 Section 9 . 234.46 of the statutes is created to read:

SB172,17,17 234.46 State workforce housing tax credits. (1) Definitions. In this section:

SB172,17,21 (a) “Allocation certificate” means a statement issued by the authority certifying that a qualified housing development is eligible for a credit under this section and specifying the amount of the credit that the owners of the qualified housing development may claim for each taxable year of the credit period.

SB172,17,23 (b) “Area median gross income” has the meaning as used for purposes of 26 USC 42.

SB172,17,25 (c) “Compliance period” means the 10-year period beginning with the first taxable year of the credit period.

SB172,18,5 (d) “Credit period” means the 6-year period beginning with the taxable year in which a qualified housing development is placed in service. For purposes of this paragraph, if a qualified housing development consists of more than one building, the qualified housing development is placed in service in the taxable year in which the last building is placed in service.

SB172,18,10 (e) “Qualified housing development” means a residential rental property development located in this state if at least 25 percent of the development's residential rental units are rent-restricted units and occupied by individuals whose tenant income is at least 61 percent but not more than 100 percent of area median gross income.

SB172,18,13 (f) “Qualified unit” means a rent-restricted unit that is occupied by individuals whose tenant income is at least 61 percent but not more than 100 percent of area median gross income.

SB172,18,17 (g) “Rent-restricted unit” means a residential rental unit if the gross rent with respect to the unit does not exceed 30 percent of area median gross income, determined as if the unit is occupied by one individual in a unit without a separate bedroom and 1.5 individuals for each separate bedroom in any other unit.

SB172,18,19 (h) “State tax credit” means a tax credit under s. 71.07 (8f), 71.28 (8f), 71.47 (8f), or 76.6395.

SB172,18,21 (i) “Tenant income” means the income determined under 26 USC 142 (d) (2) (B) of individuals occupying a residential rental unit.

SB172,18,24 (2) Establishment of program. The authority shall establish a program to certify persons to claim state tax credits, in amounts determined by the authority, under this section.

SB172,19,12 (3) Certification. The authority may certify a person to claim a state tax credit by issuing the person an allocation certificate for the qualified housing development. The allocation certificate shall state the amount the authority determines the person is eligible to claim for each year of the credit period, the name and address of the person, the person's Wisconsin tax identification number, and any other information required by the authority or the department of revenue. The authority shall provide a copy of the allocation certificate to the department of revenue. The authority shall issue allocation certificates annually, on a rolling basis, based on eligibility, as determined by the authority, except that the authority may develop a competitive process to award allocation certificates as a part of its qualified allocation plan under sub. (4). The authority may issue an allocation certificate under this subsection only if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

SB172,19,14 (a) The allocation certificate is issued to a person who has an ownership interest in the qualified housing development.

SB172,19,16 (b) The state tax credit is necessary for the financial feasibility of the qualified housing development.

SB172,19,22 (c) The qualified housing development is the subject of a recorded restrictive covenant requiring that, for the compliance period or for a longer period agreed to by the authority and the owner of the qualified housing development, the development shall be maintained and operated as a qualified housing development and shall be in compliance with Title VIII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended.

SB172,19,24 (d) The allocation certificate is issued in accordance with the authority's qualified allocation plan under sub. (4).

SB172,20,10 (4) Allocation plan. The authority shall develop a qualified allocation plan that sets forth selection criteria to determine housing priorities for individuals whose income is at least 61 percent but not more 100 percent of area median gross income. The housing priorities shall be appropriate for local conditions. The selection criteria shall include project location, housing needs characteristics, project characteristics, sponsor characteristics, tenant populations with special housing needs, tenant populations of individuals with children, projects intended for eventual tenant ownership, the energy efficiency of the project, and the historic nature of the project. The plan shall include procedures to monitor noncompliance with this section and with habitability standards.

SB172,20,17 (5) Allocation limits. In any calendar year, the aggregate amount of all state tax credits for which the authority certifies persons in allocation certificates issued under sub. (3) in that year may not exceed $42,000,000, including all amounts each person is eligible to claim for each year of the credit period, plus the total amount of all unallocated state tax credits from previous calendar years and plus the total amount of all previously allocated state tax credits that have been revoked, canceled, or otherwise recovered by the authority.

SB172,20,20 (6) Preference for smaller municipalities. In issuing allocation certificates under sub. (3), the authority shall give preference to qualified housing developments located in a city, village, or town with a population of fewer than 150,000.

SB172,20,22 (7) Report. No later than December 31 of each year, the authority shall submit a report to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) that includes all of the following:

SB172,21,3 (a) A description of each qualified housing development for which the authority issued an allocation certificate that year, including the development's geographic location, the household type and any specific demographic information available concerning the residents intended to be served by the development, the income levels of residents intended to be served by the development, and the rents or set-asides authorized for the development.

SB172,21,8 (b) An analysis of housing market and demographic information that shows how the qualified housing developments for which the authority has issued allocation certificates at any time are addressing the need for affordable housing within the communities the developments are intended to serve and an analysis of remaining disparities in the affordability of housing within those communities.

SB172,21,11 (8) Policies and procedures. The authority, in consultation with the department of revenue, shall establish policies and procedures to administer this section.

SB172,21,12 (End)