Colorado Code § 39-22-522

Credit against tax - conservation easements - definitions - repeal
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(1) For
purposes of this section:
(a) For income tax years commencing prior to January 1, 2021, "taxpayer" means a
resident individual or a domestic or foreign corporation subject to the provisions of part 3 of this
article, a partnership, S corporation, or other similar pass-through entity, estate, or trust that
donates a conservation easement as an entity, and a partner, member, and subchapter S
shareholder of such pass-through entity.
(b) For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2021, "taxpayer" means any
person or entity filing a state income tax return or a domestic or foreign corporation subject to
the provisions of part 3 of this article 22, a partnership, S corporation, or other similar pass-
through entity, estate, trust, nonprofit entity, or an entity that has authority to conduct water
activities, as defined by section 37-45.1-102 (3) and created pursuant to article 41, 45, 46, 47, 48,
or 50 of title 37, or article 42 of title 7, that conveys a conservation easement in gross pursuant to
section 38-30.5-104. A ditch or reservoir company formed pursuant to article 42 of title 7, or
otherwise, is entitled to act on its own behalf in granting a conservation easement and earning
and transferring tax credits under this section, whether or not any of its shareholders or members
are governmental entities.
(2) (a) For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2000, but prior to
January 1, 2014, and, with regard to any credit over the amount of one hundred thousand dollars,
for income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2003, but before January 1, 2032,
subject to the provisions of subsections (4) and (6) of this section, there shall be allowed a credit
with respect to the income taxes imposed by this article to each taxpayer who donates during the
taxable year all or part of the value of a perpetual conservation easement in gross created
pursuant to article 30.5 of title 38 upon real property the taxpayer owns to a governmental entity
or a charitable organization described in section 38-30.5-104 (2). The credit shall only be
allowed for a donation that is eligible to qualify as a qualified conservation contribution pursuant
to section 170 (h) of the internal revenue code, as amended, and any federal regulations
promulgated in connection with such section. The amount of the credit shall not include the
value of any portion of an easement on real property located in another state.
(b) For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2014, but before January 1,
2032, and, with regard to any credit over the amount of one hundred thousand dollars, for
income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2003, but before January 1, 2032, subject to
the provisions of subsections (4) and (6) of this section, there shall be allowed a credit with
respect to the income taxes imposed by this article to each taxpayer who donates during the
taxable year all or part of the value of a perpetual conservation easement in gross created
pursuant to article 30.5 of title 38 upon real property the taxpayer owns to a governmental entity
or a charitable organization described in section 38-30.5-104 (2). The credit shall only be
allowed for a donation that meets the requirements of section 170 of the federal "Internal
Revenue Code of 1986", as amended, and any federal regulations promulgated in accordance
with such section. The amount of the credit shall not include the value of any portion of an
easement on real property located in another state.
(2.5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section and the requirements of section
12-15-106, for income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2011, a taxpayer conveying
a conservation easement and claiming a credit pursuant to this section shall, in addition to any
other requirements of this section and the requirements of section 12-15-106, submit a claim for
the credit to the division of conservation in the department of regulatory agencies. The division
must prioritize tax credit applications in the order received. The division must assign each
application with the date and time received based on the order in which a completed application
was submitted pursuant to section 12-15-106 (5). Incomplete applications do not get priority in
the review process. Disapproved applications lose their priority in the review process. After
certificates have been issued for credits that exceed an aggregate of twenty-two million dollars
for all taxpayers for the 2011 and 2012 calendar years, thirty-four million dollars for the 2013
calendar year, forty-five million dollars for each of the 2014 to 2024 calendar years, and fifty
million dollars for each of the 2025 to 2031 calendar years, any claims that exceed the amount
allowed for a specified calendar year shall be issued for use in the next year for which the
division has not issued credit certificates in excess of the amounts specified in this subsection
(2.5). The division shall not issue credit certificates that exceed twenty-two million dollars in
each of the 2011 and 2012 calendar years, thirty-four million dollars for the 2013 calendar year,
forty-five million dollars for each of the 2014 to 2024 calendar years, and fifty million dollars
for each of the 2025 through 2031 calendar years. No claim for a credit is allowed for any
income tax year commencing on or after January 1, 2011, unless a certificate has been issued by
the division. If all other requirements under section 12-15-106 and this section are met, the right
to claim the credit is vested in the taxpayer at the time the credit certificate is issued. In the case
of a tax credit certificate issued to a taxpayer who files an income tax return for a tax year other
than a calendar year, the credit must be used in the income tax year that begins during the
calendar year for which the tax credit certificate is issued.
