Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 41-1525, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
41-1525. Arizona quality jobs incentives; tax credits for new employment; qualifications; definitions
A. The owner of a business that is located in this state before July 2017 is eligible for income tax credits under section 43‑1074 or 43‑1161 or an insurance premium tax credit under section 20‑224.03 for net increases in full-time employees residing in this state and hired in qualified employment positions in this state.
B. To qualify under this section, and subject to preapproval by the authority, the business must meet either of the following requirements for each location of the business before it claims a first year tax credit for the location:
1. Invest at least five million dollars of capital investment and create at least twenty-five new qualified employment positions at a location within the exterior boundaries of a city or town that has a population of fifty thousand persons or more and that is located in a county that has a population of eight hundred thousand persons or more.
2. Invest at least one million dollars of capital investment and create at least five qualified employment positions in any other location.
C. The capital investment and the new qualified employment positions requirements of subsection B of this section must be accomplished within twelve months after the start of the required capital investment. No credit may be claimed until both requirements are met. A business that meets the requirements of subsection B of this section for a location is eligible to claim first year credits for three years beginning with the taxable year in which those requirements are completed. Employees hired at the location before the beginning of the taxable year but during the twelve-month period allowed in this subsection are considered to be new employees for the taxable year in which all of those requirements are completed. The employees that are considered to be new employees for the taxable year under this subsection shall not be included in the average number of full-time employees during the immediately preceding taxable year until the taxable year in which all of the requirements of subsection B of this section are completed. An employee working at a temporary work site worksite in this state while the designated location is under construction is considered to be working at the designated location if all of the following occur:
1. The employee is hired after the start of the required investment at the designated location.
2. The employee is hired to work at the designated location after it is completed.
3. The payroll for the employees destined for the designated location is segregated from other employees.
4. The employee is moved to the designated location within thirty days after its completion.
D. No more than ten thousand new jobs for all employers qualify for first year credits each year.
E. To claim a tax credit, the business must:
1. Obtain preapproval from the authority at a time, on a form and in a manner prescribed by the authority. Preapproval shall cover all first year credits intended to be claimed for the designated location and all second and third year credits associated with those first year credits.
2. Certify to the department of revenue or the department of insurance, as applicable, on or before the due date of the tax return, including any extensions for the year for which the credit is claimed, in a form prescribed by the department, including electronic media, information that the department may require, including the ownership interests of co‑owners of the business if the business is a partnership, limited liability company or an S corporation, and the following information for each employee in the designated location:
(a) The date of initial employment.
(b) The number of hours worked during the year.
(c) Whether the position was full‑time.
(d) The employee's annual compensation.
(e) The total cost of health insurance for the employee and the cost paid by the employer.
(f) Other information required by the department.
3. Report and certify to the authority the following information, and provide supporting documentation, on a form and in a manner approved by the authority, and as specified in subsection F of this section, for each year in which the taxpayer earned and claimed or used credits or is carrying forward amounts from previously earned and claimed credits:
(a) The business name and mailing address and any other contact information requested by the authority.
(b) The physical address of the business location or locations and the number of employees qualified for the credit at each location.
(c) The average hourly wage and the total amount of compensation paid to employees qualified for the credit and for all employees.
(d) The total number of qualified employment positions and the amount of income tax or premium tax credits qualified for in the taxable year.
(e) The estimated amount of tax credits to be used in the taxable year to offset tax liability.
(f) The estimated amount of tax credits to be available for carryforward in the taxable year and the year in which the credits expire.
(g) The number of jobs and the amount of credits earned and claimed on the prior year's tax return.
(h) The amount of credits used to offset tax liabilities on the prior year's tax return.
(i) The amount of credits available for carryforward as reported on the prior year's tax return and the year the credits expire.
(j) Capital investment made during the taxable year and the preceding taxable year.
(k) Other information necessary for the management and reporting of the incentives under this section.
4. For any year in which the taxpayer is claiming first year credits, report and certify the following additional information and provide supporting documentation to the authority on a form and in a manner approved by the authority, and as specified in subsection F of this section:
(a) That the net increase in the number of qualified employment positions for which credit is sought is the least of:
(i) The total number of filled qualified employment positions created at the designated location or locations during the taxable year.
(ii) The difference between the average number of full‑time employees in this state in the current taxable year and the average number of full‑time employees in this state during the immediately preceding taxable year.
