S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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4248
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 1, 2019
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Introduced by M. of A. KOLB, PALMESANO, MONTESANO, GOODELL, RAIA,
HAWLEY, BARCLAY, STEC -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Economic Development
AN ACT to amend the economic development law and the tax law, in
relation to enacting the BizBoom program act
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The economic development law is amended by adding a new
article 23 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 23
BIZBOOM PROGRAM ACT
SECTION 450. SHORT TITLE.
451. STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND DECLARATION.
452. DEFINITIONS.
453. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.
454. APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS.
455. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONER.
§ 450. SHORT TITLE. THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS
THE "BIZBOOM PROGRAM ACT".
§ 451. STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND DECLARATION. IT IS HEREBY
FOUND AND DECLARED THAT NEW YORK STATE NEEDS, AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC
POLICY, TO CREATE COMPETITIVE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESSES TO
LOCATE AND INVEST IN NEW YORK STATE. THE BIZBOOM PROGRAM ACT IS CREATED
TO INCENTIVIZE THE SITING OF NEW BUSINESSES AND THE CREATION OF BUSI-
NESSES IN OUR STATE.
THIS LEGISLATION CREATES THE BIZBOOM PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES A TAX
EXEMPT BENEFIT TO NEW BUSINESSES RELOCATING TO OR STARTING UP A NEW
BUSINESS IN NEW YORK. THE BIZBOOM TAX EXEMPTION FOR QUALIFYING BUSI-
NESSES IS ONE HUNDRED PERCENT THE FIRST YEAR, FIFTY PERCENT OF THE BUSI-
NESS TAX LIABILITY IN THE SECOND YEAR, AND A TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT
EXEMPTION IN THE THIRD YEAR. THIS EXEMPTION WOULD DISCONTINUE AFTER
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04303-01-9
A. 4248 2
THREE YEARS AND ANY PARTICIPATING BUSINESS THAT LEAVES THE STATE BEFORE
COMPLETING SIX YEARS OF OPERATION WOULD BE LIABLE TO REPAY ALL TAX BENE-
FITS RECEIVED UNDER THE PROGRAM. THESE EXEMPTIONS ARE DESIGNED TO
PROMOTE BUSINESS EXPANSION AND INCREASE JOBS IN NEW YORK STATE. AT THE
SAME TIME, THE PROGRAM PROTECTS STATE TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS BY ENSURING
THAT NEW YORK PROVIDES TAX BENEFITS ONLY TO BUSINESSES THAT REPRESENT
NEW INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE.
§ 452. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE: 1. "BIZBOOM
BUSINESS" MEANS A BUSINESS ENTITY THAT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A NEWLY
FORMED BUSINESS IN NEW YORK, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF TAXA-
TION AND FINANCE AND THE DEPARTMENT.
2. "CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY" MEANS THE DOCUMENT ISSUED BY THE
DEPARTMENT TO AN APPLICANT THAT HAS COMPLETED AN APPLICATION TO BE
ADMITTED INTO THE BIZBOOM PROGRAM AND HAS BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM
BY THE DEPARTMENT. POSSESSION OF A CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY DOES NOT
BY ITSELF GUARANTEE THE ELIGIBILITY TO CLAIM THE TAX EXEMPTION.
3. "CERTIFICATE OF TAX EXEMPTION" MEANS THE DOCUMENT ISSUED TO A
PARTICIPANT BY THE DEPARTMENT AS AUTHORIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXA-
TION AND FINANCE, AFTER THE DEPARTMENT HAS VERIFIED THAT THE PARTICIPANT
HAS MET ALL APPLICABLE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA IN THIS ARTICLE.
§ 453. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. 1. TO BE A PARTICIPANT IN THE BIZBOOM
PROGRAM, A QUALIFYING BUSINESS ENTITY SHALL HAVE NOT OPERATED OR SHALL
NOT HAVE HAD NEXUS IN NEW YORK STATE PRIOR TO THE FIRST YEAR OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT AND ANY OTHER CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE
COMMISSIONER IN REGULATIONS PROMULGATED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE. IN
PROMULGATING SUCH REGULATIONS THE COMMISSIONER SHALL INCLUDE A REVIEW OF
SUCH NEW BUSINESS CREATION CRITERIA.