(2.7) Notwithstanding any other provision, for income tax years commencing on or after
January 1, 2014, no claim for a credit shall be allowed unless a tax credit certificate is issued by
the division of real estate prior to May 30, 2018, or by the division of conservation on or after
May 30, 2018, in accordance with sections 12-15-105 and 12-15-106 and, for income tax years
commencing on or after January 1, 2014, but prior to January 1, 2022, the taxpayer files the tax
credit certificate with the income tax return filed with the department of revenue.
(3) For conservation easements donated prior to January 1, 2014, in order for any
taxpayer to qualify for the credit provided for in subsection (2) of this section, the taxpayer shall
submit the following in a form approved by the executive director to the department of revenue
at the same time as the taxpayer files a return for the taxable year in which the credit is claimed:
(a) A statement indicating whether a deduction was claimed on the taxpayer's federal
income tax return for a conservation easement in gross;
(b) A statement that reflects the information included in the noncash charitable
contributions form used to claim a deduction for a conservation easement in gross on a federal
income tax return and whether the donation was made in order to get a permit or other approval
from a local or other governing authority;
(c) A statement to be made available to the public by the department of revenue that
includes a summary of the conservation purposes as defined in section 170 (h) of the internal
revenue code that are protected by the easement; the county, township, and range where the
easement is located; the number of acres subject to the easement; the amount of the tax credit
claimed; and the name of the organization holding the easement;
(d) A summary of a qualified appraisal that meets the requirements set forth in
subsection (3.3) of this section; however, if requested by the department of revenue, the taxpayer
shall submit the appraisal itself;
(e) A copy of the appraisal and accompanying affidavit from the appraiser submitted to
the division of real estate in the department of regulatory agencies in accordance with the
provisions of section 12-61-719, C.R.S., as said section existed prior to its repeal on July 1,
2013;
(f) If the holder of the conservation easement is an organization to which the
certification program in section 12-15-104 applies, a sworn affidavit from the holder of the
conservation easement in gross that includes the following:
(I) Repealed.
(II) An acknowledgment of whether the transaction is part of a series of transactions by
the same donor; and
(III) An acknowledgment that the holder has reviewed the completed Colorado gross
conservation easement credit schedule to be filed by the taxpayer and that the property is
accurately described in the schedule.
(3.3) The appraisal for a conservation easement in gross donated prior to January 1,
2014, and for which a credit is claimed shall be a qualified appraisal from a qualified appraiser,
as those terms are defined in section 170 (f)(11) of the internal revenue code. The appraisal shall
be in conformance with the uniform standards of professional appraisal practice promulgated by
the appraisal standards board of the appraisal foundation and any other provision of law. The
appraiser shall hold a valid license as a certified general appraiser in accordance with the
provisions of part 6 of article 10 of title 12. If there is a final determination, other than by
settlement of the taxpayer, that an appraisal submitted in connection with a claim for a credit
pursuant to this section is a substantial or gross valuation misstatement as such misstatements are
defined in section 1219 of the federal "Pension Protection Act of 2006", Pub.L. 109-280, the
department shall submit a complaint regarding the misstatement to the board of real estate
appraisers for disciplinary action in accordance with the provisions of part 6 of article 10 of title
12.
