S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2513
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 18, 2013
___________
Introduced by Sen. MAZIARZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
ment Operations
AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to the qualified solar and
energy storage manufacturer facilities and operations credit
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 210 of the tax law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 12-H to read as follows:
12-H. QUALIFIED SOLAR AND ENERGY STORAGE MANUFACTURER FACILITIES AND
OPERATIONS CREDIT. (A) A TAXPAYER THAT IS WHOLE OR PART OF AN ENTITY
THAT SERVES AS THE PRINCIPAL OPERATOR OF A FACILITY PRIMARILY FUNCTION-
ING TO FABRICATE SOLAR ENERGY EQUIPMENT OR ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT AND
THAT MEETS THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDI-
VISION, SHALL BE ALLOWED A CREDIT AGAINST THE TAX IMPOSED BY THIS ARTI-
CLE. THE AMOUNT OF CREDIT SHALL BE EQUAL TO THE SUM OF THE AMOUNTS SPEC-
IFIED IN PARAGRAPHS (C) AND (D) OF THIS SUBDIVISION ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE
TAXPAYER SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS IN PARAGRAPH (E) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
SION. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION SOLAR ENERGY EQUIPMENT SHALL
MEAN THE MANUFACTURING OF MATERIAL COMPONENTS IN NEW YORK STATE DESIGNED
TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY UTILIZING SOLAR RADIATION AS THE ENERGY SOURCE
FOR SUCH ELECTRICITY; AND ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT SHALL MEAN MATERIALS
AND DEVICES INTENDED TO STORE SOME FORM OF ENERGY RELATED TO NEW ENERGY
TECHNOLOGIES AS DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION EIGHTEEN HUNDRED
FIFTY-FOUR OF THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW. SUCH EQUIPMENT MAY EMPLOY
ELECTRICAL, ELECTROCHEMICAL, SUPERCAPACITOR, COMPRESSED GAS, MECHANICAL,
THERMAL OR OTHER DEMONSTRABLE MEANS SINGLY OR IN COMBINATION. THE
DETERMINATION OF WHETHER SOLAR ENERGY EQUIPMENT OR ENERGY STORAGE EQUIP-
MENT QUALIFIES FOR ELIGIBLE COSTS UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE DETER-
MINED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND, IF REQUESTED BY THE COMMISSIONER, THE
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03960-01-3
S. 2513 2
PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORI-
TY.
(B) AN ELIGIBLE TAXPAYER SHALL (I) HAVE MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES EMPLOYED IN NEW YORK STATE, AND (II) HAVE A RATIO OF
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDS TO NET SALES, AS REFERRED TO IN SECTION
THIRTY-ONE HUNDRED TWO-E OF THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW, WHICH EQUALS OR
EXCEEDS THREE PERCENT DURING ITS TAXABLE YEAR.
(C) AN ELIGIBLE TAXPAYER SHALL BE ALLOWED A CREDIT FOR TWENTY PER
CENTUM OF THE ATTRIBUTABLE COST OR SIMILAR BASIS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX
PURPOSES OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING PROPERTY AS
DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION TWELVE OF THIS SECTION THAT IS
ACQUIRED BY THE TAXPAYER BY PURCHASE AS DEFINED IN SECTION 179(D) OF
THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND PLACED IN SERVICE DURING THE TAXABLE YEAR.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH ONLY, AN ELIGIBLE
TAXPAYER SHALL BE ALLOWED A CREDIT FOR SUCH PERCENTAGE OF THE (I)
ATTRIBUTABLE COST OR SIMILAR BASIS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES FOR
PROPERTY USED IN THE TESTING OR INSPECTION OF MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS,
(II) THE ATTRIBUTABLE COSTS OR EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH QUALITY
CONTROL OF THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OR MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS,
(III) ATTRIBUTABLE FEES FOR USE OF SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES
AND PROCESSES,
(IV) ATTRIBUTABLE FEES FOR THE PRODUCTION OR EVENTUAL COMMERCIAL
DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM THE QUALIFIED
MANUFACTURING ACTIVITIES OF AN ELIGIBLE TAXPAYER.
