California Competes Tax Credit – An Update

Statutory tax credits are helpful to businesses looking to expand their operations within a state. As is often headlined in mainstream media, states compete with one another to entice companies to build plants, new headquarters operations, etc. within their state. And companies (particularly large ones) are happy to be courted for these often lucrative incentives which can include income tax credits, sales tax rebates, alternative financing, property tax incentives and infrastructure improvements – to name a few.

But over the years, state tax incentive programs have been criticized by many as “corporate giveaways” because companies often receive the tax breaks but don’t live up to the agreed upon investment (generally headcount). When companies fail to meet their milestones, it is often difficult for states to claw that money back and states are left to decide how to deal with the shortfall.

California’s Credit

Read More

The California Competes Tax Credit is an income or franchise tax credit available to businesses that come to California or stay and grow in California. Tax credit agreements will be negotiated by Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and approved by a newly created “California Competes Tax Credit Committee,” consisting of the State Treasurer, the Director of the Department of Finance, the Director of GO-Biz (Chair), and one appointee each by the Speaker of the Assembly and Senate Committee on Rules.

For fiscal year 2013/2014, applications for the California Competes Tax Credit will be accepted at calcompetes.ca.gov from March 19, 2014, until April 14, 2014. Go to business.ca.gov for more information on the California Competes Tax Credit. Read More