(3.5) (a) For conservation easements donated prior to January 1, 2014:
(I) The executive director shall have the authority, pursuant to subsection (8) of this
section, to require additional information from the taxpayer or transferee regarding the appraisal
value of the easement, the amount of the credit, and the validity of the credit. In resolving
disputes regarding the validity or the amount of a credit allowed pursuant to subsection (2) of
this section, including the value of the conservation easement for which the credit is granted, the
executive director shall have the authority, for good cause shown and in consultation with the
division of conservation and the conservation easement oversight commission created in section
12-15-103 (1), to review and accept or reject, in whole or in part, the appraisal value of the
easement, the amount of the credit, and the validity of the credit based upon the internal revenue
code and federal regulations in effect at the time of the donation. If the executive director
reasonably believes that the appraisal represents a gross valuation misstatement, receives notice
of such a valuation misstatement from the division of real estate, or receives notice from the
division of real estate that an enforcement action has been taken by the board of real estate
appraisers against the appraiser, the executive director shall have the authority to require the
taxpayer to provide a second appraisal at the expense of the taxpayer. The second appraisal shall
be conducted by a certified general appraiser in good standing and not affiliated with the first
appraiser that meets qualifications established by the division of real estate. In the event the
executive director rejects, in whole or in part, the appraisal value of the easement, the amount of
the credit, or the validity of the credit, the procedures described in sections 39-21-103, 39-21-
104, 39-21-104.5, and 39-21-105 shall apply.
(II) In consultation with the division of conservation and the conservation easement
oversight commission created in section 12-15-103 (1), the executive director shall develop and
implement a separate process for the review by the department of revenue of gross conservation
easements. The review process shall be consistent with the statutory obligations of the division
and the commission and shall address gross conservation easements for which the department of
revenue has been informed that an audit is being performed by the internal revenue service. The
executive director shall share information used in the review of gross conservation easements
with the division. Notwithstanding part 2 of article 72 of title 24, in order to protect the
confidential financial information of a taxpayer, the division and the commission shall deny the
right to inspect any information provided by the executive director in accordance with this
subsection (3.5)(a)(II).
(b) (I) For conservation easements donated on or after January 1, 2014, and subject to
the restrictions of section 12-15-106 (4), the executive director shall have the authority, pursuant
to subsection (8) of this section, to require additional information from the taxpayer or transferee
regarding the amount of a credit transferred prior to January 1, 2021, and the validity of the
credit. In resolving disputes regarding the validity or the amount of a credit allowed pursuant to
subsection (2) of this section, the executive director shall have the authority, for good cause
shown, to review and accept or reject, in whole or in part, the amount of the credit and the
validity of the credit based upon the internal revenue code and federal regulations in effect at the
time of the donation, except those requirements for which authority is granted to the division of
conservation, the director of the division of conservation, or the conservation easement oversight
commission pursuant to section 12-15-106.
(II) For tax credit certificates issued by the division for use on or after January 1, 2021,
the transferor and transferee of the tax credit shall jointly file a copy of the written transfer
agreement with the division of conservation within thirty days after June 30, 2021, or the date of
the transfer, whichever is later. If the credit being transferred was issued for a year other than the
year in which it is transferred, the transferor shall further submit a copy of the transferor's
DR1305 form for each year from the year for which the credit was issued through the most
recent year for which taxes were due. The division shall issue a certificate to the transferee in the
amount of the tax credit transferred and, if any amount is retained by the transferor, issue a
certificate to the transferor in the amount retained. In no event shall a transferee be allowed to
claim an amount greater than the amount specified in the certificate issued to the transferee. The
division shall develop a system to track the transfers of tax credits and to certify the ownership
of tax credits. A certification issued for use on or after January 1, 2021, by the division of the
ownership and amount of tax credits shall be relied upon by the department of revenue and the
transferee as being accurate, and neither the division nor the department of revenue shall adjust
the amount of tax credits certified by the division as to the transferee; except that the division
and department retain any remedies it may have against the landowner. The division may
promulgate rules to permit verification of the ownership and amount of the tax credits; except
that any rules promulgated shall not unduly restrict or hinder the transfer of the tax credits.
