Florida Senate - 2013                              CS for SB 518
       
       
       
       By the Committee on Commerce and Tourism; and Senator Hukill
       
       
       
       
       577-03302-13                                           2013518c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to economic business incentives;
    3         amending s. 212.08, F.S.; revising the sales tax
    4         exemption for certain business purchases of industrial
    5         machinery and equipment; deleting certain limitations
    6         on, and procedural requirements relating to, the
    7         exemption; deleting the sales tax exemption for
    8         machinery and equipment used for certain federal
    9         procurement contracts; conforming cross-references;
   10         amending s. 288.1045, F.S.; deleting the limitation on
   11         the maximum amount of tax refunds a business may
   12         receive under the qualified defense contractor and
   13         space flight business tax refund program; amending s.
   14         288.106, F.S.; deleting the limitation on the maximum
   15         amount of tax refunds a business may receive under the
   16         tax refund program for qualified target industry
   17         businesses; amending ss. 212.0602, 220.183, 290.0056,
   18         290.007, 627.5105, and 1011.94, F.S.; conforming
   19         cross-references; providing effective dates.
   20  
   21  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   22  
   23         Section 1. Paragraphs (e) through (q) of subsection (5) of
   24  section 212.08, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs
   25  (d) through (p), respectively, and paragraphs (b), (d), and (h)
   26  of that subsection and paragraph (f) of subsection (15) of that
   27  section are amended, to read:
   28         212.08 Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution, and
   29  storage tax; specified exemptions.—The sale at retail, the
   30  rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and the
   31  storage to be used or consumed in this state of the following
   32  are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed by this
   33  chapter.
   34         (5) EXEMPTIONS; ACCOUNT OF USE.—
   35         (b) Machinery and equipment used by manufacturers to
   36  increase productive output.—
   37         1. Industrial machinery and equipment purchased for
   38  exclusive use in this state by a new business in spaceport
   39  activities as defined by s. 212.02 or for use in new businesses
   40  that manufacture, process, compound, or produce for sale items
   41  of tangible personal property at fixed locations are exempt from
   42  the tax imposed by this chapter if, at the time of purchase, the
   43  purchaser furnishes the seller with a signed certificate stating
   44  that the items to be exempted are for exclusive use as provided
   45  in this paragraph. The certificate relieves the seller of the
   46  responsibility of collecting the tax on the sale of such items
   47  and the department shall look solely to the purchaser for
   48  recovery of the tax if it determines that the purchaser was not
   49  entitled to the exemption upon an affirmative showing by the
   50  taxpayer to the satisfaction of the department that such items
   51  are used in a new business in this state. Such purchases must be
   52  made before the date the business first begins its productive
   53  operations, and delivery of the purchased item must be made
   54  within 12 months after that date.
   55         2. Industrial machinery and equipment purchased for
   56  exclusive use by an expanding facility which is engaged in
   57  spaceport activities as defined by s. 212.02 or for use in
   58  expanding manufacturing facilities or plant units which
   59  manufacture, process, compound, or produce for sale items of
   60  tangible personal property at fixed locations in this state are
   61  exempt from any amount of tax imposed by this chapter upon an
   62  affirmative showing by the taxpayer to the satisfaction of the
   63  department that such items are used to increase the productive
   64  output of such expanded facility or business by not less than 5
   65  percent.
   66         3.a. To receive an exemption provided by subparagraph 1. or
   67  subparagraph 2., a qualifying business entity shall apply to the
   68  department for a temporary tax exemption permit. The application
   69  shall state that a new business exemption or expanded business
   70  exemption is being sought. Upon a tentative affirmative
   71  determination by the department pursuant to subparagraph 1. or
   72  subparagraph 2., the department shall issue such permit.
   73         b. The applicant shall maintain all necessary books and
   74  records to support the exemption. Upon completion of purchases
   75  of qualified machinery and equipment pursuant to subparagraph 1.
   76  or subparagraph 2., the temporary tax permit shall be delivered
   77  to the department or returned to the department by certified or
   78  registered mail.