2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
BIZBOOM JOBS PROGRAM A BUSINESS MUST BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL WORKER
PROTECTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. IN ADDITION, A BUSI-
NESS MAY NOT OWE PAST DUE STATE TAXES, LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES OR ANY FINES
ISSUED BY THE STATE OR MUNICIPALITY.
§ 454. APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS. 1. A BUSINESS ENTITY MUST
SUBMIT A COMPLETED APPLICATION AS PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
2. AS PART OF SUCH APPLICATION, EACH BUSINESS ENTITY MUST:
(A) AGREE TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO SHARE ITS TAX INFORMATION WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE. HOWEVER,
ANY INFORMATION SHARED AS A RESULT OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT BE AVAIL-
ABLE FOR DISCLOSURE OR INSPECTION UNDER THE STATE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
LAW.
(B) AGREE TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION
AND FINANCE TO SHARE ITS TAX AND EMPLOYER INFORMATION WITH THE DEPART-
MENT. HOWEVER, ANY INFORMATION SHARED AS A RESULT OF THIS AGREEMENT
SHALL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR DISCLOSURE OR INSPECTION UNDER THE STATE
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAW.
(C) ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT AND ITS AGENTS ACCESS TO ANY AND ALL BOOKS
AND RECORDS THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE.
(D) PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO THE DEPARTMENT UPON REQUEST:
(I) A PLAN OUTLINING THE SCHEDULE FOR JOB CREATION AND INVESTMENTS;
(II) UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE QUARTERLY RETURNS, REAL PROPERTY TAX BILLS
AND AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS;
(III) THE AMOUNT AND DESCRIPTION OF PROJECTED TAX LIABILITY FOR WHICH
IT PLANS TO CLAIM THE BIZBOOM TAX EXEMPTIONS; AND
(IV) THE EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS FOR ALL
RELATED PERSONS TO THE APPLICANT, INCLUDING THOSE OF ANY MEMBERS OF A
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OR PARTNERS IN A PARTNERSHIP.
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(E) CERTIFY, UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY, THAT IT IS IN SUBSTANTIAL
COMPLIANCE WITH ALL ENVIRONMENTAL, WORKER PROTECTION, AND LOCAL, STATE,
AND FEDERAL TAX LAWS.
3. AFTER REVIEWING A BUSINESS ENTITY'S COMPLETED APPLICATION AND
DETERMINING THAT THE BUSINESS ENTITY WILL MEET THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH
IN SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE, THE DEPARTMENT MAY
ADMIT THE APPLICANT INTO THE PROGRAM AND PROVIDE THE APPLICANT WITH A
CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY.
4. IN ORDER TO BECOME A PARTICIPANT IN THE PROGRAM, AN APPLICANT MUST
SUBMIT EVIDENCE OF BEING A NEWLY FORMED BUSINESS ENTITY IN SUCH FORM AS
THE COMMISSIONER MAY PRESCRIBE. AFTER REVIEWING SUCH EVIDENCE AND FIND-
ING IT SUFFICIENT, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CERTIFY THE APPLICANT AS A
PARTICIPANT AND ISSUE TO THAT PARTICIPANT A CERTIFICATE OF TAX
EXEMPTION.
5. A PARTICIPANT MAY CLAIM TAX BENEFITS COMMENCING IN THE FIRST TAXA-
BLE YEAR THAT THE BUSINESS ENTITY RECEIVES A CERTIFICATE OF TAX
EXEMPTION. A PARTICIPANT MAY CLAIM A TAX EXEMPTION OF ONE HUNDRED
PERCENT OF THE TAX LIABILITY IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION, FIFTY
PERCENT EXEMPTION OF THE BUSINESS TAX LIABILITY IN THE SECOND YEAR OF
OPERATION, AND A TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT EXEMPTION OF THE BUSINESS TAX
LIABILITY IN THE THIRD YEAR OF OPERATION, PROVIDED THAT THE PARTICIPANT
DEMONSTRATES TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT IT CONTINUES TO SATISFY THE ELIGI-
BILITY CRITERIA SPECIFIED IN SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE OF THIS
ARTICLE AND SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION IN EACH OF THOSE TAXABLE
YEARS.