(3.6) (a) For conservation easements donated on or after January 1, 2014, in order for
any taxpayer to claim the credit provided for in subsection (2) of this section, the taxpayer must
submit the following in a form, approved by the executive director, to the department of revenue
at the same time as the taxpayer files a return for the taxable year in which the credit is claimed:
(I) A tax credit certificate issued under section 12-15-106; and
(II) The information required in subsections (3)(a) and (3)(b) of this section.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the executive director retains the
authority to administer all issues related to the claim or use of a tax credit for the donation of a
conservation easement that are not granted to the director of the division of conservation or the
conservation easement oversight commission under section 12-15-106.
(3.7) If the gain on the sale of a conservation easement in gross for which a credit is
claimed pursuant to this section would not have been a long-term capital gain, as defined under
the internal revenue code, if, at the time of the donation, the taxpayer had sold the conservation
easement at its fair market value, then the value of the conservation easement in gross for the
purpose of calculating the amount of the credit shall be reduced to the taxpayer's tax basis in the
conservation easement in gross. The tax basis of a taxpayer in a conservation easement shall be
determined and allocated pursuant to sections 170 (e) and 170 (h) of the internal revenue code,
as amended, and any federal regulations promulgated in connection with such sections. This
subsection (3.7) shall be applied in a manner that is consistent with the tax treatment of qualified
conservation contributions under the internal revenue code and the federal regulations
promulgated under the internal revenue code.
(3.8) Repealed.
(4) (a) (I) For a conservation easement in gross created in accordance with article 30.5 of
title 38, C.R.S., that is donated prior to January 1, 2007, to a governmental entity or a charitable
organization described in section 38-30.5-104 (2), C.R.S., the credit provided for in subsection
(2) of this section shall be an amount equal to one hundred percent of the first one hundred
thousand dollars of the fair market value of the donated portion of such conservation easement in
gross when created, and forty percent of all amounts of the donation in excess of one hundred
thousand dollars; except that in no case shall the credit exceed two hundred sixty thousand
dollars per donation.
(II) For a conservation easement in gross created in accordance with article 30.5 of title
38, C.R.S., that is donated on or after January 1, 2007, and prior to January 1, 2015, to a
governmental entity or a charitable organization described in section 38-30.5-104 (2), C.R.S., the
credit provided for in subsection (2) of this section shall be an amount equal to fifty percent of
the fair market value of the donated portion of such conservation easement in gross when
created; except that, in no case shall the credit exceed three hundred seventy-five thousand
dollars per donation.
(II.5) For a conservation easement in gross created in accordance with article 30.5 of
title 38 that is donated on or after January 1, 2015, but prior to January 1, 2021, to a
governmental entity or a charitable organization described in section 38-30.5-104 (2), the credit
provided for in subsection (2) of this section shall be an amount equal to seventy-five percent of
the first one hundred thousand dollars of the fair market value of the donated portion of such
conservation easement in gross when created, and fifty percent of all amounts of the donation in
excess of one hundred thousand dollars; except that in no case shall the credit exceed five
million dollars per donation. Credits shall be issued in increments of no more than one million
five hundred thousand dollars per year. Credits for easements donated in a prior year shall be
eligible for tax credit certificates in subsequent years in order of application and before new
applications and those credit applications, if any, on the wait list.
(II.7) For a conservation easement in gross created in accordance with article 30.5 of
title 38 that is donated to a governmental entity or a charitable organization described in section
38-30.5-104 (2), the credit provided for in subsection (2) of this section is an amount equal to:
(A) For conservation easements donated on or after January 1, 2021, but before January
1, 2027, ninety percent of the fair market value of the donated portion of such conservation
easement in gross when created; except that in no case shall the credit exceed five million dollars
per donation; and
(B) For conservation easements donated on or after January 1, 2027, eighty percent of
the fair market value of the donated portion of such conservation easement in gross when
created; except that, in no case shall the credit exceed five million dollars per donation.