   79         c. If, in a subsequent audit conducted by the department,
   80  it is determined that the machinery and equipment purchased as
   81  exempt under subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2. did not meet the
   82  criteria mandated by this paragraph or if commencement of
   83  production did not occur, the amount of taxes exempted at the
   84  time of purchase shall immediately be due and payable to the
   85  department by the business entity, together with the appropriate
   86  interest and penalty, computed from the date of purchase, in the
   87  manner prescribed by this chapter.
   88         d. If a qualifying business entity fails to apply for a
   89  temporary exemption permit or if the tentative determination by
   90  the department required to obtain a temporary exemption permit
   91  is negative, a qualifying business entity shall receive the
   92  exemption provided in subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2. through
   93  a refund of previously paid taxes. No refund may be made for
   94  such taxes unless the criteria mandated by subparagraph 1. or
   95  subparagraph 2. have been met and commencement of production has
   96  occurred.
   97         4. The department shall adopt rules governing applications
   98  for, issuance of, and the form of temporary tax exemption
   99  permits; provisions for recapture of taxes; and the manner and
  100  form of refund applications, and may establish guidelines as to
  101  the requisites for an affirmative showing of increased
  102  productive output, commencement of production, and qualification
  103  for exemption.
  104         2.5. The exemption does exemptions provided in
  105  subparagraphs 1. and 2. do not apply to machinery or equipment
  106  purchased or used by electric utility companies, communications
  107  companies, oil or gas exploration or production operations,
  108  publishing firms that do not export at least 50 percent of their
  109  finished product out of the state, any firm subject to
  110  regulation by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the
  111  Department of Business and Professional Regulation, or any firm
  112  that does not manufacture, process, compound, or produce for
  113  sale items of tangible personal property or that does not use
  114  such machinery and equipment in spaceport activities as required
  115  by this paragraph. The exemption applies exemptions provided in
  116  subparagraphs 1. and 2. shall apply to machinery and equipment
  117  purchased for use in phosphate or other solid minerals
  118  severance, mining, or processing operations.
  119         3.6. For the purposes of the exemption, the term exemptions
  120  provided in subparagraphs 1. and 2., these terms have the
  121  following meanings:
  122         a. “Industrial machinery and equipment” means tangible
  123  personal property or other property that has a depreciable life
  124  of 3 years or more and that is used as an integral part in the
  125  manufacturing, processing, compounding, or production of
  126  tangible personal property for sale or is exclusively used in
  127  spaceport activities. A building and its structural components
  128  are not industrial machinery and equipment unless the building
  129  or structural component is so closely related to the industrial
  130  machinery and equipment that it houses or supports that the
  131  building or structural component can be expected to be replaced
  132  when the machinery and equipment are replaced. Heating and air
  133  conditioning systems are not industrial machinery and equipment
  134  unless the sole justification for their installation is to meet
  135  the requirements of the production process, even though the
  136  system may provide incidental comfort to employees or serve, to
  137  an insubstantial degree, nonproduction activities. The term
  138  includes parts and accessories for industrial machinery and
  139  equipment only to the extent that the exemption thereof is
  140  consistent with the provisions of this paragraph.
  141         b. “Productive output” means the number of units actually
  142  produced by a single plant, operation, or product line in a
  143  single continuous 12-month period, irrespective of sales.
  144  Increases in productive output shall be measured by the output
  145  for 12 continuous months selected by the expanding business
  146  after completion of the installation of such machinery or
  147  equipment over the output for the 12 continuous months
  148  immediately preceding such installation. However, in no case may
  149  such time period begin later than 2 years after completion of
  150  the installation of the new machinery and equipment. The units
  151  used to measure productive output shall be physically comparable
  152  between the two periods, irrespective of sales.
  153         (d) Machinery and equipment used under federal procurement
  154  contract.
