An Act reducing the corporation business tax rate and providing an additional rate reduction for taxpayers that relocate a corporate headquarters to New Jersey, amending and supplementing P.L.1945, c.162.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Section 5 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-5) is amended to read as follows:

5. The franchise tax to be annually assessed to and paid by each taxpayer shall be the greater of the amount computed pursuant to this section or the alternative minimum assessment computed pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2002, c.40 (C.54:10A-5a); provided however, that in the case of a taxpayer that is a New Jersey S corporation, an investment company, a professional corporation organized pursuant to P.L.1969, c.232 (C.14A:17-1 et seq.) or a similar corporation for profit organized for the purpose of rendering professional services under the laws of another state, or a person operating on a cooperative basis under Part I of Subchapter T of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. s.1381 et seq., there shall be no alternative minimum assessment computed pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2002, c.40 (C.54:10A-5a).

The amount computed pursuant to this section shall be the sum of the amount computed under subsection (a) hereof, or in the alternative to the amount computed under subsection (a) hereof, the amount computed under subsection (f) hereof, and the amount computed under subsection (c) hereof:

(a) That portion of its entire net worth as may be allocable to this State as provided in section 6, multiplied by the following rates: 2 mills per dollar on the first $100,000,000.00 of allocated net worth; 4/10 of a mill per dollar on the second $100,000,000.00; 3/10 of a mill per dollar on the third $100,000,000.00; and 2/10 of a mill per dollar on all amounts of allocated net worth in excess of $300,000,000.00; provided, however, that with respect to reports covering accounting or privilege periods set forth below, the rate shall be that percentage of the rate set forth in this subsection for the appropriate year:

Accounting or Privilege

Periods Beginning on or The Percentage of the Rate

after: to be Imposed Shall be:

April 1, 1983 75%

July 1, 1984 50%

July 1, 1985 25%

July 1, 1986 0

(b) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1968, c.250, s.2.)

(c) (1) For a taxpayer that is not a New Jersey S corporation, 3 1/4% of its entire net income or such portion thereof as may be allocable to this State as provided in section 6 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-6) plus such portion thereof as is specifically assigned to this State as provided in section 5 of P.L.1993, c.173 (C.54:10A-6.1); provided, however, that with respect to reports covering accounting or privilege periods or parts thereof ending after December 31, 1967, the rate shall be 4 1/4%; and that with respect to reports covering accounting or privilege periods or parts thereof ending after December 31, 1971, the rate shall be 5 1/2%; and that with respect to reports covering accounting or privilege periods or parts thereof ending after December 31, 1974, the rate shall be 7 1/2%; and that with respect to reports covering privilege periods or parts thereof ending after December 31, [1979] 2008, the rate shall be [9%] 8%; provided however, for a taxpayer that has entire net income of $100,000 or less for a privilege period and is not a partnership the rate for that privilege period shall be [7 1/2%] 6 1/2% and provided further that for a taxpayer that has entire net income of $50,000 or less for a privilege period and is not a partnership the rate for that privilege period shall be [6 1/2%] 5 1/2%.

(2) For a taxpayer that is a New Jersey S corporation:

(i) for privilege periods ending on or before June 30, 1998 the rate determined by subtracting the maximum tax bracket rate provided under N.J.S.54A:2-1 for the privilege period from the tax rate that would otherwise be applicable to the taxpayer's entire net income for the privilege period if the taxpayer were not an S corporation provided under paragraph (1) of this subsection for the privilege period; and

(ii) For a taxpayer that has entire net income in excess of $100,000 for the privilege period, for privilege periods ending on or after July 1, 1998, but on or before June 30, 2001, the rate shall be 2%,

for privilege periods ending on or after July 1, 2001, but on or before June 30, 2006, the rate shall be 1.33%,

for privilege periods ending on or after July 1, 2006, but on or before June 30, 2007, the rate shall be 0.67%, and

for privilege periods ending on or after July 1, 2007 there shall be no rate of tax imposed under this paragraph; and

(iii) For a taxpayer that has entire net income of $100,000 or less for privilege periods ending on or after July 1, 1998, but on or before June 30, 2001 the rate for that privilege period shall be 0.5%, and for privilege periods ending on or after July 1, 2001 there shall be no rate of tax imposed under this paragraph.

(iv) The taxpayer's rate determined under subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph shall be multiplied by its entire net income that is not subject to federal income taxation or such portion thereof as may be allocable to this State pursuant to sections 6 through 10 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-6 through 54:10A-10) plus such portion thereof as is specifically assigned to this State as provided in section 5 of P.L.1993, c.173 (C.54:10A-6.1).

(3) For a taxpayer that is a New Jersey S corporation, in addition to the amount, if any, determined under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the tax rate that would otherwise be applicable to the taxpayer's entire net income for the privilege period if the taxpayer were not an S corporation provided under paragraph (1) of this subsection for the privilege period multiplied by its entire net income that is subject to federal income taxation or such portion thereof as may be allocable to this State pursuant to sections 6 through 10 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-6 through 54:10A-10).