(II.8) Credits shall be issued in increments of no more than one million five hundred
thousand dollars per year. Credits for easements donated in a prior year are eligible for tax credit
certificates in subsequent years in order of application.
(III) In no event shall a credit claimed by a taxpayer filing a joint federal return, or the
sum of the credits claimed by taxpayers who may legally file a joint federal return but actually
file separate federal returns, exceed the dollar limitations of this paragraph (a).
(b) (I) For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2000, in the case of a
joint tenancy, tenancy in common, partnership, S corporation, or other similar entity or
ownership group that donates a conservation easement as an entity or group, the amount of the
credit allowed pursuant to subsection (2) of this section must be allocated to the entity's owners,
partners, members, or shareholders in proportion to the owners', partners', members', or
shareholders' distributive shares of income or ownership percentage from such entity or group.
(II) (A) For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2000, but prior to
January 1, 2003, the total aggregate amount of the credit allocated to such owners, partners,
members, and shareholders shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars, and, if any refund is
claimed pursuant to subsection (5)(b)(I) of this section, the aggregate amount of the refund and
the credit claimed by such partners, members, and shareholders shall not exceed twenty thousand
dollars for that income tax year.
(B) For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2003, but prior to January
1, 2007, the total aggregate amount of the credit allocated to such owners, partners, members,
and shareholders shall not exceed two hundred sixty thousand dollars, and, if any refund is
claimed pursuant to subsection (5)(b)(I) of this section, the aggregate amount of the refund and
the credit claimed by such owners, partners, members, and shareholders shall not exceed fifty
thousand dollars for that income tax year.
(C) For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2007, and prior to January
1, 2015, the total aggregate amount of the credit allocated to such owners, partners, members,
and shareholders shall not exceed three hundred seventy-five thousand dollars, and, if any refund
is claimed pursuant to subsection (5)(b)(I) of this section, the aggregate amount of the refund
and the credit claimed by such owners, partners, members, and shareholders shall not exceed
fifty thousand dollars for that income tax year.
(D) For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2015, but before January 1,
2027, the total aggregate amount of the credit allocated to such owners, partners, members, and
shareholders shall not exceed five million dollars, and, if any refund is claimed pursuant to
subsection (5)(b)(I) of this section, the aggregate amount of the refund and the credit claimed by
such owners, partners, members, and shareholders shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars for that
income tax year.
(E) For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2027, the total aggregate
amount of the credit allocated to such owners, partners, members, and shareholders shall not
exceed five million dollars, and, if any refund is claimed pursuant to subsection (5)(b)(I) of this
section, the aggregate amount of the refund and the credit claimed by such owners, partners,
members, and shareholders shall not exceed two hundred thousand dollars for that income tax
year.
(5) (a) If the tax credit provided in this section exceeds the amount of income tax due on
the income of the taxpayer for the taxable year, the amount of the credit not used as an offset
against income taxes in said income tax year and not refunded pursuant to paragraph (b) of this
subsection (5) may be carried forward and applied against the income tax due in each of the
twenty succeeding income tax years but shall be first applied against the income tax due for the
earliest of the income tax years possible. Any amount of the credit that is not used after said
period shall not be refundable.
(b) (I) Subject to the requirements specified in subparagraphs (II) and (III) of this
paragraph (b), for income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2000, if the amount of
the tax credit allowed in or carried forward to any tax year pursuant to this section exceeds the
amount of income tax due on the income of the taxpayer for the year, the taxpayer may elect to
have the amount of the credit not used as an offset against income taxes in said income tax year
refunded to the taxpayer.
