TITLE 34.PUBLIC FINANCE

Part 1. COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

Chapter 3. TAX ADMINISTRATION

Subchapter A. GENERAL RULES

34 TAC §3.2

The Comptroller of Public Accounts proposes an amendment to §3.2, concerning application of payments. This amendment incorporates the text of the previous §3.3 of this title (relating to Unjust Enrichment). The comptroller has determined that the consolidation of sections dealing with similar subject matter will benefit taxpayers by providing a more effective means of obtaining information. The previous §3.3 has been repealed and replaced with a new section.

James LeBas, Chief Revenue Estimator, has determined that for the first five-year period the rule will be in effect, there will be no significant fiscal impact on the state or units of local government.

Mr. LeBas also has determined that for each year of the first five years the rule is in effect, the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the rule will be in providing taxpayers with a more efficient means of obtaining tax information. This rule is adopted under the Tax Code, Title 2, and does not require a statement of fiscal implications for small businesses. There is no significant anticipated economic cost to individuals who are required to comply with the proposed rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Bryant K. Lomax, Manager, Tax Policy Division, P.O. Box 13528, Austin, Texas 78711.

This amendment is proposed under Tax Code, §111.002, which provides the comptroller with the authority to prescribe, adopt, and enforce rules relating to the administration and enforcement of the provisions of Tax Code, Title 2.

The amendment implements Tax Code, Chapter 111.

§3.2.Application of Payments ; Unjust Enrichment .

(a) - (b) (No change.)

(c) Unjust enrichment.

(1) If amounts are collected as tax in transactions on which tax is not due, the comptroller will require, under the doctrine of unjust enrichment, that these amounts be remitted to the state or be refunded to the customers from whom they were collected.

(2) In the case of refunded amounts, documentary evidence must be retained establishing the transaction, the amount collected, the party from whom collected, the amount refunded, and the party to whom refund is made.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 8, 2002.

TRD-200202855

Martin Cherry

Deputy General Counsel for Taxation

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 23, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 463-3699


Subchapter V. FRANCHISE TAX

34 TAC §3.569

The Comptroller of Public Accounts proposes an amendment to §3.569, concerning Texas Youth Commission credit. In accordance with Senate Bill 1125, 77th Legislature, 2001, subsection (e)(1) is amended to provide revised guidelines for limitations applicable to the credit. The section is renamed "Texas Youth Commission Credit" to avoid confusion with the section concerning child care credits.

James LeBas, Chief Revenue Estimator, has determined that for the first five-year period the rule will be in effect there will be no significant revenue impact on the state or local government. The proposed amendment would benefit the public by providing additional information to taxpayers regarding the Texas Youth Commission Credit and their franchise tax responsibilities.

Mr. LeBas also has determined that for each year of the first five years the rule is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the rule will be in providing new information regarding tax responsibilities. This rule is adopted under Tax Code, Title 2, and does not require a statement of fiscal implications for small businesses. There is no significant anticipated economic cost to individuals who are required to comply with the proposed rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Bryant K. Lomax, Manager, Tax Policy Division, P.O. Box 13528, Austin, Texas 78711.

This amendment is proposed under the Tax Code, §111.002, which provides the comptroller with the authority to prescribe, adopt, and enforce rules relating to the administration and enforcement of the provisions of the Tax Code, Title 2.

The amendment implements the Tax Code, §§171.681-171.687.

§3.569. Texas Youth Commission [ Eligible Child ] Credit.

(a) Effective date. This section is effective for reports originally due on or after January 1, 1996, and applies only for wages paid or incurred on or after January 1, 1996.

(b) Definitions. The following terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) Due date--The due date of the franchise tax report, including extensions, if any.

(2) Eligible child--A person who:

(A) is committed to the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) under the Family Code, Title 3, other than a commitment under a determinate sentence under the Family Code, §54.04(d)(3), §54.04(m), or §54.05(f); and

(B) resides at a facility of the TYC.

(c) Amount of credit--eligible child.

(1) A corporation may claim a credit on its report for 10% of the wages the corporation paid to an eligible child, or to the TYC for the benefit of the child, during the period upon which the report is based.

(2) By the due date, the eligible child must have been continuously employed by the corporation for at least six months. However, the eligible child need not be employed on the due date.

