SB786,1,4 An Act to amend 76.67 (2); and to create 71.07 (8f), 71.10 (4) (fd), 71.28 (8f), 71.30 (3) (cu), 71.47 (8f), 71.49 (1) (cu), 76.6395 and 234.46 of the statutes; relating to: state workforce housing income and franchise tax credit and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill creates a state workforce housing tax credit program that is 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 person has an ownership interest in a qualified housing development. Under the bill, a “qualified housing development” is a residential rental property development located in Wisconsin if at least 25 percent of the rental units are occupied by individuals whose income is at least 61 percent but not more than 100 percent of area median income and the rents for such units do not exceed 30 percent of area median income.

2. The tax credit is necessary for the financial feasibility of the development.

3. The qualified housing development is the subject of a recorded restrictive covenant requiring that the development be maintained and operated as a qualified housing development for at least ten years.

4. The tax credit certification is issued in accordance with a qualified allocation plan established by WHEDA.

The bill requires that WHEDA give preference to qualified housing developments located in a city, village, or town of fewer than 150,000 residents. The bill caps at $42,000,000 the amount of credits WHEDA may issue each year, including all amounts each person is eligible to claim for each year of the credit. However, the bill raises that cap for each year by an amount equal to all unallocated credits from prior years and all previously allocated credits that have been revoked, cancelled, or otherwise recovered by WHEDA.

The bill also requires that WHEDA submit an annual report to the legislature concerning the program's progress.

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:

SB786,1 Section 1 . 71.07 (8f) of the statutes is created to read:

SB786,2,2 71.07 (8f) State workforce housing credit. (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

SB786,2,6 1. “Allocation certificate” means a statement issued by the authority certifying that a qualified housing development is eligible for a credit under this subsection and specifying the amount of the credit that the owners of the development may claim for each taxable year of the credit period.

SB786,2,8 2. “Area median gross income” has the meaning as used for purposes of 26 USC 42.

SB786,2,10 3. “Authority” means the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.

SB786,2,12 4. “Claimant” means a person who has an ownership interest in a qualified housing development and who files a claim under this subsection.

SB786,2,14 5. “Compliance period” means the 10-year period beginning with the first taxable year of the credit period.

SB786,3,3 6. “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 subdivision, 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.

SB786,3,14 7. “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.

SB786,3,19 8. “Qualified housing development” means a residential rental property development that is 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.

SB786,3,22 9. “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.

SB786,4,2 10. “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.

SB786,4,4 11. “Tenant income” means the income determined under 26 USC 142 (d) (2) (B) of individuals occupying a residential rental unit.

SB786,4,9 (b) Filing claims. Subject to the limitations provided in this subsection and in s. 234.46, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019, a claimant may claim as a credit against the taxes imposed under s. 71.02, up to the amount of the tax, the amount allocated to the claimant by the authority under s. 234.46 for each taxable year within the credit period.