(II) (A) Before January 1, 2027, a taxpayer may elect to claim a refund pursuant to
subsection (5)(b)(I) of this section only if, based on the financial report prepared by the
controller in accordance with section 24-77-106.5, the controller certifies that the amount of state
revenues for the state fiscal year ending in the income tax year for which the refund is claimed
exceeds the limitation on state fiscal year spending imposed by section 20 (7)(a) of article X of
the state constitution and the voters statewide either have not authorized the state to retain and
spend all of the excess state revenues or have authorized the state to retain and spend only a
portion of the excess state revenues for that fiscal year.
(B) This subsection (5)(b)(II) is repealed, effective December 31, 2031.
(III) If any refund is claimed pursuant to subsection (5)(b)(I) of this section, then the
aggregate amount of the refund and amount of the credit used as an offset against income taxes,
excluding amounts transferred to or used by a transferee, for that income tax year shall not
exceed fifty thousand dollars for that income tax year for income tax years commencing before
January 1, 2027, and shall not exceed two hundred thousand dollars for that income tax year for
income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2027. In the case of a partnership, S
corporation, or other similar pass-through entity that donates a conservation easement as an
entity, if any refund is claimed pursuant to subsection (5)(b)(I) of this section, the aggregate
amount of the refund and the credit claimed by the partners, members, or shareholders of the
entity shall not exceed the dollar limitation set forth in this subsection (5)(b)(III) for that income
tax year. Nothing in this subsection (5)(b)(III) shall limit a taxpayer's ability to claim a credit
against taxes due in excess of fifty thousand dollars for tax years commencing before January 1,
2027, and two hundred thousand dollars for tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2027,
in accordance with subsection (4) of this section.
(6) (a) For conservation easements donated prior to January 1, 2014, a taxpayer may
claim only one tax credit under this section per income tax year; except that a transferee of a tax
credit under subsection (7) of this section may claim an unlimited number of credits. A taxpayer
who has carried forward or elected to receive a refund of part of the tax credit in accordance with
subsection (5) of this section shall not claim an additional tax credit under this section for any
income tax year commencing prior to January 1, 2014, in which the taxpayer applies the amount
carried forward against income tax due or receives a refund. A transferor who has transferred a
credit to a transferee pursuant to subsection (7) of this section shall not claim an additional tax
credit under this section for any income tax year commencing prior to January 1, 2014, in which
the transferee uses such transferred credit. Commencing January 1, 2014, a taxpayer may claim
one tax credit per year regardless of whether the taxpayer has credits remaining from any prior
conservation easement donation.
(b) For conservation easements donated on or after January 1, 2000, a taxpayer may
claim only one tax credit under this section per income tax year; except that a transferee of a tax
credit under subsection (7) of this section may claim an unlimited number of credits.
(7) For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2000, a taxpayer may
transfer all or a portion of a tax credit granted pursuant to subsection (2) of this section to a
transferee for such transferee to apply as a credit against the taxes imposed by this article 22
subject to the following limitations:
(a) The taxpayer may only transfer such portion of the tax credit as the taxpayer has
neither applied against the income taxes imposed by this article nor used to obtain a refund;
(b) The taxpayer may transfer a pro-rated portion of the tax credit to more than one
transferee;
(c) A transferee may not elect to have any transferred credit refunded pursuant to
paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of this section;
(d) Repealed.
(e) To the extent that a transferee paid value for the transfer of a conservation easement
tax credit to such transferee, the transferee shall be deemed to have used the credit to pay, in
whole or in part, the income tax obligation imposed on the transferee under this article, and to
such extent the transferee's use of a tax credit from a transferor under this section to pay taxes
owed shall not be deemed a reduction in the amount of income taxes imposed by this article on
the transferee;
(f) The transferee shall submit to the department a form approved by the department.
The transferee shall also file a copy of the form with the entity to whom the taxpayer donated the
conservation easement.
