Colorado Code § 39-30-104

Credit against tax - investment in certain property - definitions
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(1) (a) 
There shall be allowed to any person as a credit against the tax imposed by article 22 of this title
39, for income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1986, an amount equal to the total of
three percent of the total qualified investment, as determined under section 46 (c)(2) of the
federal "Internal Revenue Code of 1986", as amended, in such taxable year in qualified property
as defined in section 48 of the internal revenue code to the extent that such investment is in
property that is used solely and exclusively in an enterprise zone for at least one year. The
references in this subsection (1) to sections 46 (c)(2) and 48 of the internal revenue code mean
sections 46 (c)(2) and 48 of the internal revenue code as they existed immediately prior to the
enactment of the federal "Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990".
(b) (I) Except as provided in subparagraph (IV) of this paragraph (b), for income tax
years commencing on or after January 1, 2011, and for each income tax year thereafter, a
commercial truck, truck tractor, tractor, or semitrailer with a gross vehicle weight rating of fifty-
four thousand pounds or greater that is model year 2010 or newer and is designated as Class A
personal property as specified in section 42-3-106 (2)(a), C.R.S., as well as any parts associated
with the vehicle at the time of purchase, shall be deemed to be used solely and exclusively in an
enterprise zone if it is licensed and registered within the state and predominantly housed and
based at the taxpayer's business trucking facility within an enterprise zone for the twelve-month
period following its purchase.
(II) The income tax credit for a qualified investment in a commercial truck, truck tractor,
tractor, or semitrailer with a gross vehicle weight rating of fifty-four thousand pounds or greater
that is model year 2010 or newer and is designated as Class A personal property as specified in
section 42-3-106 (2)(a), C.R.S., as well as any parts associated with the vehicle at the time of
purchase, shall be allowed in an amount equal to one and one-half of one percent of the total
qualified investment if the model year of the commercial truck, truck tractor, tractor, or
semitrailer was sold as new during such income tax year;
(III) For purposes of this paragraph (b), "facility" means any factory, mill, plant,
refinery, warehouse, feedlot, building, or complex of buildings located within the state, including
the land on which such facility is located and all machinery, equipment, and other real and
tangible personal property located at or within such facility and used in connection with the
operation of such facility, which facility the taxpayer owns, rents, or leases in the business's
name at which continuous and ongoing operational activities of the business are maintained and
at which at least one full-time employee of the business is employed.
(IV) To qualify for the tax credit granted under this paragraph (b), a claimant shall be
certified by the Colorado economic development commission created in section 24-46-102,
C.R.S.
(V) The Colorado economic development commission shall certify people eligible for
the income tax credit granted in this paragraph (b) but shall not certify the income tax credit
granted in this paragraph (b) if the certification results in more credits being claimed than are
allocated pursuant to section 42-1-225, C.R.S.
(VI) To implement this section, the Colorado economic development commission shall
track the amount of the credits authorized and, by January 30 of each year, transmit to the state
treasurer a statement of the amount of tax credits certified pursuant to this paragraph (b) for the
previous year.
(VII) No later than September 1, 2012, and no later than September 1 of each year
thereafter through September 1, 2014, the Colorado economic development commission shall
provide the department of revenue with an electronic report of the taxpayers receiving a credit
allowed in this paragraph (b) for the preceding calendar year or any fiscal year ending in the
preceding calendar year and any credits disallowed pursuant to subparagraph (V) of this
paragraph (b). The report shall contain the following information:
(A) The taxpayer's name;
(B) The taxpayer's Colorado account number and federal employer identification
number;
(C) The amount of the credit allowed in this section; and
(D) Any associated taxpayers' names, Colorado account numbers, and federal employer
identification numbers or social security numbers, if the credit allowed in this section is
allocated from a pass-through entity.
(2) (a) Repealed.