  155         1. Industrial machinery and equipment purchased by an
  156  expanding business which manufactures tangible personal property
  157  pursuant to federal procurement regulations at fixed locations
  158  in this state are exempt from the tax imposed in this chapter
  159  upon an affirmative showing by the taxpayer to the satisfaction
  160  of the department that such items are used to increase the
  161  implicit productive output of the expanded business by not less
  162  than 10 percent. The percentage of increase is measured as
  163  deflated implicit productive output for the calendar year during
  164  which the installation of the machinery or equipment is
  165  completed or during which commencement of production utilizing
  166  such items is begun divided by the implicit productive output
  167  for the preceding calendar year. In no case may the commencement
  168  of production begin later than 2 years following completion of
  169  installation of the machinery or equipment.
  170         2. The amount of the exemption allowed shall equal the
  171  taxes otherwise imposed by this chapter on qualifying industrial
  172  machinery or equipment reduced by the percentage of gross
  173  receipts from cost-reimbursement type contracts attributable to
  174  the plant or operation to total gross receipts so attributable,
  175  accrued for the year of completion or commencement.
  176         3. The exemption provided by this paragraph shall inure to
  177  the taxpayer only through refund of previously paid taxes. Such
  178  refund shall be made within 30 days of formal approval by the
  179  department of the taxpayer’s application, which application may
  180  be made on an annual basis following installation of the
  181  machinery or equipment.
  182         4. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term:
  183         a. “Cost-reimbursement type contracts” has the same meaning
  184  as in 32 C.F.R. s. 3-405.
  185         b. “Deflated implicit productive output” means the product
  186  of implicit productive output times the quotient of the national
  187  defense implicit price deflator for the preceding calendar year
  188  divided by the deflator for the year of completion or
  189  commencement.
  190         c. “Eligible costs” means the total direct and indirect
  191  costs, as defined in 32 C.F.R. ss. 15-202 and 15-203, excluding
  192  general and administrative costs, selling expenses, and profit,
  193  defined by the uniform cost-accounting standards adopted by the
  194  Cost-Accounting Standards Board created pursuant to 50 U.S.C. s.
  195  2168.
  196         d. “Implicit productive output” means the annual eligible
  197  costs attributable to all contracts or subcontracts subject to
  198  federal procurement regulations of the single plant or operation
  199  at which the machinery or equipment is used.
  200         e. “Industrial machinery and equipment” means tangible
  201  personal property or other property that has a depreciable life
  202  of 3 years or more, that qualifies as an eligible cost under
  203  federal procurement regulations, and that is used as an integral
  204  part of the process of production of tangible personal property.
  205  A building and its structural components are not industrial
  206  machinery and equipment unless the building or structural
  207  component is so closely related to the industrial machinery and
  208  equipment that it houses or supports that the building or
  209  structural component can be expected to be replaced when the
  210  machinery and equipment are replaced. Heating and air
  211  conditioning systems are not industrial machinery and equipment
  212  unless the sole justification for their installation is to meet
  213  the requirements of the production process, even though the
  214  system may provide incidental comfort to employees or serve, to
  215  an insubstantial degree, nonproduction activities. The term
  216  includes parts and accessories only to the extent that the
  217  exemption of such parts and accessories is consistent with the
  218  provisions of this paragraph.
  219         f. “National defense implicit price deflator” means the
  220  national defense implicit price deflator for the gross national
  221  product as determined by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the
  222  United States Department of Commerce.
  223         5. The exclusions provided in subparagraph (b)5. apply to
  224  this exemption. This exemption applies only to machinery or
  225  equipment purchased pursuant to production contracts with the
  226  United States Department of Defense and Armed Forces, the
  227  National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other federal
  228  agencies for which the contracts are classified for national
  229  security reasons. In no event shall the provisions of this
  230  paragraph apply to any expanding business the increase in
  231  productive output of which could be measured under the
  232  provisions of sub-subparagraph (b)6.b. as physically comparable
  233  between the two periods.