(b) That all employees filling a qualified employment position were employed for at least ninety days during the first taxable year. Employees hired in the last ninety days of the taxable year are excluded for that taxable year and are considered to be new employees in the following taxable year.
(c) That none of the employees filling qualified employment positions were employed by the taxpayer during the twelve months before the current date of hire except for those relocating to this state.
(d) That all employees for whom second and third year credits are claimed are in qualified employment positions for which first year credits were allowed and claimed by the taxpayer on the original first and second year tax returns.
(e) That all employees for whom credits are taken performed their job duties primarily at the designated locations of the business.
F. To qualify for first year credits, the report and certification prescribed by subsection E, paragraphs 3 and 4 of this section must be filed with the authority by the earlier of six months after the end of the taxable year in which the qualified employment positions were created or by the date the tax return is filed for the taxable year in which the qualified employment positions were created. To qualify for second year credits, the report and certification prescribed by subsection E, paragraph 3 of this section must be filed with the authority by the earlier of six months after the end of the taxable year or the date the tax return is filed for the taxable year in which the second year credits are allowable. To qualify for third year credits, the report and certification prescribed by subsection E, paragraph 3 of this section must be filed with the authority by the earlier of six months after the end of the taxable year or the date the tax return is filed for the taxable year in which the third year credits are allowable.
G. Any information submitted to the authority under subsection E, paragraph 3, subdivisions (e) through (j) of this section is exempt from title 39, chapter 1, article 2 and considered to be confidential and is not subject to disclosure except:
1. To the extent that the person or organization that provided the information consents to the disclosure.
2. To the department of revenue for use in tax administration and for the annual report of corporate tax credits required by section 42-1131.
H. Documents filed with the authority, the department of insurance and the department of revenue under subsection E of this section shall contain either a sworn statement or certification, signed by an officer of the company under penalty of perjury, that the information contained is true and correct according to the best belief and knowledge of the person submitting the information after a reasonable investigation of the facts. If the document contains information that is materially false, the taxpayer is ineligible for the tax credits described under subsection A of this section and is subject to recovery of the amount of tax credits allowed in preceding taxable years based on the false information, plus penalties and interest.
I. The authority may make site visits to a taxpayer's facilities if it is necessary to further document or clarify reported information. The taxpayer must freely provide the access.
J. The authority by rule shall prescribe preapproval requirements and additional reporting requirements for taxpayers who claim tax credits pursuant to this section.
K. On or before September 30 of each year, the authority shall transmit a report to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the chairpersons of the senate finance committee and the house of representatives ways and means committee and provide a copy of the report to the secretary of state. The report shall include the following information:
1. The business names, locations, number of employees and amount of compensation paid to employees qualifying for income tax credits as reported to the authority.
2. The amount of capital investment, made during the preceding fiscal year and cumulatively.
3. The total amount of income tax credits allowed for the preceding taxable year and the number of qualified employment positions for which credits were claimed pursuant to sections 43‑1074 and 43‑1161.
L. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Capital investment" means an expenditure to acquire, lease or improve property that is used in operating a business, including:
(a) Land, buildings, machinery and fixtures.
(b) For taxable years beginning from and after June 30, 2011, equipment.
2. "Designated location" means the location at which the required capital investment is made under subsection B of this section.
3. "Location" means a single parcel or contiguous parcels of owned or leased land in this state, the structures and personal property contained on the land or any part of the structures occupied by the owner. Parcels that are separated only by a public thoroughfare or right-of-way are considered to be contiguous but parcels that are in locations respectively described by subsection B, paragraphs 1 and 2 of this section are not considered to be contiguous.
4. "Qualified employment position" means employment that meets the following requirements:
(a) The position consists of at least one thousand seven hundred fifty hours per year of full-time permanent employment.
(b) The job duties are performed primarily at the location or locations of the business in this state.
(c) The employment provides health insurance coverage for the employee for which the employer pays at least sixty-five per cent percent of the premium or membership cost. If the business is self-insured, the employer pays at least sixty-five per cent percent of a predetermined fixed cost per employee for an insurance program that is payable whether or not the employee has filed claims.
(d) The employer pays compensation at least equal to the median wage by county as computed annually by the authority.
Sec. 2. Title 42, chapter 1, article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 42-1131, to read:
42-1131. Corporate tax credits; annual report
A. Beginning in 2017, the department shall annually report the information required by subsection B of this section for any corporation that claims or carries forward an authorized tax credit in an amount equal to or more than five thousand dollars in the preceding taxable year pursuant to section 20‑224.03, 41‑1507, 41‑1525, 43‑1161, 43‑1164.01, 43‑1164.03, 43‑1164.04 or 43‑1168.