(3) For purposes of claiming the credit, there is no maximum limit on the length of time the eligible child may be employed.

(4) A certification from TYC must accompany the report and must be filed on or before the due date of the report. The certification must include:

(A) the name of the corporation paying the wages;

(B) the name of each eligible child to which or for which the corporation paid wages;

(C) the amount of wages paid by the corporation to each eligible child or to TYC for the benefit of the eligible child [ by the corporation ] during the period upon which the report is based; and

(D) the date each wage was paid.

(d) Amount of credit--former eligible child.

(1) On or before the due date of the report, a corporation may claim a credit on its report for 10% of the wages the corporation paid to a former eligible child (employee) during the period upon which the report is based.

(2) By the due date, the employee must have been continuously employed by the corporation for at least six months while the employee was an eligible child and for at least one year after the employee was released from commitment to TYC or released under supervision by TYC. However, the person need not be employed on the due date.

(3) The credit may only be claimed for one year's wages for each employee. The credit does not have to be claimed for the first year's wages after release.

(4) The corporation must be able to prove, upon audit, that the employment is substantially similar to, requires more skill than, or provides greater opportunity than the employee had with the corporation while the employee was an eligible child. This can be done by showing that the hours worked per week and the hourly rate are equal to or greater than the hours worked per week and hourly rate while the employee was an eligible child.

(e) Limitations--eligible child and former eligible child.

(1) For reports that are originally due before January 1, 2002, the [ The ] credit may not exceed 50% of the amount of tax due for the report after all other credits and deductions, including, but not limited to, the business loss carryover, are taken. For reports that are originally due on or after January 1, 2002, the credit may not exceed 50% of the amount of franchise tax due for the report before any other tax credits are applied.

(2) The credit must be claimed on the report form.

(3) Only one credit for each wage paid may be taken.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 9, 2002.

TRD-200202861

Martin Cherry

Deputy General Counsel for Taxation

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 23, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 475-0387


34 TAC §3.579

The Comptroller of Public Accounts proposes an amendment to §3.579, concerning child care credits. In accordance with Senate Bill 1125, 77th Legislature, 2001, subsections (d), (e)(3), and (f)(5) are amended to provide revised limitation guidelines for the credits. In accordance with House Bill 2914, 77th Legislature, 2001, subsection (c) is amended with respect to information that is required to be submitted for the after school credit.

James LeBas, Chief Revenue Estimator, has determined that for the first five-year period the rule will be in effect there will be no significant revenue impact on the state or local government. The proposed amendment would benefit the public by providing additional information to taxpayers regarding child care and after school credits, and their tax responsibilities.

Mr. LeBas also has determined that for each year of the first five years the rule is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the rule will be in providing new information regarding tax responsibilities. This rule is adopted under the Tax Code, Title 2, and does not require a statement of fiscal implications for small businesses. There is no significant anticipated economic cost to individuals who are required to comply with the proposed rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Bryant K. Lomax, Manager, Tax Policy Division, P.O. Box 13528, Austin, Texas 78711.

This amendment is proposed under Tax Code, §111.002, which provides the comptroller with the authority to prescribe, adopt, and enforce rules relating to the administration and enforcement of the provisions of Tax Code, Title 2.

The amendment implements Tax Code, §§171.701-171.707, §§171.831- 171.837, and 171.851.

§3.579. Child Care Credits.

(a) Effective date. A corporation may claim a day care credit or an after school credit only for expenditures made in Texas on or after January 1, 2000.

(b) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) "Day-care center" has the meaning assigned by Human Resources Code, §42.002.

(2) "Expenditure" means a direct contribution, donation, gift, or payment, but does not include an indirect contribution, donation, gift, or payment. Subsections (e) and (f) of this section set out qualifying expenditures. For example, a payment to an organization directly operating a qualifying program could be a qualifying expenditure, but a payment to a charitable organization who distributes the funds to another organization that actually operates the qualifying program will not be a qualifying expenditure.

(3) "Family home" has the meaning assigned by Human Resources Code, §42.002.

(4) "Primarily" means more than 50%.