  234         (g)(h)Business property used in an enterprise zone.—
  235         1. Business property purchased for use by businesses
  236  located in an enterprise zone which is subsequently used in an
  237  enterprise zone is shall be exempt from the tax imposed by this
  238  chapter. This exemption inures to the business only through a
  239  refund of previously paid taxes. A refund shall be authorized
  240  upon an affirmative showing by the taxpayer, to the satisfaction
  241  of the department, that the requirements of this paragraph have
  242  been met.
  243         2. To receive a refund, the business must file under oath
  244  with the governing body or enterprise zone development agency
  245  that has having jurisdiction over the enterprise zone where the
  246  business is located, as applicable, an application, under oath,
  247  which includes:
  248         a. The name and address of the business claiming the
  249  refund.
  250         b. The identifying number assigned pursuant to s. 290.0065
  251  to the enterprise zone in which the business is located.
  252         c. A specific description of the property for which a
  253  refund is sought, including its serial number or other permanent
  254  identification number.
  255         d. The location of the property.
  256         e. The sales invoice or other proof of purchase of the
  257  property, showing the amount of sales tax paid, the date of
  258  purchase, and the name and address of the sales tax dealer from
  259  whom the property was purchased.
  260         f. Whether the business is a small business as defined by
  261  s. 288.703.
  262         g. If applicable, the name and address of each permanent
  263  employee of the business, including, for each employee who is a
  264  resident of an enterprise zone, the identifying number assigned
  265  pursuant to s. 290.0065 to the enterprise zone in which the
  266  employee resides.
  267         3. Within 10 working days after receipt of an application,
  268  the governing body or enterprise zone development agency shall
  269  review the application to determine if it contains all the
  270  information required pursuant to subparagraph 2. and meets the
  271  criteria set out in this paragraph. The governing body or agency
  272  shall certify all applications that contain the information
  273  required pursuant to subparagraph 2. and meet the criteria set
  274  out in this paragraph as eligible to receive a refund. If
  275  applicable, the governing body or agency shall also certify if
  276  20 percent of the employees of the business are residents of an
  277  enterprise zone, excluding temporary and part-time employees.
  278  The certification must shall be in writing, and a copy of the
  279  certification must shall be transmitted to the executive
  280  director of the Department of Revenue. The business is shall be
  281  responsible for forwarding a certified application to the
  282  department within the time specified in subparagraph 4.
  283         4. An application for a refund pursuant to this paragraph
  284  must be submitted to the department within 6 months after the
  285  tax is due on the business property that is purchased.
  286         5. The amount refunded on purchases of business property
  287  under this paragraph shall be the lesser of 97 percent of the
  288  sales tax paid on such business property or $5,000, or, if no
  289  less than 20 percent or more of the employees of the business
  290  are residents of an enterprise zone, excluding temporary and
  291  part-time employees, the amount refunded on purchases of
  292  business property under this paragraph shall be the lesser of 97
  293  percent of the sales tax paid on such business property or
  294  $10,000. A refund must approved pursuant to this paragraph shall
  295  be made within 30 days after formal approval by the department
  296  of the application for the refund. A refund may not be granted
  297  under this paragraph unless the amount to be refunded exceeds
  298  $100 in sales tax paid on purchases made within a 60-day time
  299  period.
  300         6. The department shall adopt rules governing the manner
  301  and form of refund applications and may establish guidelines as
  302  to the requisites for an affirmative showing of qualification
  303  for exemption under this paragraph.
  304         7. If the department determines that the business property
  305  is used outside an enterprise zone within 3 years after from the
  306  date of purchase, the amount of taxes refunded to the business
  307  purchasing such business property is shall immediately be due
  308  and payable to the department by the business, together with the
  309  appropriate interest and penalty, computed from the date of
  310  purchase, in the manner provided by this chapter.
  311  Notwithstanding this subparagraph, business property used
  312  exclusively in:
  313         a. Licensed commercial fishing vessels,
  314         b. Fishing guide boats, or
  315         c. Ecotourism guide boats
  316  
  317  that leave and return to a fixed location within an area
  318  designated under s. 379.2353, Florida Statutes 2010, are
  319  eligible for the exemption provided under this paragraph if all
  320  requirements of this paragraph are met. Such vessels and boats
  321  must be owned by a business that is eligible to receive the
  322  exemption provided under this paragraph. This exemption does not
  323  apply to the purchase of a vessel or boat.