(b) In addition to the limitations set forth in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2), for
income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2011, but prior to January 1, 2014, any
taxpayer that is eligible to claim a credit pursuant to subsection (1) of this section in excess of
five hundred thousand dollars shall defer claiming any amount of the credit allowed pursuant to
this section that exceeds five hundred thousand dollars until an income tax year commencing on
or after January 1, 2014. The five hundred thousand dollar limitation specified in this paragraph
(b) shall apply to any credit allowed in the income tax years commencing on or after January 1,
2011, but prior to January 1, 2014, including any amount carried forward from a prior year.
(c) (I) For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2014, except as provided
in section 24-46-108 and subsection (2)(c)(II) of this section, the amount that may be claimed by
a taxpayer for an income tax year and that is not applied or refunded under section 24-46-108 is
limited to the lesser of:
(A) The sum of up to five thousand dollars of the taxpayer's actual tax liability for the
income tax year plus fifty percent of any portion of the tax liability for the income tax year that
exceeds five thousand dollars; or
(B) Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars plus any investment tax credit carryovers
previously allowed in subsection (2.5) of this section.
(II) (A) A taxpayer may seek a waiver of the limitation specified in subparagraph (I) of
this paragraph (c) by completing a written application to the Colorado economic development
commission for permission to claim a credit in excess of such limit for the income tax year in
which the total qualified investment is made. The application must include an identification of
the substantial positive impact the waiver of the limitation would have on investments and on
well-paying jobs in the enterprise zone, documentation that demonstrates that without the waiver
of the limitation the substantial positive impact on investments and on well-paying jobs in the
enterprise zone is not likely to occur, and information that the waiver of the limitation is a
substantial factor to the start-up, expansion, or relocation of the taxpayer's business, that receipt
of the waiver of the limitation is a major factor in the taxpayer's decision, and that without the
waiver of the limitation the taxpayer is not likely to make the qualified investment. In deciding
whether to grant the waiver of the limitation, the commission must consider the overall
economic health of this state and the economic viability of the arguments made by the taxpayer
in support of the taxpayer's application. The Colorado economic development commission may
require the taxpayer to provide an independent analysis, at the taxpayer's expense, substantiating
the taxpayer's arguments in support of the application. The taxpayer's application must be
considered at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Colorado economic development commission
where the public is allowed to comment.
(B) The Colorado economic development commission may allow all, part, or none of a
taxpayer's application to waive the limitation specified in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (c).
The Colorado economic development commission shall issue a credit certificate that sets forth
the amount of the credit that the taxpayer may claim for the income tax year in which the total
qualified investment is made. The credit certificate shall be submitted by the taxpayer to the
department of revenue with the taxpayer's income tax return for the tax year for which the credit
certificate is issued.
(C) In the event the Colorado economic development commission approves a taxpayer's
application to waive the limitation specified in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (c), the
Colorado economic development commission shall include its decision in the enterprise zone
annual report to the general assembly specified in section 39-30-103 (4)(b.7), including the
taxpayer's name, the amount of the credit that the commission allowed the taxpayer to claim, and
the Colorado economic development commission's justification for approving the application.
(III) (A) Except as otherwise provided in sections 24-46-104.3, 24-46-107, and 24-46-
108 and subsection (2)(c)(III)(B) of this section, any excess credit allowed pursuant to this
subsection (2)(c) shall be an investment tax credit carryover to each of the fourteen income tax
years following the unused credit year.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in sections 24-46-104.3 and 24-46-107, any excess
credit allowed pursuant to this subsection (2)(c) for a renewable energy investment made in an
income tax year commencing before January 1, 2018, shall be an investment tax credit carryover
for twenty-two income tax years following the year the credit was originally allowed.
(IV) The limitation contained in this paragraph (c) on the amount a taxpayer may claim
for the income tax year in which the total qualified investment is made does not limit the total
amount of the credit allowed under subsection (1) of this section, nor does it limit the ability of a
taxpayer to carryover a credit to subsequent tax years as allowed in subparagraph (III) of this
paragraph (c) or previously allowed in subsection (2.5) of this section.