(d) Provided, however, that the franchise tax to be annually assessed to and paid by any investment company or real estate investment trust, which has elected to report as such and has filed its return in the form and within the time provided in this act and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, shall, in the case of an investment company, be measured by 40% of its entire net income and 40% of its entire net worth, and in the case of a real estate investment trust, by 4% of its entire net income and 15% of its entire net worth, at the rates hereinbefore set forth for the computation of tax on net income and net worth, respectively, but in no case less than $250, and further provided, however, that the franchise tax to be annually assessed to and paid by a regulated investment company which for a period covered by its report satisfies the requirements of Chapter 1, Subchapter M, Part I, Section 852(a) of the federal Internal Revenue Code shall be $250.

(e) The tax assessed to any taxpayer pursuant to this section shall not be less than $25 in the case of a domestic corporation, $50 in the case of a foreign corporation, or $250 in the case of an investment company or regulated investment company. Provided however, that for privilege periods beginning in calendar year 1994 and thereafter the minimum taxes for taxpayers other than an investment company or a regulated investment company shall be as provided in the following schedule:

Period Beginning Domestic Foreign

In Calendar Year Corporation Corporation

Minimum Tax Minimum Tax

1994 $ 50 $100

1995 $100 $200

1996 $150 $200

1997 $200 $200

1998 $200 $200

1999 $200 $200

2000 $200 $200

2001 $210 $210

and for calendar years 2002 through 2005 the minimum tax for all taxpayers shall be $500, and for calendar year 2006 and thereafter the minimum tax shall be based on the New Jersey gross receipts, as defined for the purposes of this section pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2002, c.40 (C.54:10A-5a), of the taxpayer pursuant to the following schedule:

New Jersey Gross Receipts: Minimum Tax:

Less than $100,000 $500

$100,000 or more but

less than $250,000 $750

$250,000 or more but

less than $500,000 $1,000

$500,000 or more but

less than $1,000,000 $1,500

$1,000,000 or more $2,000

provided however, that for a taxpayer that is a member of an affiliated group or a controlled group pursuant to section 1504 or 1563 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. s.1504 or 1563, and whose group has total payroll of $5,000,000 or more for the privilege period, the minimum tax shall be $2,000 for the privilege period.

(f) In lieu of the portion of the tax based on net worth and to be computed under subsection (a) of this section, any taxpayer, the value of whose total assets everywhere, less reasonable reserves for depreciation, as of the close of the period covered by its report, amounts to less than $150,000, may elect to pay the tax shown in a table which shall be promulgated by the director.

(g) Provided however, that for privilege periods beginning on or after January 1, 2001 but before January 1, 2002 the franchise tax annually assessed to and paid by a taxpayer:

(1) that is a limited liability company or foreign limited liability company classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes shall be the amount determined pursuant to the provisions of section 3 of P.L.2001, c.136 (C.54:10A-15.6); or

(2) that is a limited partnership or foreign limited partnership classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes shall be the amount determined pursuant to the provisions of section 4 of P.L.2001, c.136 (C.54:10A-15.7).

(h) Provided however, that for privilege periods beginning on or after January 1, 2002 the franchise tax annually assessed to and paid by a taxpayer that is a partnership shall be the amount determined pursuant to the provisions of section 12 of P.L.2002, c.40 (C.54:10A-15.11).

(i) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2008, c.120)

(cf: P.L.2008, c.120, s.1)

2. (New section) a. A taxpayer that otherwise determines tax liability under the Corporation Business Tax Act (1945), P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-1 et seq.) at a rate set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of section 5 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-5), that relocates the taxpayer's headquarters to a location in this State from a location that is not in this State, shall for the privilege period during which the relocation occurs and for the next two privilege periods thereafter during which the headquarters location remains in this State, shall determine its tax liability at a rate of 1% below the applicable rate set forth in that paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of section 5 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-5).

b. As used in this section, "headquarters" means the single location that serves as the national administrative center of the taxpayer's business, at which the primary office of the chief executive officer or chief operating officer of the business, as well as the offices of the management officials responsible for key business-wide functions such as finance, legal, marketing, and human resources, are located.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill reduces the corporation business tax rate for taxpayers that are not New Jersey S corporations from 9% to 8% and also reduces the rates for taxpayers with entire net income of less than $100,000 from 7.5% to 6.5%, and for taxpayers with entire net income of $50,000 or less from 6.5% to 5.5%.

Also, this bill provides an additional rate reduction, down by another 1% from the applicable rate of either 8%, 6.5% or 5.5%, for three-years, for corporation headquarters relocation into New Jersey. The headquarters relocation tax rate reduction creates a new tax savings advantage to the list of benefits for locating a business in New Jersey. Some of these benefits include the State's strategic business location with a highly-developed network of roads, rail, air and seaport facilities, and its well-educated workforce with a high number of scientists, engineers and skilled technicians. While New Jersey is no stranger to many large scale corporate headquarters, with over 20 Fortune 500 company headquarters located here, this tax savings will be available to large as well as to many smaller and mid-scale corporation business taxpayers that relocate their corporate headquarters.

In the midst of a nationwide recession, an important part of an effective State economic growth strategy is to provide businesses with tax rate reductions and additional tax reductions for new investments in New Jersey made through headquarters relocations.