§ 455. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONER. 1. THE COMMISSIONER
SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS ESTABLISHING AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, THAT WILL BE APPLIED CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSES
OF THIS ARTICLE.
2. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
TAXATION AND FINANCE, DEVELOP A CERTIFICATE OF TAX EXEMPTION THAT SHALL
BE ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER TO PARTICIPANTS. PARTICIPANTS MUST INCLUDE
THE CERTIFICATE OF TAX EXEMPTION WITH THEIR TAX RETURN TO RECEIVE ANY
TAX BENEFITS UNDER THIS ARTICLE.
3. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
TAXATION AND FINANCE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, DETERMINE THE ELIGI-
BILITY OF ANY APPLICANT APPLYING FOR ENTRY INTO THE PROGRAM AND SHALL
REMOVE ANY PARTICIPANT FROM THE PROGRAM FOR FAILING TO MEET ANY OF THE
REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE AND FOUR
HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR OF THIS ARTICLE.
§ 2. The tax law is amended by adding a new section 44 to read as
follows:
§ 44. BIZBOOM PROGRAM EXEMPTION. (A) GENERAL. A TAXPAYER SUBJECT TO
TAX UNDER ARTICLES NINE-A AND TWENTY-TWO OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE
ALLOWED AN EXEMPTION AGAINST SUCH TAX, ALLOWABLE FOR UP TO THREE CONSEC-
UTIVE TAXABLE YEARS, IS PROVIDED AS FOLLOWS:
(1) ONE HUNDRED PERCENT EXEMPTION IN YEAR ONE OF OPERATION;
(2) FIFTY PERCENT EXEMPTION IN YEAR TWO OF OPERATION; AND
(3) TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT EXEMPTION IN YEAR THREE OF OPERATION.
(B) TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE BIZBOOM PROGRAM EXEMPTION, THE TAXPAYER
SHALL HAVE BEEN ISSUED A "CERTIFICATE OF TAX EXEMPTION" BY THE DEPART-
MENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF SECTION
FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW, WHICH CERTIF-
ICATE SHALL SET FORTH THE AMOUNT OF EACH EXEMPTION COMPONENT THAT MAY BE
CLAIMED FOR THE TAXABLE YEAR. A TAXPAYER MAY CLAIM SUCH EXEMPTION FOR
THREE CONSECUTIVE TAXABLE YEARS COMMENCING IN THE FIRST TAXABLE YEAR
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THAT THE TAXPAYER RECEIVES A CERTIFICATE OF TAX EXEMPTION. THE TAXPAYER
SHALL BE ALLOWED TO CLAIM ONLY THE PERCENTAGE AMOUNT LISTED ON THE
CERTIFICATE OF TAX EXEMPTION FOR THAT TAXABLE YEAR. SUCH CERTIFICATE
SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO THE TAXPAYER'S RETURN. NO COST OR EXPENSE PAID OR
INCURRED BY THE TAXPAYER SHALL BE THE BASIS FOR MORE THAN ONE COMPONENT
OF THIS EXEMPTION OR ANY OTHER TAX EXEMPTION.
(C) EXEMPTION RECAPTURE. IF A CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY OR A CERTIF-
ICATE OF TAX EXEMPTION ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
UNDER ARTICLE TWENTY-TWO OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW IS REVOKED BY
SUCH DEPARTMENT, THE AMOUNT OF EXEMPTION DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION AND
CLAIMED BY THE TAXPAYER PRIOR TO THAT REVOCATION SHALL BE ADDED BACK TO
INCOME IN THE TAXABLE YEAR IN WHICH ANY SUCH REVOCATION BECOMES FINAL.