B. The report shall include the following information for each tax credit:
1. The aggregate amount of tax credit used in the preceding taxable year and the aggregate amount of carryforward for each subsequent taxable year.
2. A reconciliation between the information provided in paragraph 1 of this subsection and the corporations that are claiming the tax credit that includes the name of each corporation, the amount of credit claimed by the corporation and the amount of credit carried forward by the corporation.
C. The department shall transmit a copy of the report required by this section to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the chairpersons of the senate finance committee and the house of representatives ways and means committee, or their successor committees, and the secretary of state.
Sec. 3. Section 42-2003, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
42-2003. Authorized disclosure of confidential information
A. Confidential information relating to:
1. A taxpayer may be disclosed to the taxpayer, its successor in interest or a designee of the taxpayer who is authorized in writing by the taxpayer. A principal corporate officer of a parent corporation may execute a written authorization for a controlled subsidiary.
2. A corporate taxpayer may be disclosed to any principal officer, any person designated by a principal officer or any person designated in a resolution by the corporate board of directors or other similar governing body.
3. A partnership may be disclosed to any partner of the partnership. This exception does not include disclosure of confidential information of a particular partner unless otherwise authorized.
4. An estate may be disclosed to the personal representative of the estate and to any heir, next of kin or beneficiary under the will of the decedent if the department finds that the heir, next of kin or beneficiary has a material interest which that will be affected by the confidential information.
5. A trust may be disclosed to the trustee or trustees, jointly or separately, and to the grantor or any beneficiary of the trust if the department finds that the grantor or beneficiary has a material interest that will be affected by the confidential information.
6. Any taxpayer may be disclosed if the taxpayer has waived any rights to confidentiality either in writing or on the record in any administrative or judicial proceeding.
7. The name and taxpayer identification numbers of persons issued direct payment permits may be publicly disclosed.
B. Confidential information may be disclosed to:
1. Any employee of the department whose official duties involve tax administration.
2. The office of the attorney general solely for its use in preparation for, or in an investigation that may result in, any proceeding involving tax administration before the department or any other agency or board of this state, or before any grand jury or any state or federal court.
3. The department of liquor licenses and control for its use in determining whether a spirituous liquor licensee has paid all transaction privilege taxes and affiliated excise taxes incurred as a result of the sale of spirituous liquor, as defined in section 4‑101, at the licensed establishment and imposed on the licensed establishments by this state and its political subdivisions.
4. Other state tax officials whose official duties require the disclosure for proper tax administration purposes if the information is sought in connection with an investigation or any other proceeding conducted by the official. Any disclosure is limited to information of a taxpayer who is being investigated or who is a party to a proceeding conducted by the official.
5. The following agencies, officials and organizations, if they grant substantially similar privileges to the department for the type of information being sought, pursuant to statute and a written agreement between the department and the foreign country, agency, state, Indian tribe or organization:
(a) The United States internal revenue service, alcohol and tobacco tax and trade bureau of the United States treasury, United States bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives of the United States department of justice, United States drug enforcement agency and federal bureau of investigation.
(b) A state tax official of another state.
(c) An organization of states, federation of tax administrators or multistate tax commission that operates an information exchange for tax administration purposes.
(d) An agency, official or organization of a foreign country with responsibilities that are comparable to those listed in subdivision (a), (b) or (c) of this paragraph.
(e) An agency, official or organization of an Indian tribal government with responsibilities comparable to the responsibilities of the agencies, officials or organizations identified in subdivision (a), (b) or (c) of this paragraph.
6. The auditor general, in connection with any audit of the department subject to the restrictions in section 42‑2002, subsection D.
7. Any person to the extent necessary for effective tax administration in connection with:
(a) The processing, storage, transmission, destruction and reproduction of the information.
(b) The programming, maintenance, repair, testing and procurement of equipment for purposes of tax administration.
(c) The collection of the taxpayer's civil liability.
8. The office of administrative hearings relating to taxes administered by the department pursuant to section 42‑1101, but the department shall not disclose any confidential information:
(a) Regarding income tax or withholding tax.
(b) On any tax issue relating to information associated with the reporting of income tax or withholding tax.