(5) "School-age child care" means care provided before or after school and during the summer and holidays primarily for children who are at least five years of age but younger than 14 years of age. The program must provide care during school holidays, when most businesses are open and most parents are working, but need not provide care on universally-recognized holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

(c) Information required. A corporation that claims the day care credit or after school credit under this section must submit all additional information required by the Comptroller necessary to complete the report required by Tax Code, §171.707 and §171.837.

(d) Limitations. A corporation may not convey, assign, or transfer the day care credit or after school credit to another entity, unless all of the assets of the corporation are conveyed, assigned, or transferred in the same transaction. The total credits that a corporation claims for a report may not exceed the total amount of franchise tax due for the report.

(e) Day care credit.

(1) A corporation may claim a credit under this subsection only for a qualifying expenditure relating to:

(A) the establishment or operation of a day-care center primarily to provide care for the children of employees of the corporation or for children of the employees of the corporation and one or more other entities sharing the costs of establishing and operating the center; or

(B) the purchase of child-care services that are actually provided to children of employees of the corporation at a:

(i) day-care center; or

(ii) family home that is registered or listed with the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services under Human Resources Code, Chapter 42.

(2) A qualifying expenditure means an expenditure for:

(A) planning the day-care center;

(B) preparing a site to be used for the day-care center;

(C) constructing the day-care center;

(D) renovating or remodeling a structure to be used for the day-care center;

(E) purchasing equipment necessary in the use of the day-care center and installed for permanent use in or immediately adjacent to the day-care center, including kitchen appliances and other food preparation equipment;

(F) expanding the day-care center;

(G) maintaining and operating the day-care center, including paying direct administration and staff costs; or

(H) purchasing all or part of child-care services that are actually provided to children of employees of the corporation at a day-care center or registered or listed family home.

(3) The amount of credit [ is ]:

(A) is equal to the lesser of 50% of the corporation's qualifying expenditures or $50,000; and

(B) may not [ to ] exceed 90% of the amount of tax due for the report on which the credit is claimed for reports that are originally due before January 1, 2002; for reports that are originally due on or after January 1, 2002, the credit may not exceed 90% of the amount of tax due for the report before any other applicable credits.

(4) If a corporation shares in the cost of establishing or operating a day-care center, the corporation is entitled to a credit for the qualifying expenditures made by that corporation, subject to the limitation prescribed by subsection (d) of this section.

(5) A corporation must apply for a credit under this subsection on or with the franchise tax report for the period for which the credit is claimed.

(6) If the corporation is claiming a credit for a qualifying expenditure for purchasing child-care services, the corporation must maintain proof that the services were actually provided to children of employees of the corporation at a day-care center or registered or listed family home.

(7) The comptroller shall adopt a form for corporations to use to apply for and claim the credit. A corporation must use this form to apply for and claim the credit.

(8) A corporation may claim a credit under this subsection for qualifying expenditures made during an accounting period only against the tax owed for the corresponding reporting period.

(f) After school care credit.

(1) A corporation may claim a credit under this subsection only for a qualifying expenditure relating primarily to the operation of a school-age child care program that is operated by:

(A) a nonprofit organization licensed under Human Resources Code, Chapter 42;

(B) a nonprofit, accredited educational facility, including:

(i) an organization whose standards of care are consistent with those set out by a recognized national accreditation body for school-age child care, or

(ii) an organization who is a charter member of a national organization that establishes school- age child care guidelines as a prerequisite for national affiliation or membership;

(C) another nonprofit entity under contract with the nonprofit, accredited educational facility, if the Texas Education Agency or Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has approved the curriculum content of the program operated under the contract; or

(D) a county or municipality, if the governing body of the county or municipality annually adopts standards of care by order or ordinance that include minimum child-to-staff ratios, staff qualifications, facility, health, and safety standards, and mechanisms for monitoring and enforcing the standards.

(2) A qualifying expenditure means an expenditure for:

(A) constructing, renovating, or remodeling a facility or structure to be used by the program;

(B) purchasing necessary equipment, supplies, or food to be used in the program; or

(C) operating the program, including administrative and staff costs.

(3) The amount of the credit is equal to 30% of a corporation's qualifying expenditures.

(4) A corporation may claim a credit under this subsection for a qualifying expenditure during an accounting period only against the tax owed for the corresponding reporting period.

