Florida Senate - 2020                             CS for SB 1642
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Commerce and Tourism; and Senator Gruters
       
       
       
       
       
       577-03075-20                                          20201642c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to tax exemptions; amending s.
    3         196.1978, F.S.; revising the affordable housing
    4         property exemption to exempt from ad valorem taxation,
    5         rather than provide a discount to, certain multifamily
    6         projects after a certain timeframe; making clarifying
    7         changes; amending s. 212.08, F.S.; providing a sales
    8         tax exemption for certain aircraft equipment used as
    9         part of certain governmental contracts; providing a
   10         use tax exemption for certain aircraft owned by
   11         nonresidents and used in service of certain
   12         governmental contracts; providing construction;
   13         providing a sales tax exemption for parts and
   14         accessories necessary for the continued operation of
   15         certain industrial machinery or equipment; amending s.
   16         220.191, F.S.; redefining terms; defining the term
   17         “intellectual property”; providing a credit against
   18         the corporate income tax, the sales and use tax, or a
   19         stated combination of the two taxes to a qualifying
   20         business that establishes a qualifying project for the
   21         creation of intellectual property which meets certain
   22         capital investment criteria; specifying the
   23         calculation of the credit; authorizing the carryover
   24         or transfer of credits, subject to certain conditions;
   25         conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
   26         amending s. 288.1089, F.S.; revising the definition of
   27         the term “cumulative investment” to conform to changes
   28         made by the act; providing effective dates.
   29          
   30  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   31  
   32         Section 1. Effective January 1, 2021, section 196.1978,
   33  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   34         196.1978 Affordable housing property exemption.—
   35         (1) Property used to provide affordable housing to eligible
   36  persons as defined by s. 159.603 and natural persons or families
   37  meeting the extremely-low-income, very-low-income, low-income,
   38  or moderate-income limits specified in s. 420.0004, which is
   39  owned entirely by a nonprofit entity that is a corporation not
   40  for profit, qualified as charitable under s. 501(c)(3) of the
   41  Internal Revenue Code and in compliance with Rev. Proc. 96-32,
   42  1996-1 C.B. 717, is considered property owned by an exempt
   43  entity and used for a charitable purpose, and those portions of
   44  the affordable housing property that provide housing to natural
   45  persons or families classified as extremely low income, very low
   46  income, low income, or moderate income under s. 420.0004 are
   47  exempt from ad valorem taxation to the extent authorized under
   48  s. 196.196. All property identified in this subsection section
   49  must comply with the criteria provided under s. 196.195 for
   50  determining exempt status and applied by property appraisers on
   51  an annual basis. The Legislature intends that any property owned
   52  by a limited liability company which is disregarded as an entity
   53  for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Treasury Regulation
   54  301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii) be treated as owned by its sole member.
   55         (2)(a) Notwithstanding ss. 196.195 and 196.196, property in
   56  a multifamily project that meets the requirements of this
   57  paragraph is considered property used for a charitable purpose
   58  and shall receive a 100 50 percent discount from the amount of
   59  ad valorem tax otherwise owed beginning in the 16th with the
   60  January 1 assessment after the 15th completed year of the term
   61  of the recorded agreement on those portions of the affordable
   62  housing property that provide housing to natural persons or
   63  families meeting the extremely-low-income, very-low-income, or
   64  low-income limits specified in s. 420.0004. The multifamily
   65  project must:
   66         1. Contain more than 70 units that are used to provide
   67  affordable housing to natural persons or families meeting the
   68  extremely-low-income, very-low-income, or low-income persons
   69  limits specified in s. 420.0004; and
   70         2. Be subject to an agreement with the Florida Housing
   71  Finance Corporation recorded in the official records of the
   72  county in which the property is located to provide affordable
   73  housing to natural persons or families meeting the extremely
   74  low-income, very-low-income, or low-income limits specified in
   75  s. 420.0004.
   76  
   77  This discount terminates if the property no longer serves
   78  extremely-low-income, very-low-income, or low-income persons
   79  pursuant to the recorded agreement.
   80         (b) To receive the discount under paragraph (a), a
   81  qualified applicant must submit an application to the county
   82  property appraiser by March 1.
