HB1620: Income tax, state and corporate; tax credit for employers of National Guard members.


HOUSE BILL NO. 1620
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Finance
on January 29, 2020)
(Patrons Prior to Substitute--Delegates Helmer and Freitas [HB 230])
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 58.1 a section numbered 58.1-339.13, relating to individual and corporate income tax credit; employers of National Guard members and self-employed National Guard members.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 58.1 a section numbered 58.1-339.13 as follows:

§ 58.1-339.13. Tax credits for employers of National Guard members and self-employed National Guard members.

A. For purposes of this section:

"Employer" means the same as that term is defined in § 58.1-460.

"National Guard employee" means a person who is (i) an employee, as defined in § 58.1-460, of an employer and (ii) an active member of the National Guard of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"Self-employed National Guard member" means an active member of the National Guard of the Commonwealth of Virginia who derives a substantial portion of his income from a trade or business (i) operated by the member as a sole proprietor, (ii) through which the member has attempted to earn taxable income, and (iii) for which the member has filed the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Form 1040, Schedule C or F, for the previous taxable year.

"Wages" means the same as that term is defined in § 58.1-460 and includes wages or salaries paid during the deployment of a National Guard employee.

B. 1. For taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2020, but before January 1, 2025, an employer shall be allowed a credit against the tax levied pursuant to § 58.1-320 or 58.1-400 for wages paid to a National Guard employee during the taxable year. The amount of the credit shall be 25 percent if such employee was in a military pay status for 65 days or more during such taxable year or 15 percent if such employee was in a military pay status for more than 44 days but less than 65 days during such taxable year. The credit shall not be allowed if such employee was in a military pay status for less than 45 days during such taxable year.

2. For taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2020, but before January 1, 2025, a self-employed National Guard member shall be allowed a credit against the tax levied pursuant to § 58.1-320 or 58.1-400 for income attributable to his trade or business during the taxable year. The amount of the credit shall be 25 percent if such self-employed individual was in a military pay status for 65 days or more during such taxable year or 15 percent if such self-employed individual was in a military pay status for more than 44 days but less than 65 days during such taxable year. The credit shall not be allowed if such self-employed individual was in a military pay status for less than 45 days during such taxable year. No credit shall be allowed pursuant to this subdivision if an employer claimed a tax credit pursuant to subdivision 1 for the same National Guard member.

C. The amount of the credit claimed shall not exceed the total amount of tax imposed pursuant to § 58.1-320 or 58.1-400 upon the employer for the taxable year.

HOUSE BILL NO. 1620

Offered January 16, 2020
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 58.1 a section numbered 58.1-339.13, relating to individual and corporate income tax credit; employers of National Guard members and self-employed National Guard members.
Patrons-- Helmer, Freitas and Lopez

Referred to Committee on Finance

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 58.1 a section numbered 58.1-339.13 as follows:

§ 58.1-339.13. Tax credits for employers of National Guard members and self-employed National Guard members.

A. For purposes of this section:

"Employer" means the same as that term is defined in § 58.1-460.

"National Guard employee" means a person who is (i) an employee, as defined in § 58.1-460, of an employer and (ii) an active member of the National Guard of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"Self-employed National Guard member" means an active member of the National Guard of the Commonwealth of Virginia who derives a substantial portion of his income from a trade or business (i) operated by the member as a sole proprietor, (ii) through which the member has attempted to earn taxable income, and (iii) for which the member has filed the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Form 1040, Schedule C or F, for the previous taxable year.

"Wages" means the same as that term is defined in § 58.1-460 and includes wages or salaries paid during the deployment of a National Guard employee.

B. 1. For taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2020, but before January 1, 2025, an employer shall be allowed a credit against the tax levied pursuant to § 58.1-320 or 58.1-400 for wages paid to a National Guard employee during the taxable year. The amount of the credit shall be 25 percent if such employee was in a military pay status for 65 days or more during such taxable year or 15 percent if such employee was in a military pay status for more than 44 days but less than 65 days during such taxable year. The credit shall not be allowed if such employee was in a military pay status for less than 45 days during such taxable year.

2. For taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2020, but before January 1, 2025, a self-employed National Guard member shall be allowed a credit against the tax levied pursuant to § 58.1-320 or 58.1-400 for income attributable to his trade or business during the taxable year. The amount of the credit shall be 25 percent if such self-employed individual was in a military pay status for 65 days or more during such taxable year or 15 percent if such self-employed individual was in a military pay status for more than 44 days but less than 65 days during such taxable year. The credit shall not be allowed if such self-employed individual was in a military pay status for less than 45 days during such taxable year. No credit shall be allowed pursuant to this subdivision if an employer claimed a tax credit pursuant to subdivision 1 for the same National Guard member.

C. The amount of the credit claimed shall not exceed the total amount of tax imposed pursuant to § 58.1-320 or 58.1-400 upon the employer for the taxable year.