(V) In computing the amount that may be claimed by a taxpayer pursuant to this
paragraph (c), a taxpayer's actual tax liability for the income tax year shall be derived from the
calculated tax before any reduction of credits.
(2.5) (a) (I) Notwithstanding section 39-22-507.5 (7)(b), except as provided in sections
24-46-107 and 24-46-108, and except as otherwise provided in subsections (2.5)(a)(II) and
(2.5)(b) of this section, any excess credit allowed pursuant to this section and not applied or
refunded under section 24-46-108 shall be an investment tax credit carryover to each of the
twelve income tax years following the unused credit year.
(II) Except as provided in section 24-46-107, any excess credit claimed pursuant to this
section for a renewable energy investment made in an income tax year commencing before
January 1, 2018, shall be an investment tax credit carryover for twenty income tax years
following the year the credit was originally allowed.
(b) (I) Except as provided in section 24-46-107 and subsection (2.5)(b)(II) of this
section, a taxpayer that deferred claiming any credit in excess of five hundred thousand dollars
during an income tax year commencing on or after January 1, 2011, but prior to January 1, 2014,
pursuant to subsection (2)(b) of this section shall be allowed to claim the deferred credit as an
investment tax credit carryover for twelve income tax years following the year the credit was
originally allowed plus one additional income tax year for each income tax year that the credit
was deferred pursuant to subsection (2)(b) of this section.
(II) Except as provided in section 24-46-107, a taxpayer is allowed to claim the deferred
credit described in subsection (2.5)(b)(I) of this section for a renewable energy investment made
in an income tax year commencing before January 1, 2018, as an investment tax credit carryover
for twenty income tax years following the year the credit was originally allowed plus one
additional income tax year for each income tax year that the credit was deferred pursuant to
subsection (2)(b) of this section.
(2.6) (a) Except as provided in section 24-46-104.3 and subsection (2.6)(b) of this
section and notwithstanding any other provision in this section, in each income tax year
commencing on or after January 1, 2015, but before January 1, 2021, a taxpayer who places a
new renewable energy investment in service on or after January 1, 2015, but before January 1,
2021, that results in a credit pursuant to subsection (1) of this section may elect to receive a
refund of eighty percent of the amount of such credit as specified in this subsection (2.6)(a) and
forego the remaining twenty percent as a cost of such election. If eighty percent of the amount of
the credit in subsection (1) of this section is:
(I) Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars or less, the taxpayer receives the full refund in
the first tax year; or
(II) More than seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, the taxpayer annually receives a
refund not to exceed seven hundred fifty thousand dollars per income tax year until eighty
percent of the amount of the credit in subsection (1) of this section for the new renewable energy
investment described in the final certification is completely refunded to the taxpayer.
(b) A taxpayer may make the election allowed in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2.6)
for more than one new renewable energy investment per income tax year. If a taxpayer makes an
election allowed in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2.6) for more than one new renewable
energy investment, then the taxpayer may only receive the refund allowed in said paragraph (a)
for any subsequent new renewable energy investment after the eighty percent of the amount of
the credit for the previous new renewable energy investment is completely refunded to the
taxpayer. Under no circumstances may a taxpayer making the required election specified in
paragraph (a) of this subsection (2.6) receive refunds allowed pursuant to this subsection (2.6)
totaling more than seven hundred fifty thousand dollars per income tax year.
(c) The taxpayer makes an election described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2.6) by
filing an election statement on such form as prescribed by the department of revenue not later
than the due date, including extensions, for filing the tax return for the taxable year during which
the new renewable energy investment described in the final certification is placed into service.
(d) The election described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2.6) only applies to the
renewable energy investment described in the final certification.
(e) The limitations on investment tax credit carryovers specified in subsections (2) and
(2.5) of this section do not apply to any credit for which a taxpayer elects to seek a refund
pursuant to this subsection (2.6). The refund specified in this subsection (2.6) is in addition to
any other credits that a taxpayer may claim for other renewable energy investments pursuant to
this section.