   83         (c) The property appraiser shall apply the discount by
   84  reducing the taxable value on those portions of the affordable
   85  housing property that provide housing to natural persons or
   86  families meeting the extremely-low-income, very-low-income, or
   87  low-income limits specified in s. 420.0004 before certifying the
   88  tax roll to the tax collector.
   89         1. The property appraiser shall first ascertain all other
   90  applicable exemptions, including exemptions provided pursuant to
   91  local option, and deduct all other exemptions from the assessed
   92  value.
   93         2. One hundred Fifty percent of the remaining value shall
   94  be subtracted to yield the discounted taxable value.
   95         3. The resulting taxable value shall be included in the
   96  certification for use by taxing authorities in setting millage.
   97         4. The property appraiser shall place the discounted amount
   98  on the tax roll when it is extended.
   99         Section 2. Effective July 1, 2020, paragraph (fff) of
  100  subsection (7) of section 212.08, Florida Statutes, is amended,
  101  and paragraph (u) is added to subsection (5) of that section, to
  102  read:
  103         212.08 Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution, and
  104  storage tax; specified exemptions.—The sale at retail, the
  105  rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and the
  106  storage to be used or consumed in this state of the following
  107  are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed by this
  108  chapter.
  109         (5) EXEMPTIONS; ACCOUNT OF USE.—
  110         (u)Aircraft equipment used in governmental contracts.
  111  Equipment, including electric and hydraulic ground power units,
  112  jet starter units, oxygen servicing and test equipment, engine
  113  trim boxes, and communications and avionics test sets, which is
  114  used to service, test, operate, upgrade, or configure aircraft
  115  for advanced training purposes as part of any contract with the
  116  United States Department of Defense or with a military branch of
  117  a recognized foreign government, is exempt from the tax imposed
  118  by this chapter.
  119         (7) MISCELLANEOUS EXEMPTIONS.—Exemptions provided to any
  120  entity by this chapter do not inure to any transaction that is
  121  otherwise taxable under this chapter when payment is made by a
  122  representative or employee of the entity by any means,
  123  including, but not limited to, cash, check, or credit card, even
  124  when that representative or employee is subsequently reimbursed
  125  by the entity. In addition, exemptions provided to any entity by
  126  this subsection do not inure to any transaction that is
  127  otherwise taxable under this chapter unless the entity has
  128  obtained a sales tax exemption certificate from the department
  129  or the entity obtains or provides other documentation as
  130  required by the department. Eligible purchases or leases made
  131  with such a certificate must be in strict compliance with this
  132  subsection and departmental rules, and any person who makes an
  133  exempt purchase with a certificate that is not in strict
  134  compliance with this subsection and the rules is liable for and
  135  shall pay the tax. The department may adopt rules to administer
  136  this subsection.
  137         (fff) Aircraft temporarily in the state.—
  138         1. An aircraft owned by a nonresident is exempt from the
  139  use tax imposed under this chapter if the aircraft enters and
  140  remains in this state for less than a total of 21 days during
  141  the 6-month period after the date of purchase. The temporary use
  142  of the aircraft and subsequent removal from this state may be
  143  proven by invoices for fuel, tie-down, or hangar charges issued
  144  by out-of-state vendors or suppliers or similar documentation
  145  that clearly and specifically identifies the aircraft. The
  146  exemption provided in this subparagraph is in addition to the
  147  exemptions provided in subparagraphs 2. and 3. subparagraph 2.
  148  and s. 212.05(1)(a).
  149         2. An aircraft owned by a nonresident is exempt from the
  150  use tax imposed under this chapter if the aircraft enters or
  151  remains in this state exclusively for purposes of flight
  152  training, repairs, alterations, refitting, or modification. Such
  153  purposes shall be supported by written documentation issued by
  154  in-state vendors or suppliers which clearly and specifically
  155  identifies the aircraft. The exemption provided in this
  156  subparagraph is in addition to the exemptions provided in
  157  subparagraph 1. and s. 212.05(1)(a).
  158         3.An aircraft owned by a nonresident is exempt from the
  159  use tax imposed under this chapter if the aircraft enters or
  160  remains in this state exclusively to be used in service of a
  161  contract with the United States Department of Defense or with a
  162  military branch of a recognized foreign government. The
  163  exemption provided in this subparagraph is in addition to the
  164  exemptions provided in subparagraph 1. and s. 212.05(1)(a).
