§ 54A:4-21 — Credit against tax.

107. a. For taxable years 2020, 2021, and 2022, a taxpayer, upon approval of an application to the authority shall be allowed a credit against the tax imposed pursuant to the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act," N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq. in the amount of $10,000 for each qualifying new hire involved in the manufacture of personal protective equipment in a qualified facility in which the taxpayer made a capital investment during the taxable year. b. The minimum capital investment in a qualified facility required to be eligible for a credit under this section shall be as follows: (1) for the rehabilitation, improvement, fit-out, or retrofit of an existing premises in Atlantic County, Burlington County, Cape May County, Cumberland County, Gloucester County, Ocean County, or Salem County, a minimum investment of $10 per square foot of gross leasable area; (2) for the rehabilitation, improvement, fit-out, or retrofit of an existing premises in counties in the State not listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection, a minimum investment of $20 per square foot of gross leasable area; (3) for the new construction of a premises in Atlantic County, Burlington County, Cape May County, Cumberland County, Gloucester County, Ocean County, or Salem County, a minimum investment of $100 per square foot of gross leasable area; or (4) for the new construction of a premises in counties in the State not listed in paragraph (3) of this subsection, a minimum investment of $120 per square foot of gross leasable area. c. The minimum number of new or retained qualifying full-time jobs required to be eligible for a credit under this section shall be as follows: (1) for a qualified facility in Atlantic County, Burlington County, Cape May County, Cumberland County, Gloucester County, Ocean County, or Salem County, a minimum of five new or 15 retained qualifying full-time jobs; and (2) for a qualified facility in counties in the State not listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection, a minimum of ten new or 25 retained qualifying full-time jobs. d. In addition to the amount of credit allowed pursuant to subsection a. of this section, a taxpayer shall be allowed the following tax credits for taxable years 2020, 2021, and 2022: (1) $1,000 per qualifying full-time job in a taxable year at a qualified facility that is a building vacant for not less than seven years in need of rehabilitation with a minimum of 250,000 square feet; (2) $1,500 per qualifying full-time job in a taxable year at a qualified facility in which the manufacturing of personal protective equipment is part of a research collaboration between the taxpayer and a college or university located within the State; and (3) $1,000 per qualifying full-time job in a taxable year at a qualified facility in which the taxpayer has established an apprenticeship program or pre-apprenticeship program with a technical school or county college located within the State. e. The total credit allowed to a taxpayer pursuant to this section during the taxable year shall not exceed $500,000. A taxpayer shall not be eligible for a tax credit under this section for the same qualifying new hire for which the taxpayer is receiving a tax credit incentive award under the Emerge Program established by sections 68 through 81 of P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-336 et al.). f. If the amount of the credit exceeds the amount of tax otherwise due, that amount of excess shall be an overpayment for the purposes of N.J.S.54A:9-7; provided however, that subsection (f) of N.J.S.54A:9-7 shall not apply. The director shall determine the order of priority of the application of the credit allowed pursuant to this section and any other credits allowed by law. g. (1) A business entity that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes shall not be allowed a tax credit pursuant to this section directly, but the amount of tax credit of a taxpayer in respect to the distributive share of entity income, shall be determined by allocating to the taxpayer that proportion of the tax credit acquired by the entity that is equal to the taxpayer's share, whether or not distributed, of the total distributive income or gain of the entity for its taxable year ending within or with the taxpayer's taxable year. (2) A New Jersey S Corporation shall not be allowed a tax credit pursuant to this section directly, but the amount of the tax credit of a taxpayer in respect of a pro rata share of S Corporation income, shall be determined by allocating to the taxpayer that proportion of the tax credit acquired by the New Jersey S Corporation that is equal to the taxpayer's share, whether or not distributed, of the total pro rata share of S Corporation income of the New Jersey S Corporation for its privilege period ending within or with the taxpayer's taxable year. h. The combined value of all tax credits approved by the authority and the director pursuant to this section and pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-269) shall not exceed $10,000,000 in any State fiscal year to apply against the tax imposed pursuant to the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act," N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq., and the tax imposed pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-5). i. An application for the tax credit shall be submitted to the authority in a form and manner prescribed by the chief executive officer of the authority. As a condition of receiving tax credits under this section, an applicant shall be required to commit to employ qualifying new hires for which tax credits are awarded under this section for a period of five years. j. Notwithstanding any provision of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to the contrary, the chief executive officer of the authority is authorized to adopt immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law such rules and regulations shall be effective for a period not to exceed 360 days following the date of filing and may thereafter be amended, adopted, or readopted by the chief executive officer of the authority in accordance with the requirements of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). The chief executive officer of the authority shall consult with the Commissioner of Health related to any specification requirements for what manufactured products are to qualify as personal protective equipment pursuant to this section. k. As used in this section: "Authority" means the New Jersey Economic Development Authority established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-4). "Director" means Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury; "Personal protective equipment" means coveralls, face shields, gloves, gowns, masks, respirators, safeguard equipment, and other equipment designed to protect the wearer from the spread of infection or illness as may be modified from time to time by the board of the authority. "Qualified facility" means a facility that is: (1) located in a redevelopment area or rehabilitation area as defined in section 3 of P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-3); (2) located in a Smart Growth Area as identified by the Office of Planning Advocacy; (3) a facility in which the manufacturing of personal protective equipment is part of a research collaboration between the taxpayer and a college or university located within the State; (4) a facility in which the taxpayer has established an apprenticeship program or pre-apprenticeship program with a technical school or community located within the State; or (5) a building vacant for not less than seven years in need of rehabilitation with a minimum of 250,000 square feet. "Qualifying full-time job" means a full-time employee hired by the taxpayer during the privilege period for the manufacturing of personal protective equipment in this State. The person hired shall be employed for at least 35 hours a week and shall be paid employee wages at a rate of not less than $15 per hour, or render any other standard of service generally accepted by custom or practice as full-time employment, whose wages are subject to withholding as provided in the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act," N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq. and is paid employee wages at a rate of not less than $15 per hour. "Qualifying new hire" shall not include any person who works as an independent contractor or on a consulting basis for the business. "Qualifying new or retained job" includes only a position for which the taxpayer provides employee health benefits under a health benefits plan authorized pursuant to State or federal law. L.2020, c.156, s.107.