(5) For reports that are originally due before January 1, 2002, a [ A ] corporation may not claim a credit in an amount that exceeds 50% of the amount of net franchise tax due, after applying any other credits, for the reporting period. For reports that are originally due on or after January 1, 2002, a corporation may not claim a credit in an amount that exceeds 50% of the amount of franchise tax due, before application of any other credits for the reporting period.

(6) A corporation must apply for a credit under this subsection on or with the tax report for the period for which the credit is claimed.

(7) The comptroller shall adopt a form for corporations to use to apply for and claim the credit. A corporation must use this form to apply for and claim a credit.

(8) A corporation is not eligible for the credit if the corporation cannot establish that the facilities, equipment, supplies, food, administrative services, and staff services are primarily used for the program. Therefore, a corporation must maintain proof, in the form of a written acknowledgement provided by the recipient operating the qualifying program. The written acknowledgement must set out the amount of the donation, contribution, gift, or payment and must specify that the donation, contribution, gift, or payment will be used for a qualifying expenditure, as set out in subsection (f)(2) of this section, primarily for the program.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 9, 2002.

TRD-200202862

Martin Cherry

Deputy General Counsel for Taxation

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 23, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 475-0387


34 TAC §3.580

The Comptroller of Public Accounts proposes a new §3.580, concerning credit for hiring the disabled. In accordance with Senate Bill 63, 77th Legislature, 2001, the new section provides guidelines for corporations that are eligible for the credit for hiring the disabled.

James LeBas, Chief Revenue Estimator, has determined that for the first five-year period the rule will be in effect there will be no significant revenue impact on the state or local government. The proposed rule would benefit the public by providing additional information to taxpayers regarding a franchise tax credit for hiring the disabled, and additional information to taxpayers regarding their tax responsibilities.

Mr. LeBas also has determined that for each year of the first five years the rule is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the rule will be in providing new information regarding tax responsibilities. This rule is adopted under Tax Code, Title 2, and does not require a statement of fiscal implications for small businesses. There is no significant anticipated economic cost to individuals who are required to comply with the proposed rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Bryant K. Lomax, Manager, Tax Policy Division, P.O. Box 13528, Austin, Texas 78711.

This new section is proposed under Tax Code, §111.002, which provides the comptroller with the authority to prescribe, adopt, and enforce rules relating to the administration and enforcement of the provisions of Tax Code, Title 2.

The new section implements Tax Code, §§171.851 through 171.856.

§3.580.Credit for Hiring the Disabled.

(a) Effective date. This section is effective for reports originally due on or after January 1, 2002, and applies only to wages paid after December 31, 2001.

(b) Credit. Subject to other provisions in this section, a corporation may claim a credit on its franchise tax report for 10% of the wages that the corporation pays to each employee who meets the following qualifications:

(1) the employee, when hired, is either

(A) eligible under 42 U.S.C. §1382 for supplemental security income benefits on the basis of disability or blindness; or

(B) a recipient of social security disability insurance benefits;

(2) the employee is originally employed after December 31, 2001, for a position that is located or based in Texas and remains continuously employed with the corporation in a position that is located or based in Texas for at least six months;

(3) the employee earns at least the minimum wage;

(4) the employee works an average of at least 20 hours a week; and

(5) the employee receives the same benefits that the corporation provides to its other workers.

(c) Limitations.

(1) A corporation may claim the credit only for wages that the corporation has paid to a qualified employee:

(A) for a position that is located or based in Texas; and

(B) for work that is performed before the second anniversary date of that qualified employee's original date of employment.

(2) A corporation may not claim a credit that exceeds 50% of the amount of net franchise tax due, after any other applicable credits are taken, for the report on which the credit is claimed.

(d) Accounting period. The corporation must use the period upon which earned surplus is based to determine which wages will be considered in computing the credit, even if the tax due on net taxable capital exceeds the tax due on net taxable earned surplus.

(e) Application for Credit. A corporation must claim the credit on forms that the comptroller requires and must file the forms with the franchise tax report on which the credit is claimed.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 9, 2002.

TRD-200202863

Martin Cherry

Deputy General Counsel for Taxation

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 23, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 475-0387