  165         Section 3. Effective October 1, 2020, paragraph (jjj) of
  166  subsection (7) of section 212.08, Florida Statutes, is amended
  167  to read:
  168         212.08 Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution, and
  169  storage tax; specified exemptions.—The sale at retail, the
  170  rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and the
  171  storage to be used or consumed in this state of the following
  172  are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed by this
  173  chapter.
  174         (7) MISCELLANEOUS EXEMPTIONS.—Exemptions provided to any
  175  entity by this chapter do not inure to any transaction that is
  176  otherwise taxable under this chapter when payment is made by a
  177  representative or employee of the entity by any means,
  178  including, but not limited to, cash, check, or credit card, even
  179  when that representative or employee is subsequently reimbursed
  180  by the entity. In addition, exemptions provided to any entity by
  181  this subsection do not inure to any transaction that is
  182  otherwise taxable under this chapter unless the entity has
  183  obtained a sales tax exemption certificate from the department
  184  or the entity obtains or provides other documentation as
  185  required by the department. Eligible purchases or leases made
  186  with such a certificate must be in strict compliance with this
  187  subsection and departmental rules, and any person who makes an
  188  exempt purchase with a certificate that is not in strict
  189  compliance with this subsection and the rules is liable for and
  190  shall pay the tax. The department may adopt rules to administer
  191  this subsection.
  192         (jjj) Certain machinery and equipment.—
  193         1. Industrial machinery and equipment purchased by eligible
  194  manufacturing businesses which is used at a fixed location in
  195  this state for the manufacture, processing, compounding, or
  196  production of items of tangible personal property for sale is
  197  exempt from the tax imposed by this chapter. If, at the time of
  198  purchase, the purchaser furnishes the seller with a signed
  199  certificate certifying the purchaser’s entitlement to exemption
  200  pursuant to this paragraph, the seller is not required to
  201  collect the tax on the sale of such items, and the department
  202  shall look solely to the purchaser for recovery of the tax if it
  203  determines that the purchaser was not entitled to the exemption.
  204         2. For purposes of this paragraph, the term:
  205         a. “Eligible manufacturing business” means any business
  206  whose primary business activity at the location where the
  207  industrial machinery and equipment is located is within the
  208  industries classified under NAICS codes 31, 32, 33, 112511, and
  209  423930.
  210         b. “Eligible postharvest activity business” means a
  211  business whose primary business activity, at the location where
  212  the postharvest machinery and equipment is located, is within
  213  the industries classified under NAICS code 115114.
  214         c. “NAICS” means those classifications contained in the
  215  North American Industry Classification System, as published in
  216  2007 by the Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of
  217  the President.
  218         d. “Primary business activity” means an activity
  219  representing more than 50 percent of the activities conducted at
  220  the location where the industrial machinery and equipment or
  221  postharvest machinery and equipment is located.
  222         e. “Industrial machinery and equipment” means tangible
  223  personal property or other property that has a depreciable life
  224  of 3 years or more and that is used as an integral part in the
  225  manufacturing, processing, compounding, or production of
  226  tangible personal property for sale. The term includes tangible
  227  personal property or other property that has a depreciable life
  228  of 3 years or more which is used as an integral part in the
  229  recycling of metals for sale. A building and its structural
  230  components are not industrial machinery and equipment unless the
  231  building or structural component is so closely related to the
  232  industrial machinery and equipment that it houses or supports
  233  that the building or structural component can be expected to be
  234  replaced when the machinery and equipment are replaced. Heating
  235  and air conditioning systems are not industrial machinery and
  236  equipment unless the sole justification for their installation
  237  is to meet the requirements of the production process, even
  238  though the system may provide incidental comfort to employees or
  239  serve, to an insubstantial degree, nonproduction activities. The
  240  term includes parts and accessories for industrial machinery and
  241  equipment only to the extent that the parts and accessories are
  242  necessary for the continued operation of the industrial
  243  machinery or equipment or were purchased before the date the
  244  machinery and equipment were are placed in service.