  324         8. The department shall deduct an amount equal to 10
  325  percent of each refund granted under this paragraph from the
  326  amount transferred into the Local Government Half-cent Sales Tax
  327  Clearing Trust Fund pursuant to s. 212.20 for the county area in
  328  which the business property is located and shall transfer that
  329  amount to the General Revenue Fund.
  330         9. For the purposes of this exemption, the term “business
  331  property” means new or used property defined as “recovery
  332  property” in s. 168(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as
  333  amended, except:
  334         a. Property classified as 3-year property under s.
  335  168(c)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended;
  336         b. Industrial machinery and equipment as defined in
  337  subparagraph (b)3. sub-subparagraph (b)6.a. and eligible for
  338  exemption under paragraph (b);
  339         c. Building materials as defined in sub-subparagraph
  340  (g)8.a.; and
  341         d. Business property having a sales price of under $5,000
  342  per unit.
  343         10. This paragraph expires on the date specified in s.
  344  290.016 for the expiration of the Florida Enterprise Zone Act.
  345         (15) ELECTRICAL ENERGY USED IN AN ENTERPRISE ZONE.—
  346         (f) For the purpose of the exemption provided in this
  347  subsection, the term “qualified business” means a business that
  348  which is:
  349         1. First occupying a new structure to which electrical
  350  service, other than that used for construction purposes, has not
  351  been previously provided or furnished;
  352         2. Newly occupying an existing, remodeled, renovated, or
  353  rehabilitated structure to which electrical service, other than
  354  that used for remodeling, renovation, or rehabilitation of the
  355  structure, has not been provided or furnished in the three
  356  preceding billing periods; or
  357         3. Occupying a new, remodeled, rebuilt, renovated, or
  358  rehabilitated structure for which a refund has been granted
  359  pursuant to paragraph (5)(f) (5)(g).
  360         Section 2. Effective July 1, 2013, paragraph (c) of
  361  subsection (2) of section 288.1045, Florida Statutes, is
  362  amended, and present paragraphs (d) through (h) of that
  363  subsection are redesignated as paragraphs (c) through (g),
  364  respectively, to read:
  365         288.1045 Qualified defense contractor and space flight
  366  business tax refund program.—
  367         (2) GRANTING OF A TAX REFUND; ELIGIBLE AMOUNTS.—
  368         (c)A qualified applicant may not receive more than $7
  369  million in tax refunds pursuant to this section in all fiscal
  370  years.
  371         Section 3. Effective July 1, 2013, paragraph (c) of
  372  subsection (3) of section 288.106, Florida Statutes, is amended
  373  to read:
  374         288.106 Tax refund program for qualified target industry
  375  businesses.—
  376         (3) TAX REFUND; ELIGIBLE AMOUNTS.—
  377         (c) A qualified target industry business may not receive
  378  refund payments of more than 25 percent of the total tax refunds
  379  specified in the tax refund agreement under subparagraph
  380  (5)(a)1. in any fiscal year. Further, a qualified target
  381  industry business may not receive more than $1.5 million in
  382  refunds under this section in any single fiscal year, or more
  383  than $2.5 million in any single fiscal year if the project is
  384  located in an enterprise zone. A qualified target industry
  385  business may not receive more than $7 million in refund payments
  386  under this section in all fiscal years, or more than $7.5
  387  million if the project is located in an enterprise zone.
