Bill Text: NJ A2718 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to persons hiring beginning farmers to perform custom farming.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-02-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee [A2718 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A2718-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to persons hiring beginning farmers to perform custom farming.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act providing tax credits to persons hiring beginning farmers to perform custom farming and supplementing P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-1 et seq.) and Title 54A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. For privilege periods beginning on or after January 1 next following the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), a taxpayer that executes a custom farming contract with a qualified beginning farmer as provided in subsection b. of this section, and that meets the requirements of this section and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, shall be allowed a credit against the tax due pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-5) in an amount as provided in subsection c. of this section.
b. (1) Any custom farming contract for which a credit is claimed pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall:
(a) provide for the production of crops located on agricultural land or the production of livestock principally located on agricultural land by the qualified beginning farmer;
(b) be in writing;
(c) provide that the taxpayer pay the qualified beginning farmer on a cash basis;
(d) provide that the total cash payment made for each privilege period that the tax credit is claimed equal at least $1,000; and
(e) be for a term of not more than 24 months.
(2) The taxpayer shall make all management decisions substantially contributing to or affecting the production of crops located on the agricultural land or the production of livestock principally located on the agricultural land, provided that nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit a qualified beginning farmer from regularly or frequently taking part in making day-to-day operational decisions affecting production.
(3) The qualified beginning farmer shall provide for all of the following:
(a) production items principally used to produce crops located on the agricultural land or to produce livestock principally located on the agricultural land; and
(b) labor principally used to produce crops located on the agricultural land or to produce livestock principally located on the agricultural land. The qualified beginning farmer shall personally provide such labor on a regular, continuous, and substantial basis.
c. A custom farming tax credit claimed pursuant to this section shall be calculated as follows:
(1) If the qualified beginning farmer is a veteran, the taxpayer may claim a tax credit equal to eight percent of the gross amount paid to the qualified beginning farmer under the custom farming contract for the first privilege period that the tax credit is allowed, and seven percent of the gross amount paid to the qualified beginning farmer under the custom farming contract for each subsequent privilege period that the tax credit is allowed. The taxpayer may only claim seven percent of the gross amount paid to the qualified beginning farmer under a renewed custom farming contract or a new custom farming contract executed by the same parties; or
(2) If the qualified beginning farmer is not a veteran, the taxpayer may claim a tax credit equal to seven percent of the gross amount paid to the qualified beginning farmer under the custom farming contract for each privilege period that the tax credit is allowed.
d. A custom farming contract tax credit shall not be allowed if the taxpayer and the qualified beginning farmer are related to each other as any of the following:
(1) persons who hold a legal or equitable interest in the same agricultural land, including as individuals or as partners or shareholders in the same business corporation, partnership, limited partnership, or limited liability company; or
(2) spouse, child, stepchild, brother, or sister.
e. (1) To qualify for the tax credit allowed pursuant to this section, a taxpayer shall apply for a certification from the secretary that certifies: (a) that the custom farming contract meets the requirements of this section; and (b) the amount of the tax credit calculated pursuant to subsection c. of this section. A taxpayer may submit a single application to the department for the department's review and approval of the issuance of a certification for either one or two privilege periods as provided in the custom farming contract. The application shall include a copy of the custom farming contract, and any other information as determined relevant by the department. Upon certification, the secretary shall submit a copy thereof to the taxpayer and the director. The department may approve an application and issue a certification to a taxpayer that has previously been allowed a tax credit under this section. When filing a tax return that includes a claim for a credit pursuant to this section, the taxpayer shall include a copy of the certification issued by the secretary.
(2) The department shall not approve an application or issue a certification to a taxpayer for a tax credit in excess of $50,000. The department also shall not approve an application or issue a tax credit certificate to a taxpayer if any of the following applies:
(a) the taxpayer is at fault for terminating another custom farming contract, as determined by the department;
(b) the taxpayer is a party to a pending administrative or judicial action related to an alleged violation of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1995, c.311 (C.4:22-16.1) concerning the humane raising, keeping, care, treatment, marketing, and sale of domestic livestock;
(c) the taxpayer has committed two or more violations of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1995, c.311 (C.4:22-16.1) concerning the humane raising, keeping, care, treatment, marketing, and sale of domestic livestock; or
(d) the custom farming contract amount is substantially higher or lower than the market rate for a similar custom farming contract, as determined by the department.
f. A taxpayer or the qualified beginning farmer may terminate a custom farming contract as provided in the contract or by law. The taxpayer must notify the department of the termination within 30 days after the termination.
(1) If the department determines that the taxpayer is not at fault for the termination, the department shall not issue a certification to the taxpayer for a subsequent privilege period based on the approved application. Any prior tax credit is allowed as provided in this section. The taxpayer may apply for and be issued another certification for the same agricultural land under a custom farming contract with another qualified beginning farmer.