  245         f. “Postharvest activities” means services performed on
  246  crops, after their harvest, with the intent of preparing them
  247  for market or further processing. Postharvest activities
  248  include, but are not limited to, crop cleaning, sun drying,
  249  shelling, fumigating, curing, sorting, grading, packing, and
  250  cooling.
  251         g. “Postharvest machinery and equipment” means tangible
  252  personal property or other property with a depreciable life of 3
  253  years or more which is used primarily for postharvest
  254  activities. A building and its structural components are not
  255  postharvest industrial machinery and equipment unless the
  256  building or structural component is so closely related to the
  257  postharvest machinery and equipment that it houses or supports
  258  that the building or structural component can be expected to be
  259  replaced when the postharvest machinery and equipment is
  260  replaced. Heating and air conditioning systems are not
  261  postharvest machinery and equipment unless the sole
  262  justification for their installation is to meet the requirements
  263  of the postharvest activities process, even though the system
  264  may provide incidental comfort to employees or serve, to an
  265  insubstantial degree, nonpostharvest activities.
  266         3. Postharvest machinery and equipment purchased by an
  267  eligible postharvest activity business which is used at a fixed
  268  location in this state is exempt from the tax imposed by this
  269  chapter. All labor charges for the repair of, and parts and
  270  materials used in the repair of and incorporated into, such
  271  postharvest machinery and equipment are also exempt. If, at the
  272  time of purchase, the purchaser furnishes the seller with a
  273  signed certificate certifying the purchaser’s entitlement to
  274  exemption pursuant to this subparagraph, the seller is not
  275  required to collect the tax on the sale of such items, and the
  276  department shall look solely to the purchaser for recovery of
  277  the tax if it determines that the purchaser was not entitled to
  278  the exemption.
  279         Section 4. Section 220.191, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  280  read:
  281         220.191 Capital investment tax credit.—
  282         (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in For purposes of this section,
  283  the term:
  284         (a) “Commencement of operations” means the beginning of
  285  active operations by a qualifying business of the principal
  286  function for which a qualifying project was constructed.
  287         (b) “Cumulative capital investment” means the total capital
  288  investment in land, buildings, and equipment, and intellectual
  289  property made in connection with a qualifying project during the
  290  period from the beginning of construction or the start date of
  291  the project to the commencement of operations or the completion
  292  of the project, as applicable.
  293         (c) “Eligible capital costs” means all expenses incurred by
  294  a qualifying business in connection with the acquisition,
  295  construction, installation, and equipping, and development of a
  296  qualifying project during the period from the beginning of
  297  construction or the start date of the project to the
  298  commencement of operations or the completion of the project, as
  299  applicable, including, but not limited to:
  300         1. The costs of acquiring, constructing, installing,
  301  equipping, and financing a qualifying project, including all
  302  obligations incurred for labor and obligations to contractors,
  303  subcontractors, builders, and materialmen.
  304         2. The costs of acquiring land or rights to land and any
  305  cost incidental thereto, including recording fees.
  306         3. The costs of architectural and engineering services,
  307  including test borings, surveys, estimates, plans and
  308  specifications, preliminary investigations, environmental
  309  mitigation, and supervision of construction, as well as the
  310  performance of all duties required by or consequent to the
  311  acquisition, construction, installation, and equipping of a
  312  qualifying project.
  313         4. The costs associated with the installation of fixtures
  314  and equipment; surveys, including archaeological and
  315  environmental surveys; site tests and inspections; subsurface
  316  site work and excavation; removal of structures, roadways, and
  317  other surface obstructions; filling, grading, paving, and
  318  provisions for drainage, storm water retention, and installation
  319  of utilities, including water, sewer, sewage treatment, gas,
  320  electricity, communications, and similar facilities; and offsite
  321  construction of utility extensions to the boundaries of the
  322  property.
  323         5.For the development of intellectual property, the wages,
  324  salaries, or other compensation paid to legal residents of this
  325  state and the costs of newly purchased computer software and
  326  hardware unique to the project, including servers, data
  327  processing, and visualization technologies, which are located
  328  and used exclusively in this state for the project.
  329  
  330  Eligible capital costs shall not include the cost of any
  331  property previously owned or leased by the qualifying business.