(V) THE COSTS, EXPENSES AND OTHER AMOUNTS FOR WHICH A CREDIT IS
ALLOWED AND CLAIMED UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT BE USED IN THE CALCU-
LATION OF ANY OTHER CREDIT ALLOWED UNDER THIS ARTICLE.
(D) AN ELIGIBLE TAXPAYER SHALL BE ALLOWED A CREDIT FOR TEN PER CENTUM
OF "QUALIFIED RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURING EXPENSES" PAID OR INCURRED BY
THE TAXPAYER IN THE TAXABLE YEAR. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE
TERM "QUALIFIED RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURING EXPENSES" SHALL MEAN ATTRIB-
UTABLE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH IN-HOUSE RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURING
PROCESSES, AND ATTRIBUTABLE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISSEMINATION OF
THE RESULTS OF THE PRODUCTS THAT DIRECTLY RESULT FROM SUCH RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT AND/OR MANUFACTURING ACTIVITIES; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT
SUCH COSTS SHALL NOT INCLUDE ADVERTISING OR PROMOTION THROUGH PAID
MEDIA. IN ADDITION, COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREPARATION OF PATENT
APPLICATIONS, PATENT APPLICATION FILING FEES, PATENT RESEARCH FEES,
PATENT EXAMINATIONS FEES, PATENT POST ALLOWANCE FEES, PATENT MAINTENANCE
FEES, AND GRANT APPLICATION EXPENSES AND FEES SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH
CREDIT. IN NO CASE SHALL THE CREDIT ALLOWED UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH APPLY
TO EXPENSES FOR LITIGATION OR THE CHALLENGE OF ANOTHER ENTITY'S INTEL-
LECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, OR FOR CONTRACT EXPENSES INVOLVING OUTSIDE PAID
CONSULTANTS. THE COSTS, EXPENSES AND OTHER AMOUNTS FOR WHICH A CREDIT
IS ALLOWED AND CLAIMED UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT BE USED IN THE
CALCULATION OF ANY OTHER CREDIT ALLOWED UNDER THIS ARTICLE.
(E) AN ELIGIBLE TAXPAYER MAY CLAIM CREDITS UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION FOR
FOUR CONSECUTIVE TAXABLE YEARS. IN NO CASE SHALL THE CREDIT ALLOWED BY
THIS SUBDIVISION TO A TAXPAYER EXCEED TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS PER
YEAR.
(F) THE CREDIT ALLOWED UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION FOR ANY TAXABLE YEAR
SHALL NOT REDUCE THE TAX DUE FOR SUCH YEAR TO LESS THAN THE HIGHER OF
THE AMOUNTS PRESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPHS (C) AND (D) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF
THIS SECTION. HOWEVER, IF THE AMOUNT OF CREDIT ALLOWED UNDER THIS SUBDI-
VISION FOR ANY TAXABLE YEAR REDUCES THE TAX TO SUCH AMOUNT, ANY AMOUNT
OF CREDIT NOT DEDUCTIBLE IN SUCH TAXABLE YEAR SHALL BE TREATED AS AN
S. 2513 3
OVERPAYMENT OF TAX TO BE CREDITED OR REFUNDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF SECTION ONE THOUSAND EIGHTY-SIX OF THIS CHAPTER.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (C) OF SECTION ONE THOU-
SAND EIGHTY-EIGHT OF THIS CHAPTER NOTWITHSTANDING, NO INTEREST SHALL BE
PAID THEREON.