  388         Section 4. Section 212.0602, Florida Statutes, is amended
  389  to read:
  390         212.0602 Education; limited exemption.—To facilitate
  391  investment in education and job training, there is also exempt
  392  from the taxes levied under this chapter, subject to the
  393  provisions of this section, the purchase or lease of materials,
  394  equipment, and other items or the license in or lease of real
  395  property by any entity, institution, or organization that is
  396  primarily engaged in teaching students to perform any of the
  397  activities or services described in s. 212.031(1)(a)9., that
  398  conducts classes at a fixed location located in this state, that
  399  is licensed under chapter 1005, and that has at least 500
  400  enrolled students. Any entity, institution, or organization
  401  meeting the requirements of this section shall be deemed to
  402  qualify for the exemptions under in ss. 212.031(1)(a)9. and
  403  212.08(5)(e) 212.08(5)(f) and (12), and to qualify for an
  404  exemption for its purchase or lease of materials, equipment, and
  405  other items used for education or demonstration of the school’s
  406  curriculum, including supporting operations. Nothing in This
  407  section does not shall preclude an entity described in this
  408  section from qualifying for any other exemption provided under
  409  for in this chapter.
  410         Section 5. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
  411  220.183, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  412         220.183 Community contribution tax credit.—
  413         (1) AUTHORIZATION TO GRANT COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION TAX
  414  CREDITS; LIMITATIONS ON INDIVIDUAL CREDITS AND PROGRAM
  415  SPENDING.—
  416         (c) The total amount of tax credit which may be granted for
  417  all programs approved under this section, s. 212.08(5)(o)
  418  212.08(5)(p), and s. 624.5105 is $10.5 million annually for
  419  projects that provide homeownership opportunities for low-income
  420  households or very-low-income households as those terms are
  421  defined in s. 420.9071(19) and (28) and $3.5 million annually
  422  for all other projects.
  423         Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (9) of section
  424  290.0056, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  425         290.0056 Enterprise zone development agency.—
  426         (9) The following powers and responsibilities shall be
  427  performed by the governing body creating the enterprise zone
  428  development agency acting as the managing agent of the
  429  enterprise zone development agency, or, contingent upon approval
  430  by such governing body, such powers and responsibilities shall
  431  be performed by the enterprise zone development agency:
  432         (a) To review, process, and certify applications for state
  433  enterprise zone tax incentives pursuant to ss. 212.08(5)(f), (g)
  434  212.08(5)(g), (h), and (15); 212.096; 220.181; and 220.182.
  435         Section 7. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 290.007,
  436  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  437         290.007 State incentives available in enterprise zones.—The
  438  following incentives are provided by the state to encourage the
  439  revitalization of enterprise zones:
  440         (4) The sales tax exemption for building materials used in
  441  the rehabilitation of real property in enterprise zones provided
  442  in s. 212.08(5)(f) 212.08(5)(g).
  443         (5) The sales tax exemption for business equipment used in
  444  an enterprise zone provided in s. 212.08(5)(g) 212.08(5)(h).
  445         Section 8. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
  446  624.5105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  447         624.5105 Community contribution tax credit; authorization;
  448  limitations; eligibility and application requirements;
  449  administration; definitions; expiration.—
  450         (1) AUTHORIZATION TO GRANT TAX CREDITS; LIMITATIONS.—
  451         (c) The total amount of tax credit which may be granted for
  452  all programs approved under this section and ss. 212.08(5)(o)
  453  212.08(5)(p) and 220.183 is $10.5 million annually for projects
  454  that provide homeownership opportunities for low-income
  455  households or very-low-income households as those terms are
  456  defined in s. 420.9071(19) and (28) and $3.5 million annually
  457  for all other projects.
  458         Section 9. Subsection (1) of section 1011.94, Florida
  459  Statutes, is amended to read:
  460         1011.94 University Major Gifts Program.—
  461         (1) The There is established a University Major Gifts
  462  Program is established. The purpose of the program is to enable
  463  each university to provide donors with an incentive in the form
  464  of matching grants for donations for the establishment of
  465  permanent endowments and sales tax exemption matching funds
  466  received pursuant to s. 212.08(5)(i) 212.08(5)(j), which must be
  467  invested, with the proceeds of the investment used to support
  468  libraries and instruction and research programs, as defined by
  469  the Board of Governors.
  470         Section 10. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
  471  act, and except for this section which shall take effect upon
  472  becoming law, this act shall take effect January 1, 2014.