  332         (d) “Income generated by or arising out of the qualifying
  333  project” means the qualifying project’s annual taxable income as
  334  determined by generally accepted accounting principles and under
  335  s. 220.13.
  336         (e) “Intellectual property” means a copyrightable project
  337  for which the eligible capital costs are principally paid
  338  directly or indirectly for the creation of the project. As used
  339  in this paragraph, the term “copyrightable project” includes,
  340  but is not limited to, a copyrightable software or multimedia
  341  application and its expansion content made available to an end
  342  user, internal development platforms that support the production
  343  of multiple applications, cloud-based services that support the
  344  functionality of multiple applications, and copyrighted projects
  345  registered with the United States Copyright Office which include
  346  digital visualization and sound synchronization technologies.
  347  The project may not be intended for distribution solely inside
  348  this state, and at least 75 percent of forecasted revenues for
  349  the project must be from outside this state.
  350         (f) “Jobs” means full-time equivalent positions, as that
  351  term is consistent with terms used by the Department of Economic
  352  Opportunity and the United States Department of Labor for
  353  purposes of reemployment assistance tax administration and
  354  employment estimation, resulting directly from a project in this
  355  state. The term does not include temporary construction jobs
  356  involved in the construction of the project facility.
  357         (g)(f) “Qualifying business” means a business which
  358  establishes a qualifying project in this state and which is
  359  certified by the Department of Economic Opportunity to receive
  360  tax credits pursuant to this section.
  361         (h)(g) “Qualifying project” means a facility or project in
  362  this state meeting one or more of the following criteria:
  363         1. A new or expanding facility in this state which creates
  364  at least 100 new jobs in this state and is in one of the high
  365  impact sectors identified by Enterprise Florida, Inc., and
  366  certified by the Department of Economic Opportunity pursuant to
  367  s. 288.108(6), including, but not limited to, aviation,
  368  aerospace, automotive, and silicon technology industries.
  369  However, between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2014, the
  370  requirement that a facility be in a high-impact sector is waived
  371  for any otherwise eligible business from another state which
  372  locates all or a portion of its business to a Disproportionally
  373  Affected County. For purposes of this section, the term
  374  “Disproportionally Affected County” means Bay County, Escambia
  375  County, Franklin County, Gulf County, Okaloosa County, Santa
  376  Rosa County, Walton County, or Wakulla County.
  377         2. A new or expanded facility in this state which is
  378  engaged in a target industry designated pursuant to the
  379  procedure specified in s. 288.106(2) and which is induced by
  380  this credit to create or retain at least 1,000 jobs in this
  381  state, provided that at least 100 of those jobs are new, pay an
  382  annual average wage of at least 130 percent of the average
  383  private sector wage in the area as defined in s. 288.106(2), and
  384  make a cumulative capital investment of at least $100 million.
  385  Jobs may be considered retained only if there is significant
  386  evidence that the loss of jobs is imminent. Notwithstanding
  387  subsection (2), annual credits against the tax imposed by this
  388  chapter may not exceed 50 percent of the increased annual
  389  corporate income tax liability or the premium tax liability
  390  generated by or arising out of a project qualifying under this
  391  subparagraph. A facility that qualifies under this subparagraph
  392  for an annual credit against the tax imposed by this chapter may
  393  take the tax credit for a period not to exceed 5 years.
  394         3. A new or expanded headquarters facility in this state
  395  which locates in an enterprise zone and brownfield area and is
  396  induced by this credit to create at least 1,500 jobs which on
  397  average pay at least 200 percent of the statewide average annual
  398  private sector wage, as published by the Department of Economic
  399  Opportunity, and which new or expanded headquarters facility
  400  makes a cumulative capital investment in this state of at least
  401  $250 million.
  402         4.For the creation of intellectual property, a qualifying
  403  project may be made up of one or more projects with different
  404  start and completion dates. The annual average wage of the
  405  project jobs in this state must be at least 150 percent of the
  406  average private sector wage in the area as defined in s.
  407  288.106(2)(c).
  408         (2)(a) An annual credit against the tax imposed by this
  409  chapter shall be granted to any qualifying business in an amount
  410  equal to 5 percent of the eligible capital costs generated by a
  411  qualifying project, for a period not to exceed 20 years
  412  beginning with the commencement of operations of the project.