S 2. Section 606 of the tax law is amended by adding a new subsection
(vv) to read as follows:
(VV) QUALIFIED SOLAR AND ENERGY STORAGE MANUFACTURER FACILITIES AND
OPERATIONS CREDIT. (1) A TAXPAYER WHO IS A MEMBER OF AN ENTITY CONSIST-
ING OF ONE OR MORE TAXPAYERS THAT SERVES AS THE PRINCIPAL OPERATOR OF A
FACILITY PRIMARILY FUNCTIONING TO FABRICATE SOLAR ENERGY EQUIPMENT OR
ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT AND THAT MEETS THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS IN
PARAGRAPH TWO OF THIS SUBSECTION, SHALL BE ALLOWED A CREDIT AGAINST THE
TAX IMPOSED BY THIS ARTICLE. THE AMOUNT OF CREDIT SHALL BE EQUAL TO THE
SUM (OR PRO RATA SHARE OF THE SUM IN THE CASE OF A PARTNERSHIP) OF THE
AMOUNTS SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPHS THREE AND FOUR OF THIS SUBSECTION
SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS IN PARAGRAPH FIVE OF THIS SUBSECTION. FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION SOLAR ENERGY EQUIPMENT SHALL MEAN THE MANU-
FACTURING OF MATERIAL COMPONENTS IN NEW YORK STATE DESIGNED TO PRODUCE
ELECTRICITY UTILIZING SOLAR RADIATION AS THE ENERGY SOURCE FOR SUCH
ELECTRICITY; AND ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT SHALL MEAN MATERIALS AND
DEVICES INTENDED TO STORE SOME FORM OF ENERGY RELATED TO NEW ENERGY
TECHNOLOGIES AS DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION EIGHTEEN HUNDRED
FIFTY-FOUR OF THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW. SUCH EQUIPMENT MAY EMPLOY
ELECTRICAL, ELECTROCHEMICAL, SUPERCAPACITOR, COMPRESSED GAS, MECHANICAL,
THERMAL OR OTHER MEANS SINGLY OR IN COMBINATION. THE DETERMINATION OF
WHETHER SOLAR ENERGY EQUIPMENT OR ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT QUALIFIES FOR
ELIGIBLE COSTS UNDER THIS SUBSECTION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE COMMIS-
SIONER, AND, IF REQUESTED BY THE COMMISSIONER, THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW
YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
(2) AN ELIGIBLE ENTITY SHALL (I) HAVE MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED FULL-TIME
EMPLOYEES EMPLOYED IN NEW YORK STATE, AND (II) HAVE A RATIO OF RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDS TO NET SALES, AS REFERRED TO IN SECTION THIRTY-ONE
HUNDRED TWO-E OF THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW, WHICH EQUALS OR EXCEEDS
THREE PERCENT DURING ITS TAXABLE YEAR.
(3) AN ELIGIBLE TAXPAYER SHALL BE ALLOWED A CREDIT FOR TWENTY PER
CENTUM OF THE COST OR SIMILAR BASIS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES
INCURRED BY THE ENTITY FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING
PROPERTY AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION TWELVE OF SECTION
TWO HUNDRED TEN OF THIS CHAPTER THAT IS ACQUIRED BY PURCHASE AS DEFINED
IN SECTION 179(D) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND PLACED IN SERVICE
DURING THE TAXABLE YEAR. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS
PARAGRAPH ONLY, AN ELIGIBLE TAXPAYER SHALL BE ALLOWED A CREDIT FOR SUCH
PERCENTAGE OF THE (I) COST OR SIMILAR BASIS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX
PURPOSES FOR PROPERTY USED IN THE TESTING OR INSPECTION OF MATERIALS AND
PRODUCTS,
(II) THE COSTS OR EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH QUALITY CONTROL OF THE
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OR MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS,
(III) FEES FOR USE OF SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES AND PROC-
ESSES,
(IV) FEES FOR THE PRODUCTION OR EVENTUAL COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION OF
MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM THE ACTIVITIES OF AN ELIGIBLE
TAXPAYER AS LONG AS SUCH ACTIVITIES FALL UNDER THE ACTIVITIES LISTED IN
PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION THIRTY-ONE HUNDRED TWO-E OF
THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW.