(f) For purposes of this subsection (2.6), unless the context otherwise requires:
(I) "Final certification" means a document prepared by the Colorado office of economic
development and provided to the taxpayer granting approval for a project after it is placed in
service.
(II) "Taxpayer" means the entire affiliated group if the taxpayer is part of an affiliated
group.
(2.7) (a) The Colorado economic development commission shall annually post on its
website or on the Colorado office of economic development's website the following information
regarding any enterprise zone investment tax credit certified under this section:
(I) The enterprise zone for the certified credit;
(II) The name of the taxpayer or business;
(III) The type of business;
(IV) The tax year for which the credit is certified;
(V) The total qualified investment reported;
(VI) Whether the credit is for a renewable energy investment as defined in subsection
(2.8) of this section;
(VII) The number of employees or contractors hired for a qualified investment;
(VIII) The number of construction personnel hired for a qualified investment;
(IX) The average salary or hourly wage of the employees, contractors, and construction
personnel hired for a qualified investment;
(X) Any landowner lease payments made or land purchased for a qualified investment;
(XI) The estimated tax revenues the state and local governments will receive as a result
of the qualified investment;
(XII) Any other economic benefits resulting from the qualified investment;
(XIII) The amount of the qualified investment that qualifies for the credit;
(XIV) The calculated credit; and
(XV) The county where the qualified investment is made.
(b) The taxpayer who made the qualified investment shall use reasonable efforts to
obtain, estimate, and provide to the Colorado economic development commission the
information required to be reported pursuant to this subsection (2.7).
(c) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11), C.R.S., no later than November 1, 2020, and
every November 1 thereafter, the Colorado economic development commission shall post on its
website or on the Colorado office of economic development's website the level of renewable
energy investment on and after June 5, 2015.
(2.8) For purposes of this section, "renewable energy investment" means an investment
that qualifies for the credit specified in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section for projects
that generate electricity from eligible energy resources as defined in section 40-2-124 (1), C.R.S.
(3) (Deleted by amendment, L. 96, p. 1127, § 4, effective July 1, 1996.)
(4) (a) (I) In addition to any other credit allowed under this section, for income tax years
commencing on or after January 1, 1997, but prior to January 1, 2014, there shall be allowed to
any person as a credit against the tax imposed by article 22 of this title an amount equal to ten
percent of the total investment made during the taxable year in a qualified job training program.
(II) In addition to any other credit allowed under this section, for income tax years
commencing on or after January 1, 2014, there shall be allowed to any person as a credit against
the tax imposed by article 22 of this title an amount equal to twelve percent of the total
investment made during the taxable year in a qualified job training program.
(b) For purposes of this subsection (4):
(I) "Qualified job training program" means a structured training or basic education
program conducted on-site or off-site by the taxpayer or another entity to improve the job skills
of employees employed by the taxpayer working predominantly within an enterprise zone.
(II) "Total investment" means:
(A) Land, building, real property improvement, leasehold improvement, or space lease
costs and the costs of any capital equipment purchased or leased by the taxpayer and used
entirely within an enterprise zone primarily for qualified job training program purposes or to
make a training site accessible, when such costs are not the subject of a credit under subsection
(1) of this section; and
(B) Expenses of a qualified job training program, whether incurred within or outside of
an enterprise zone, including expensed equipment, supplies, training staff wages or fees, training
contract costs, temporary space rental, travel expenses, and other expense costs of qualified job
training programs for employees working predominantly within an enterprise zone.
(5) and (6) Repealed.
(7) A person that claims a credit pursuant to section 39-22-551 is not entitled to claim
the credit allowed pursuant to this section for the same improvements for which a credit was
allowed by that section. A person that claims a credit pursuant to section 39-22-552 or 39-22-
553 is not entitled to claim the credit allowed pursuant to this section for the same project for
which a credit was allowed by those sections.

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