(2) If the department determines that the taxpayer is at fault for the termination, any prior tax credit allowed under this section is disallowed. The amount of the tax credit shall be immediately due and payable as a tax liability to the Division of Taxation. If a taxpayer does not notify the department of the termination within 30 days after the termination, the taxpayer shall be conclusively deemed at fault for the termination.
g. The order of priority of the application of the credit allowed pursuant to this section and any other credits allowed against the tax imposed pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-5) for a privilege period shall be as prescribed by the director. The amount of the credit applied pursuant to this section against the tax imposed pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-5), shall not reduce a taxpayer's tax liability for a privilege period to an amount less than the statutory minimum provided in subsection (e) of section 5 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-5). Any credit shall be valid in the privilege period in which the certification is approved and any unused portion thereof may be carried forward into the next 10 privilege periods or until depleted, whichever is earlier.
h. The amount of tax credits that may be issued pursuant to this section and section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall not in the aggregate exceed $4 million in any year. The department shall issue certifications for the tax credit pursuant to this section and section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) on a first-come, first-serve basis.
i. The secretary, in consultation with the director, shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
j. On or before January 31 of each year, the secretary shall submit a report to the Governor, the State Treasurer, and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature, on the effectiveness of the tax credit in making agricultural lands available to qualified beginning farmers for custom farming.
k. As used in this section:
"Agricultural asset" means agricultural land, depreciable agricultural property, crops, or livestock.
"Agricultural land" means land suitable for use in farming.
"Beginning farmer" means a person with a low or moderate net worth that engages in farming, or wishes to engage in farming.
"Custom farming contract" or "contract" means a contract that meets the requirements of subsection b. of this section.
"Department" means the Department of Agriculture.
"Farming" means the cultivation of land for the production of agricultural crops, the raising of poultry, the production of eggs, the production of milk, the production of fruit or other horticultural crops, grazing, the production of livestock, aquaculture, hydroponics, the production of forest products, or other activities designated by the department pursuant to rules and regulations.
"Low or moderate net worth" means a net worth that does not exceed the maximum allowable net worth established by the department pursuant to rules and regulations. The department shall determine the maximum allowable net worth by using data compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service in the United States Department of Agriculture.
"Production item" means tools, machinery, or equipment principally used to produce crops or livestock.
"Qualified beginning farmer" means a beginning farmer that:
(1) is a resident of the State;
(2) has sufficient education, training, or experience in farming;
(3) has access to adequate working capital and production items;
(4) will materially and substantially participate in farming; and
(5) is not responsible for managing or maintaining agricultural land and other agricultural assets that are greater than necessary to adequately support a beginning farmer as determined by the department pursuant to rules and regulations.
"Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture.
"Veteran" means any citizen and resident of this State honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States.
2. a. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1 next following the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), a taxpayer that executes a custom farming contract with a qualified beginning farmer as provided in subsection b. of this section, and that meets the requirements of this section and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, shall be allowed a credit against the New Jersey gross income tax due pursuant to N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq., in an amount as provided in subsection c. of this section.
b. (1) Any custom farming contract for which a credit is claimed pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall:
(a) provide for the production of crops located on agricultural land or the production of livestock principally located on agricultural land by the qualified beginning farmer;
(b) be in writing;
(c) provide that the taxpayer pay the qualified beginning farmer on a cash basis;
(d) provide that the total cash payment made for each taxable year that the tax credit is claimed equal at least $1,000; and
(e) be for a term of not more than 24 months.
(2) The taxpayer shall make all management decisions substantially contributing to or affecting the production of crops located on the agricultural land or the production of livestock principally located on the agricultural land, provided that nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit a qualified beginning farmer from regularly or frequently taking part in making day-to-day operational decisions affecting production.
(3) The qualified beginning farmer shall provide for all of the following:
(a) production items principally used to produce crops located on the agricultural land or to produce livestock principally located on the agricultural land; and
(b) labor principally used to produce crops located on the agricultural land or to produce livestock principally located on the agricultural land. The qualified beginning farmer shall personally provide such labor on a regular, continuous, and substantial basis.
c. A custom farming tax credit claimed pursuant to this section shall be calculated as follows:
(1) If the qualified beginning farmer is a veteran, the taxpayer may claim a tax credit equal to eight percent of the gross amount paid to the qualified beginning farmer under the custom farming contract for the first taxable year that the tax credit is allowed, and seven percent of the gross amount paid to the qualified beginning farmer under the custom farming contract for each subsequent taxable year that the tax credit is allowed. The taxpayer may only claim seven percent of the gross amount paid to the qualified beginning farmer under a renewed custom farming contract or a new custom farming contract executed by the same parties; or
(2) If the qualified beginning farmer is not a veteran, the taxpayer may claim a tax credit equal to seven percent of the gross amount paid to the qualified beginning farmer under the custom farming contract for each taxable year that the tax credit is allowed.