(g) A transferee of a tax credit shall purchase the credit prior to the due date imposed by
this article, including any extensions, for filing the transferee's income tax return;
(h) A tax credit held by an individual either directly or as a result of a donation by a
pass-through entity, but not a tax credit held by a transferee unless used by the transferee's estate
for taxes owed by the estate, shall survive the death of the individual and may be claimed or
transferred by the decedent's estate. This paragraph (h) shall apply to any tax credit from a
donation of a conservation easement made on or after January 1, 2000.
(i) For a donation made prior to January 1, 2021, the donor of an easement for which a
tax credit is claimed or the transferor of a tax credit claimed for the donation of the easement
transferred pursuant to this subsection (7) is the tax matters representative in all matters with
respect to the credit. The tax matters representative is responsible for representing and binding
the transferees with respect to all issues affecting the credit, including, but not limited to, the
charitable contribution deduction, the appraisal, notifications and correspondence from and with
the department of revenue, audit examinations, assessments or refunds, settlement agreements,
and the statute of limitations. The transferee is subject to the same statute of limitations with
respect to the credit as the transferor of the credit.
(j) For a tax credit claimed for the donation of an easement made prior to January 1,
2021, final resolution of disputes regarding the tax credit between the department of revenue and
the tax matters representative, including final determinations, compromises, payment of
additional taxes or refunds due, and administrative and judicial decisions, is binding on
transferees.
(7.5) (a) For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2021, in lieu of a
credit with respect to the income taxes imposed by this article 22, there is allowed a transferable
expense amount to each qualified entity that donates during the taxable year all or part of the
value of a perpetual conservation easement in gross created pursuant to article 30.5 of title 38
upon real property the qualified entity owns to a governmental entity or a charitable organization
described in section 38-30.5-104 (2). A transferable expense amount shall be treated in all
manners as a tax credit for purposes of this section, including provisions governing the amount,
valuation, and transfer of a tax credit; except that the transferable expense amount may only be
transferred to a transferee to be claimed by the transferee as a credit pursuant to this section. A
qualified entity may transfer a transferable expense amount to be claimed as a credit by a
transferee pursuant to this section regardless of whether the qualified entity receives value in
exchange for the transfer.
(b) As used in this subsection (7.5), "qualified entity" means a governmental entity that
meets the definition of "taxpayer" as set forth in subsection (1)(b) of this section but is otherwise
exempt from the income taxes imposed by this article 22.
(8) The executive director of the department of revenue may promulgate rules for the
implementation of this section. Such rules shall be promulgated in accordance with article 4 of
title 24, C.R.S.
(9) Any taxpayer who claims a credit for the donation of a conservation easement
contrary to the provisions of this section shall be liable for such deficiencies, interest, and
penalties as may be specified in this article or otherwise provided by law.
(10) and (11) Repealed.
(12) For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2024, every taxpayer
exempt from taxes pursuant to section 39-22-112 that claims the credit allowed in this section
shall file a return pursuant to section 39-22-601 (7)(b).
(13) Any transferee who is subject to the tax on insurance premiums established by
sections 10-3-209, 10-5-111, and 10-6-128, and who is therefore exempt from the payment of
income tax and who is otherwise eligible to claim a tax credit pursuant to this section may claim
the tax credit and carry the tax credit forward against the insurance premium tax to the same
extent as the transferee would have been able to claim or carry forward the tax credit against
income tax. All other provisions of this section with respect to the tax credit, including the
amount and allocation of the tax credit and the years for which the tax credit may be claimed
shall apply to a tax credit claimed pursuant to this section.
(14) For any conservation easement granted on or after January 1, 2025, the conservation
easement may include a provision providing that if technological or legal changes allow an
expanded use of wind and solar power generation, transmission, and storage to be compatible
with the protection of conservation values considered as a whole and pursuant to section 170 (h)
of the internal revenue code and any federal regulations promulgated in connection with such
section, then the holder of the conservation easement may, in its sole discretion, approve
expanded wind and solar power generation, transmission, or storage that is compatible with and
does not diminish or impair conservation values.
(15) This section is repealed, effective January 1, 2052.

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