What is qualified property?

 

 

"Qualified property" is property which: bullet

• is tangible; whether new or used, including buildings and structural components of buildings;
  
• is acquired by purchase as defined in Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 179(d); is depreciable pursuant to IRC Section 167;
  
• has a useful life of four or more years as of the date placed in service in an enterprise zone;
  
• is used in the enterprise zone by that taxpayer;
  
• has not been previously used in Illinois in such a manner and by such a person as would qualify for the credit; and,
  
• is an improvement or addition made on or after the date the zone was designated to the extent that the improvement or addition is of a capital nature, which increases the adjusted basis of the property previously placed in service in an enterprise zone and otherwise meets the requirements of qualified property.

What is the enterprise zone investment tax credit?

 

 

The Illinois Income Tax Act 35 ILCS 5/201, as amended allows a .5 percent credit against the state income tax for investments in qualified property which is placed in service in an enterprise zone.

Who are qualifying taxpayers?

 

 

The credit may be taken by corporations, trusts, estates, individuals, partners and Subchapter S shareholders who make investments in qualified property and who otherwise meet the terms and conditions established by statute.

What are examples of

 

 

Examples include

buildings, structural components of buildings, elevators, materials tanks, boilers, and major computer installations.

Examples of non-qualifying property are

land, inventories, small personal computers, trademarks, typewriters, and other small, non-depreciable, or intangible assets.

What does "Placed in service" mean?

 

 

Qualified property is "placed in service" on the earlier of 1) the date the property is placed in a condition of readiness and availability for use, or 2) the date on which the depreciation period of that property begins. To qualify for the enterprise zone investment tax credit, the property must be placed in service on or after the date the zone is certified by the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, and on or before the last day of the firm's taxable year.

What is "depreciable" property?

 

 

Property must be depreciable pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 167. Depreciable property is used in the taxpayer's trade or business or held for the production of income (but not inventory) which is subject to wear and tear, exhaustion or obsolescence.

There are some types of assets that may not be depreciable, even though they are used in the taxpayer's business or trade or are held for the production of income. Good will and land are examples. Other examples of tangible property which are not depreciable are inventories, natural resources and currency.

Does "used" property qualify for the enterprise zone investment tax credit?

 

 

Used property does not qualify if it was previously used in Illinois in such a manner and by such a person as would qualify for either the statewide investment tax credit or the enterprise zone investment tax credit.

Example: A corporation purchases a used pick-up truck for use in its manufacturing business in an enterprise zone from an Illinois resident who used the truck for personal purposes in Illinois. If the truck meets the other requirements for the investment tax credit, it will not be disqualified because it was previously used in Illinois for a purpose which did not qualify for the credit. However, had the corporation purchased the truck from an Illinois taxpayer in whose hands the truck qualified for the credit, the truck would not be qualified for the investment tax credit, even though the party from whom the truck was acquired had never received an investment tax credit for it.

What is the "basis" value of property?

 

 

The "basis" value of property, for the purposes of this credit, is defined the same way it is defined for purposes of federal depreciation calculations. Essentially, the basis is the cost of the property, as well as related capital costs.

Does the enterprise zone investment tax credit carry forward?

 

 

Yes. The credit is allowed for the tax year in which the property is placed in service, or, if the amount of the credit exceeds the tax liability for that year, the excess may be carried forward and applied to the tax liability of the five taxable years following the excess credit year. The credit must be applied to the earliest year for which there is a liability. If there is credit from more than one tax year that is available to offset a liability, the credit accruing first in time is applied first.