d. A custom farming contract tax credit shall not be allowed if the taxpayer and the qualified beginning farmer are related to each other as any of the following:
(1) persons who hold a legal or equitable interest in the same agricultural land, including as individuals or as partners or shareholders in the same business corporation, partnership, limited partnership, or limited liability company; or
(2) spouse, child, stepchild, brother, or sister.
e. (1) To qualify for the tax credit allowed pursuant to this section, a taxpayer shall apply for a certification from the secretary that certifies: (a) that the custom farming contract meets the requirements of this section; and (b) the amount of the tax credit calculated pursuant to subsection c. of this section. A taxpayer may submit a single application to the department for the department's review and approval of the issuance of a certification for either one or two taxable years as provided by the custom farming contract. The application shall include a copy of the custom farming contract, and any other information as determined relevant by the department. Upon certification, the secretary shall submit a copy thereof to the taxpayer and the director. The department may approve an application and issue a certification to a taxpayer that has previously been allowed a tax credit under this section. When filing a tax return that includes a claim for a credit pursuant to this section, the taxpayer shall include a copy of the certification issued by the secretary.
(2) The department shall not approve an application or issue a certification to a taxpayer for a tax credit in excess of $50,000. The department also shall not approve an application or issue a tax credit certificate to a taxpayer if any of the following applies:
(a) the taxpayer is at fault for terminating another custom farming contract, as determined by the department;
(b) the taxpayer is a party to a pending administrative or judicial action related to an alleged violation of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1995, c.311 (C.4:22-16.1) concerning the humane raising, keeping, care, treatment, marketing, and sale of domestic livestock;
(c) the taxpayer has committed two or more violations of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1995, c.311 (C.4:22-16.1) concerning the humane raising, keeping, care, treatment, marketing, and sale of domestic livestock; or
(d) the custom farming contract amount is substantially higher or lower than the market rate for a similar custom farming contract, as determined by the department.
f. A taxpayer or the qualified beginning farmer may terminate a custom farming contract as provided in the contract or by law. The taxpayer must notify the department of the termination within 30 days after the termination.
(1) If the department determines that the taxpayer is not at fault for the termination, the department shall not issue a certification to the taxpayer for a subsequent taxable year based on the approved application. Any prior tax credit is allowed as provided in this section. The taxpayer may apply for and be issued another certification for the same agricultural land under a custom farming contract with another qualified beginning farmer.
(2) If the department determines that the taxpayer is at fault for the termination, any prior tax credit allowed under this section is disallowed. The amount of the tax credit shall be immediately due and payable as a tax liability to the Division of Taxation. If a taxpayer does not notify the department of the termination within 30 days after the termination, the taxpayer shall be conclusively deemed at fault for the termination.
g. The order of priority of the application of the credit allowed pursuant to this section and any other credits allowed against the tax imposed pursuant to N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq. for a taxable year shall be as prescribed by the director. The amount of the credit applied pursuant to this section against the tax imposed pursuant to N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq. shall not reduce a taxpayer's tax liability for a taxable year to an amount less than zero. Any credit shall be valid in the taxable year in which the certification is approved and any unused portion thereof may be carried forward into the next 10 taxable years or until depleted, whichever is earlier.
h. A business entity that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes shall not be allowed the credit directly under N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq., but the amount of credit of the taxpayer in respect of a distributive share of partnership income shall be determined by allocating to the taxpayer that proportion of the credit acquired by the partnership that is equal to the taxpayer's share, whether or not distributed, of the total distributive income or gain of the partnership for its taxable year ending within or with the taxpayer's taxable year.
A taxpayer that is a New Jersey S corporation shall not be allowed the credit directly under N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq., but the amount of 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 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 taxable year ending within or with the taxpayer's taxable year.
i. The amount of tax credits that may be issued pursuant to this section and section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall not in the aggregate exceed $4 million in any year. The department shall issue certifications for the tax credit pursuant to this section and section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) on a first-come, first-serve basis.
j. The secretary, in consultation with the director, shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
k. On or before January 31 of each year, the secretary shall submit a report to the Governor, the State Treasurer, and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature, on the effectiveness of the tax credit in making agricultural lands available to qualified beginning farmers for custom farming.
l. As used in this section:
"Agricultural asset" means agricultural land, depreciable agricultural property, crops, or livestock.
"Agricultural land" means land suitable for use in farming.
"Beginning farmer" means a person with a low or moderate net worth that engages in farming, or wishes to engage in farming.