9. The United States treasury inspector general for tax administration for the purpose of reporting a violation of internal revenue code section 7213A (26 United States Code section 7213A), unauthorized inspection of returns or return information.
10. The financial management service of the United States treasury department for use in the treasury offset program.
11. The United States treasury department or its authorized agent for use in the state income tax levy program and in the electronic federal tax payment system.
12. The Arizona commerce authority for its use in:
(a) Qualifying renewable energy operations for the tax incentives under sections 42‑12006, 43‑1083.01 and 43‑1164.01.
(b) Qualifying businesses with a qualified facility for income tax credits under sections 43‑1083.03 and 43‑1164.04.
(c) Fulfilling its annual reporting responsibility pursuant to section 41‑1511, subsections U and V and section 41‑1512, subsections U and V.
(d) Certifying computer data centers for tax relief under section 41‑1519.
13. A prosecutor for purposes of section 32‑1164, subsection C.
14. The state fire marshal for use in determining compliance with and enforcing title 41, chapter 16, article 3.1.
15. The department of transportation for its use in administering taxes, surcharges and penalties prescribed by title 28.
16. The Arizona health care cost containment system administration for its use in administering nursing facility provider assessments.
C. Confidential information may be disclosed in any state or federal judicial or administrative proceeding pertaining to tax administration pursuant to the following conditions:
1. One or more of the following circumstances must apply:
(a) The taxpayer is a party to the proceeding.
(b) The proceeding arose out of, or in connection with, determining the taxpayer's civil or criminal liability, or the collection of the taxpayer's civil liability, with respect to any tax imposed under this title or title 43.
(c) The treatment of an item reflected on the taxpayer's return is directly related to the resolution of an issue in the proceeding.
(d) Return information directly relates to a transactional relationship between a person who is a party to the proceeding and the taxpayer and directly affects the resolution of an issue in the proceeding.
2. Confidential information may not be disclosed under this subsection if the disclosure is prohibited by section 42‑2002, subsection C or D.
D. Identity information may be disclosed for purposes of notifying persons entitled to tax refunds if the department is unable to locate the persons after reasonable effort.
E. The department, on the request of any person, shall provide the names and addresses of bingo licensees as defined in section 5‑401, verify whether or not a person has a privilege license and number, a tobacco product distributor's license and number or a withholding license and number or disclose the information to be posted on the department's website or otherwise publicly accessible pursuant to section 42‑1124, subsection F and section 42‑3401.
F. A department employee, in connection with the official duties relating to any audit, collection activity or civil or criminal investigation, may disclose return information to the extent that disclosure is necessary to obtain information that is not otherwise reasonably available. These official duties include the correct determination of and liability for tax, the amount to be collected or the enforcement of other state tax revenue laws.
G. If an organization is exempt from this state's income tax as provided in section 43‑1201 for any taxable year, the name and address of the organization and the application filed by the organization on which the department made its determination for exemption together with any papers submitted in support of the application and any letter or document issued by the department concerning the application are open to public inspection.
H. Confidential information relating to transaction privilege tax, use tax, severance tax, jet fuel excise and use tax and any other tax collected by the department on behalf of any jurisdiction may be disclosed to any county, city or town tax official if the information relates to a taxpayer who is or may be taxable by a county, city or town or who may be subject to audit by the department pursuant to section 42‑6002. Any taxpayer information released by the department to the county, city or town:
1. May only be used for internal purposes, including audits.
2. May not be disclosed to the public in any manner that does not comply with confidentiality standards established by the department. The county, city or town shall agree in writing with the department that any release of confidential information that violates the confidentiality standards adopted by the department will result in the immediate suspension of any rights of the county, city or town to receive taxpayer information under this subsection.
I. The department may disclose statistical information gathered from confidential information if it does not disclose confidential information attributable to any one taxpayer. The department may disclose statistical information gathered from confidential information, even if it discloses confidential information attributable to a taxpayer, to:
1. The state treasurer in order to comply with the requirements of section 42‑5029, subsection A, paragraph 3.
2. The joint legislative income tax credit review committee, the joint legislative budget committee staff and the legislative staff in order to comply with the requirements of section 43‑221.
J. The department may disclose:
1. The aggregate amounts of any tax credit, tax deduction or tax exemption enacted after January 1, 1994. Information subject to disclosure under this subsection shall not be disclosed if a taxpayer demonstrates to the department that such information would give an unfair advantage to competitors.