  413  Unless assigned as described in this subsection, the tax credit
  414  shall be granted against only the corporate income tax liability
  415  or the premium tax liability generated by or arising out of the
  416  qualifying project, and the sum of all tax credits provided
  417  pursuant to this section shall not exceed 100 percent of the
  418  eligible capital costs of the project. In no event may any
  419  credit granted under this section be carried forward or backward
  420  by any qualifying business with respect to a subsequent or prior
  421  year. The annual tax credit granted under this section shall not
  422  exceed the following percentages of the annual corporate income
  423  tax liability or the premium tax liability generated by or
  424  arising out of a qualifying project:
  425         1. One hundred percent for a qualifying project which
  426  results in a cumulative capital investment of at least $100
  427  million.
  428         2. Seventy-five percent for a qualifying project which
  429  results in a cumulative capital investment of at least $50
  430  million but less than $100 million.
  431         3. Fifty percent for a qualifying project which results in
  432  a cumulative capital investment of at least $25 million but less
  433  than $50 million.
  434         (b) A qualifying project which results in a cumulative
  435  capital investment of less than $25 million is not eligible for
  436  the capital investment tax credit. An insurance company claiming
  437  a credit against premium tax liability under this program shall
  438  not be required to pay any additional retaliatory tax levied
  439  pursuant to s. 624.5091 as a result of claiming such credit.
  440  Because credits under this section are available to an insurance
  441  company, s. 624.5091 does not limit such credit in any manner.
  442         (c) A qualifying business that establishes a qualifying
  443  project that includes locating a new solar panel manufacturing
  444  facility in this state that generates a minimum of 400 jobs
  445  within 6 months after commencement of operations with an average
  446  salary of at least $50,000 may assign or transfer the annual
  447  credit, or any portion thereof, granted under this section to
  448  any other business. However, the amount of the tax credit that
  449  may be transferred in any year shall be the lesser of the
  450  qualifying business’s state corporate income tax liability for
  451  that year, as limited by the percentages applicable under
  452  paragraph (a) and as calculated prior to taking any credit
  453  pursuant to this section, or the credit amount granted for that
  454  year. A business receiving the transferred or assigned credits
  455  may use the credits only in the year received, and the credits
  456  may not be carried forward or backward. To perfect the transfer,
  457  the transferor shall provide the department with a written
  458  transfer statement notifying the department of the transferor’s
  459  intent to transfer the tax credits to the transferee; the date
  460  the transfer is effective; the transferee’s name, address, and
  461  federal taxpayer identification number; the tax period; and the
  462  amount of tax credits to be transferred. The department shall,
  463  upon receipt of a transfer statement conforming to the
  464  requirements of this paragraph, provide the transferee with a
  465  certificate reflecting the tax credit amounts transferred. A
  466  copy of the certificate must be attached to each tax return for
  467  which the transferee seeks to apply such tax credits.
  468         (d) If the credit granted under subparagraph (a)1. is not
  469  fully used in any one year because of insufficient tax liability
  470  on the part of the qualifying business, the unused amounts may
  471  be used in any one year or years beginning with the 21st year
  472  after the commencement of operations of the project and ending
  473  the 30th year after the commencement of operations of the
  474  project.
  475         (3)(a) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a credit against the
  476  tax imposed by this chapter, against state taxes collected or
  477  accrued under chapter 212, or against a stated combination of
  478  the two taxes shall be granted to a qualifying business that
  479  establishes a qualifying project pursuant to subparagraph
  480  (1)(h)4. for which the cumulative capital investment of one or
  481  more projects is an aggregate of at least $50 million per year
  482  for 3 years, and the capital investment of each individual
  483  project is at least $3.75 million. The tax credit shall be
  484  granted in an amount equal to 20 percent of the eligible capital
  485  costs generated by the qualifying project. The tax credit shall
  486  be granted against the tax liability of the qualifying business.
  487         (b)If the credit granted under this subsection is not
  488  fully used in 1 year because of insufficient tax liability on
  489  the part of the qualifying business, the unused amounts may be
  490  transferred or used in any one year or years beginning with the
  491  year of the completion date of the project and ending the 9th
  492  year after the completion date of the project. A business
  493  receiving the transferred credits may use the credits only in
  494  the year received, and the credits may not be carried forward or
  495  backward. A transfer must be perfected in accordance with the
  496  requirements of paragraph (2)(c).
