California Competes tax credit: refunds.

The Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law allow a credit (CalCompetes tax credit) against the taxes imposed under those laws, for each taxable year beginning on and after January 1, 2014, and before January 1, 2030, in an amount as provided in a written agreement between the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development and the taxpayer, approved by the California Competes Tax Credit Committee, and based on specified factors, including the number of jobs the taxpayer will create or retain in the state and the amount of investment in the state by the taxpayer. Existing law establishes the continuously appropriated Tax Relief and Refund Account and provides that specified payments required to be made to taxpayers, including refunds, are to be paid from that account. This bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2021, would allow a qualified taxpayer, to the extent a CalCompetes tax credit amount exceeds a qualified taxpayer's tax liability for the taxable year, as specified, to elect to be paid a refund from the Tax Relief and Refund Account, not to exceed the amount of total taxes imposed by the state and paid by the qualified taxpayer during the taxable year. The bill would define a "qualified taxpayer" as a taxpayer that has created at least 5,000 prevailing wage, full-time or full-time equivalent jobs in the state each year for a period of 10 years. The bill would require a qualified taxpayer that receives a refund to reinvest the refund into immobile capital equipment that supports infrastructure improvements, expansion, or developments for media production facilities in the state, as provided. By authorizing new refund payments to be paid from the continuously appropriated Tax Relief and Refund Account, this bill would make an appropriation.