2. The annual report of corporate tax credits required by section 42‑1131.
K. Except as provided in section 42‑2002, subsection C, confidential information, described in section 42‑2001, paragraph 1, subdivision (a), item (ii), may be disclosed to law enforcement agencies for law enforcement purposes.
L. The department may provide transaction privilege tax license information to property tax officials in a county for the purpose of identification and verification of the tax status of commercial property.
M. The department may provide transaction privilege tax, luxury tax, use tax, property tax and severance tax information to the ombudsman‑citizens aide pursuant to title 41, chapter 8, article 5.
N. Except as provided in section 42‑2002, subsection D, a court may order the department to disclose confidential information pertaining to a party to an action. An order shall be made only upon on a showing of good cause and that the party seeking the information has made demand upon on the taxpayer for the information.
O. This section does not prohibit the disclosure by the department of any information or documents submitted to the department by a bingo licensee. Before disclosing the information the department shall obtain the name and address of the person requesting the information.
P. If the department is required or permitted to disclose confidential information, it may charge the person or agency requesting the information for the reasonable cost of its services.
Q. Except as provided in section 42‑2002, subsection D, the department of revenue shall release confidential information as requested by the department of economic security pursuant to section 42‑1122 or 46‑291. Information disclosed under this subsection is limited to the same type of information that the United States internal revenue service is authorized to disclose under section 6103(l)(6) of the internal revenue code.
R. Except as provided in section 42‑2002, subsection D, the department of revenue shall release confidential information as requested by the courts and clerks of the court pursuant to section 42‑1122.
S. To comply with the requirements of section 42‑5031, the department may disclose to the state treasurer, to the county stadium district board of directors and to any city or town tax official that is part of the county stadium district confidential information attributable to a taxpayer's business activity conducted in the county stadium district.
T. The department shall release to the attorney general confidential information as requested by the attorney general for purposes of determining compliance with or enforcing any of the following:
1. Any public health control law relating to tobacco sales as provided under title 36, chapter 6, article 14.
2. Any law relating to reduced cigarette ignition propensity standards as provided under title 41, chapter 16, article 3.1.
3. Sections 44‑7101 and 44‑7111, the master settlement agreement referred to in those sections and all agreements regarding disputes under the master settlement agreement.
U. For proceedings before the department, the office of administrative hearings, the board of tax appeals or any state or federal court involving penalties that were assessed against a return preparer, an electronic return preparer or a payroll service company pursuant to section 42‑1103.02, 42‑1125.01 or 43‑419, confidential information may be disclosed only before the judge or administrative law judge adjudicating the proceeding, the parties to the proceeding and the parties' representatives in the proceeding prior to its introduction into evidence in the proceeding. The confidential information may be introduced as evidence in the proceeding only if the taxpayer's name, the names of any dependents listed on the return, all social security numbers, the taxpayer's address, the taxpayer's signature and any attachments containing any of the foregoing information are redacted and if either:
1. The treatment of an item reflected on such return is or may be related to the resolution of an issue in the proceeding.
2. Such a return or the return information relates or may relate to a transactional relationship between a person who is a party to the proceeding and the taxpayer which that directly affects the resolution of an issue in the proceeding.
3. The method of payment of the taxpayer's withholding tax liability or the method of filing the taxpayer's withholding tax return is an issue for the period.
V. The department and
attorney general may share the information specified in subsection T of this
section with any of the following:
1. Federal, state or local agencies for the purposes of enforcement of corresponding laws of other states.
2. A court, arbitrator, data clearinghouse or similar entity for the purpose of assessing compliance with or making calculations required by the master settlement agreement or agreements regarding disputes under the master settlement agreement, and with counsel for the parties or expert witnesses in any such proceeding, if the information otherwise remains confidential.
W. The department may provide the name and address of qualifying hospitals and qualifying health care organizations, as defined in section 42‑5001, to a business classified and reporting transaction privilege tax under the utilities classification.
X. The department may disclose to an official of any city, town or county in a current agreement or considering a prospective agreement with the department as described in section 42‑5032.02, subsection F any information relating to amounts subject to distribution required by section 42‑5032.02. Information disclosed by the department under this subsection:
1. May only be used by the city, town or county for internal purposes.
2. May not be disclosed to the public in any manner that does not comply with confidentiality standards established by the department. The city, town or county must agree with the department in writing that any release of confidential information that violates the confidentiality standards will result in the immediate suspension of any rights of the city, town or county to receive information under this subsection.