  497         (4)(a) Notwithstanding subsection (2), an annual credit
  498  against the tax imposed by this chapter shall be granted to a
  499  qualifying business which establishes a qualifying project
  500  pursuant to subparagraph (1)(h)3. (1)(g)3., in an amount equal
  501  to the lesser of $15 million or 5 percent of the eligible
  502  capital costs made in connection with a qualifying project, for
  503  a period not to exceed 20 years beginning with the commencement
  504  of operations of the project. The tax credit shall be granted
  505  against the corporate income tax liability of the qualifying
  506  business and as further provided in paragraph (c). The total tax
  507  credit provided pursuant to this subsection shall be equal to no
  508  more than 100 percent of the eligible capital costs of the
  509  qualifying project.
  510         (b) If the credit granted under this subsection is not
  511  fully used in any one year because of insufficient tax liability
  512  on the part of the qualifying business, the unused amount may be
  513  carried forward for a period not to exceed 20 years after the
  514  commencement of operations of the project. The carryover credit
  515  may be used in a subsequent year when the tax imposed by this
  516  chapter for that year exceeds the credit for which the
  517  qualifying business is eligible in that year under this
  518  subsection after applying the other credits and unused
  519  carryovers in the order provided by s. 220.02(8).
  520         (c) The credit granted under this subsection may be used in
  521  whole or in part by the qualifying business or any corporation
  522  that is either a member of that qualifying business’s affiliated
  523  group of corporations, is a related entity taxable as a
  524  cooperative under subchapter T of the Internal Revenue Code, or,
  525  if the qualifying business is an entity taxable as a cooperative
  526  under subchapter T of the Internal Revenue Code, is related to
  527  the qualifying business. Any entity related to the qualifying
  528  business may continue to file as a member of a Florida-nexus
  529  consolidated group pursuant to a prior election made under s.
  530  220.131(1), Florida Statutes (1985), even if the parent of the
  531  group changes due to a direct or indirect acquisition of the
  532  former common parent of the group. Any credit can be used by any
  533  of the affiliated companies or related entities referenced in
  534  this paragraph to the same extent as it could have been used by
  535  the qualifying business. However, any such use shall not operate
  536  to increase the amount of the credit or extend the period within
  537  which the credit must be used.
  538         (5)(4) Prior to receiving tax credits pursuant to this
  539  section, a qualifying business must achieve and maintain the
  540  minimum employment goals beginning with the commencement of
  541  operations or the completion date of at a qualifying project and
  542  continuing each year thereafter during which tax credits are
  543  available pursuant to this section.
  544         (6)(5) Applications shall be reviewed and certified
  545  pursuant to s. 288.061. The Department of Economic Opportunity,
  546  upon a recommendation by Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall first
  547  certify a business as eligible to receive tax credits pursuant
  548  to this section prior to the commencement of operations or the
  549  completion date of a qualifying project, and such certification
  550  shall be transmitted to the Department of Revenue. Upon receipt
  551  of the certification, the Department of Revenue shall enter into
  552  a written agreement with the qualifying business specifying, at
  553  a minimum, the method by which income generated by or arising
  554  out of the qualifying project will be determined.
  555         (7)(6) The Department of Economic Opportunity, in
  556  consultation with Enterprise Florida, Inc., is authorized to
  557  develop the necessary guidelines and application materials for
  558  the certification process described in subsection (6) (5).
  559         (8)(7) It shall be the responsibility of the qualifying
  560  business to affirmatively demonstrate to the satisfaction of the
  561  Department of Revenue that such business meets the job creation
  562  and capital investment requirements of this section.
  563         (9)(8) The Department of Revenue may specify by rule the
  564  methods by which a project’s pro forma annual taxable income is
  565  determined.
  566         Section 5. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
  567  288.1089, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  568         288.1089 Innovation Incentive Program.—
  569         (2) As used in this section, the term:
  570         (d) “Cumulative investment” means cumulative capital
  571  investment and all eligible capital costs, as defined in former
  572  s. 220.191, Florida Statutes 2019.
  573         Section 6. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
  574  act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.