§ 3. The tax law is amended by adding a new section 207-c to read as
follows:
§ 207-C. EXEMPTION OF BIZBOOM PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. THIS ARTICLE SHALL
NOT APPLY TO ANY BUSINESS ENTITY WHICH IS A QUALIFIED BIZBOOM PARTIC-
IPANT AS PROVIDED BY SECTION FORTY-FOUR OF THIS CHAPTER.
§ 4. Section 210-B of the tax law is amended by adding a new subdivi-
sion 53 to read as follows:
53. BIZBOOM PROGRAM EXEMPTION. (A) ALLOWANCE OF EXEMPTION. A TAXPAYER
WILL BE ALLOWED AN EXEMPTION, TO BE COMPUTED AS PROVIDED IN SECTION
FORTY-FOUR OF THIS CHAPTER, AGAINST THE TAX IMPOSED BY THIS ARTICLE.
(B) APPLICATION OF EXEMPTION. THE EXEMPTION ALLOWED UNDER THIS SUBDI-
VISION FOR ANY TAXABLE YEAR MAY NOT REDUCE THE TAX DUE FOR SUCH YEAR TO
LESS THAN THE AMOUNT PRESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH (D) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF
SECTION TWO HUNDRED TEN OF THIS ARTICLE. HOWEVER, IF THE AMOUNT OF
EXEMPTION ALLOWED UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION FOR ANY TAXABLE YEAR REDUCES
THE TAX TO SUCH AMOUNT, ANY AMOUNT OF EXEMPTION THUS NOT DEDUCTIBLE IN
SUCH TAXABLE YEAR WILL BE TREATED AS AN OVERPAYMENT OF TAX TO BE
EXEMPTED 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 THOUSAND EIGHTY-EIGHT OF THIS CHAPTER
NOTWITHSTANDING, NO INTEREST WILL BE PAID THEREON.
§ 5. Section 601 of the tax law is amended by adding a new subsection
(j) to read as follows:
(J) BIZBOOM PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. A QUALIFYING BUSINESS ENTITY,
PARTICIPATING IN THE BIZBOOM PROGRAM PURSUANT TO ARTICLE TWENTY-TWO OF
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW, WHICH IS TAXABLE AS A BUSINESS ENTITY FOR
FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO TAX UNDER THIS ARTI-
CLE; SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATION AS PROVIDED FOR BY SECTION FORTY-FOUR OF
THIS CHAPTER.
§ 6. Section 606 of the tax law is amended by adding a new subsection
(jjj) to read as follows:
(JJJ) BIZBOOM PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. CREDITS ALLOWABLE UNDER THIS
SECTION THAT A TAXPAYER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THAT RELATE TO THE BUSINESS WILL
BE REDUCED BY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION, FIFTY
PERCENT IN THE SECOND YEAR OF OPERATION, AND TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT IN THE
THIRD YEAR OF OPERATION.
§ 7. Subsection (c) of section 612 of the tax law is amended by adding
a new paragraph 43 to read as follows:
(43) BUSINESS INCOME, TO THE EXTENT INCLUDIBLE IN GROSS INCOME FOR
FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES, IF THE TAXPAYER IS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE
BIZBOOM PROGRAM; ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF BUSINESS INCOME WILL BE
SUBTRACTED FROM FEDERALLY ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME IN THE FIRST YEAR, FIFTY
PERCENT IN THE SECOND YEAR, AND TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT IN THE THIRD YEAR.
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§ 8. Subsection (c) of section 615 of the tax law is amended by adding
a new paragraph 10 to read as follows:
(10) THE AMOUNT OF ANY FEDERAL DEDUCTION FOR ANY BUSINESS RELATED
EXPENSE FOR A TAXPAYER AUTHORIZED UNDER THE BIZBOOM PROGRAM WILL BE
REDUCED BY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT IN THE FIRST YEAR, FIFTY PERCENT IN THE
SECOND YEAR, AND TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT IN THE THIRD YEAR.
§ 9. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule or regulation,
any and all application fees related to the creation of a business enti-
ty shall be reduced by fifty percent.
§ 10. This act shall take effect January 1, 2020.