S. 2513 4
(V) THE COSTS, EXPENSES AND OTHER AMOUNTS FOR WHICH A CREDIT IS
ALLOWED AND CLAIMED UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT BE USED IN THE CALCU-
LATION OF ANY OTHER CREDIT ALLOWED UNDER THIS ARTICLE.
(4) AN ELIGIBLE TAXPAYER SHALL BE ALLOWED A CREDIT FOR TEN PER CENTUM
OF "QUALIFIED RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURING EXPENSES" PAID OR INCURRED BY
THE ENTITY IN THE TAXABLE YEAR. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE
TERM "QUALIFIED RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURING EXPENSES" SHALL MEAN EXPENSES
ASSOCIATED WITH IN-HOUSE RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURING PROCESSES, AND COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISSEMINATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE PRODUCTS THAT
DIRECTLY RESULT FROM SUCH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND/OR MANUFACTURING
ACTIVITIES; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH COSTS SHALL NOT INCLUDE ADVER-
TISING OR PROMOTION THROUGH PAID MEDIA. IN ADDITION, COSTS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE PREPARATION OF PATENT APPLICATIONS, PATENT APPLICATION FILING
FEES, PATENT RESEARCH FEES, PATENT EXAMINATIONS FEES, PATENT POST ALLOW-
ANCE FEES, PATENT MAINTENANCE FEES, AND GRANT APPLICATION EXPENSES AND
FEES SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH CREDIT. IN NO CASE SHALL THE CREDIT
ALLOWED UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH APPLY TO EXPENSES FOR LITIGATION OR THE
CHALLENGE OF ANOTHER ENTITY'S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, OR FOR
CONTRACT EXPENSES INVOLVING OUTSIDE PAID CONSULTANTS. THE COSTS,
EXPENSES AND OTHER AMOUNTS FOR WHICH A CREDIT IS ALLOWED AND CLAIMED
UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT BE USED IN THE CALCULATION OF ANY OTHER
CREDIT ALLOWED UNDER THIS ARTICLE.
(5) AN ELIGIBLE TAXPAYER MAY CLAIM CREDITS UNDER THIS SUBSECTION FOR
FOUR CONSECUTIVE TAXABLE YEARS. IN NO CASE SHALL THE CREDIT ALLOWED BY
THIS SUBDIVISION TO A TAXPAYER EXCEED TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS PER
YEAR. IF THE TAXPAYER IS A PARTNER IN A PARTNERSHIP OR SHAREHOLDER OF A
NEW YORK S CORPORATION, THEN THE CAP IMPOSED BY THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE
APPLIED AT THE ENTITY LEVEL, SO THAT THE AGGREGATE CREDIT ALLOWED TO ALL
THE PARTNERS, SHAREHOLDERS, OR OTHER MEMBERS OF EACH SUCH ENTITY IN THE
TAXABLE YEAR DOES NOT EXCEED TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR UP
TO FOUR CONSECUTIVE TAXABLE YEARS.
(6) IF THE AMOUNT OF CREDIT ALLOWED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION FOR ANY
TAXABLE YEAR SHALL EXCEED THE TAXPAYER'S TAX FOR SUCH YEAR, THE EXCESS
SHALL BE TREATED AS AN OVERPAYMENT OF TAX TO BE CREDITED OR REFUNDED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX OF THIS
ARTICLE, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NO INTEREST SHALL BE PAID THEREON.
S 3. Subparagraph (B) of paragraph 1 of subsection (i) of section 606
of the tax law is amended by adding a new clause (xxxv) to read as
follows:
(XXXV) CREDIT FOR AMOUNT OF CREDIT UNDER
QUALIFIED SOLAR AND ENERGY STORAGE SUBDIVISION TWELVE-H OF
MANUFACTURER FACILITIES SECTION TWO HUNDRED TEN
AND OPERATIONS CREDIT
UNDER SUBSECTION (VV)
S 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to taxable
years commencing on or after January 1, 2014.