"Custom farming contract" or "contract" means a contract that meets the requirements of subsection b. of this section.
"Department" means the Department of Agriculture.
"Farming" means the cultivation of land for the production of agricultural crops, the raising of poultry, the production of eggs, the production of milk, the production of fruit or other horticultural crops, grazing, the production of livestock, aquaculture, hydroponics, the production of forest products, or other activities designated by the department pursuant to rules and regulations.
"Low or moderate net worth" means a net worth that does not exceed the maximum allowable net worth established by the department pursuant to rules and regulations. The department shall determine the maximum allowable net worth by using data compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service in the United States Department of Agriculture.
"Production item" means tools, machinery, or equipment principally used to produce crops or livestock.
"Qualified beginning farmer" means a beginning farmer that:
(1) is a resident of the State;
(2) has sufficient education, training, or experience in farming;
(3) has access to adequate working capital and production items;
(4) will materially and substantially participate in farming; and
(5) is not responsible for managing or maintaining agricultural land and other agricultural assets that are greater than necessary to adequately support a beginning farmer as determined by the department pursuant to rules and regulations.
"Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture.
"Veteran" means any citizen and resident of this State honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would provide corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to persons hiring beginning farmers to perform custom farming.
Specifically, for privilege periods and taxable years beginning on the next January 1 after the bill's enactment, a taxpayer that executes a custom farming contract with a qualified beginning farmer, and that meets the requirements of the bill and the regulations adopted by the Department of Agriculture ("department"), would be entitled to a tax credit as described below.
Any custom farming contract for which a credit is claimed under the bill must: (1) provide for the production of crops located on agricultural land or the production of livestock principally located on agricultural land by the qualified beginning farmer; (2) be in writing; (3) provide that the taxpayer pay the qualified beginning farmer on a cash basis; (4) provide that the total cash payment made for each privilege period or taxable year that the tax credit is claimed equal at least $1,000; and (5) be for a term of not more than 24 months. In addition, the taxpayer must make all management decisions substantially contributing to affecting the production of crops or livestock. However, a qualified beginning farmer may regularly and frequently take part in making day-to-day operational decisions affecting production. The qualified beginning farmer must provide production items principally used to produce crops or livestock, and the labor principally used to produce the crops or livestock.
Under the bill, a "qualified beginning farmer" means a person with a low or moderate net worth, as determined by the department, that engages, or wishes to engage, in farming, and that: (1) is a resident of the State; (2) has sufficient education, training, or experience in farming; (3) has access to adequate working capital and production items; (4) will materially and substantially participate in farming; and (5) is not responsible for managing or maintaining agricultural land and other agricultural assets that are greater than necessary to adequately support a beginning farmer as determined by the department pursuant to regulation.
The amount of the tax credit would be calculated based on the gross amount paid to the qualified beginning farmer under the custom farming contract. If the qualified beginning farmer is a veteran, the taxpayer may claim a tax credit equal to eight percent of the gross amount paid to the qualified beginning farmer under the contract for the first privilege period or taxable year, and seven percent for each subsequent privilege period or taxable year. The taxpayer may only claim seven percent of the gross amount paid to the qualified beginning farmer under a renewed custom farming contract or a new custom farming contract executed between the same parties. If the qualified beginning farmer is not a veteran, the taxpayer may claim a tax credit equal to seven percent of the gross amount paid to the qualified beginning farmer under the custom farming contract for each privilege period or taxable year. No tax credit would be allowed if the taxpayer and the qualified beginning farmer are persons who hold a legal or equitable interest in the same agricultural land, or family members.
To qualify for a credit under the bill, a taxpayer would have to apply for a certification from the Secretary of Agriculture that certifies that the custom farming contract meets the requirements of the bill, and the amount of the tax credit. The department would not approve an application or issue a certification to a taxpayer for a tax credit of more than $50,000. In addition, the department would not approve an application or issue a certification if: (1) the taxpayer is at fault for terminating another custom farming contract, as determined by the department; (2) the taxpayer is a party to a pending administrative or judicial action related to an alleged violation of the regulations adopted pursuant to P.L.1995, c.311 (C.4:22-16.1) concerning the humane raising, keeping, care, treatment, marketing, and sale of domestic livestock; (3) the taxpayer has committed two or more violations of the regulations adopted pursuant to P.L.1995, c.311 (C.4:22-16.1); or (4) the custom farming contract amount is substantially higher or lower than the market rate for a similar custom farming contract.
The tax credit could not reduce a taxpayer's tax liability for any privilege period or taxable year to an amount less than zero. Any credit would be valid in the privilege period or taxable year in which the certification is approved and any unused portion could be carried forward into the next 10 privilege periods or taxable years, or until depleted, whichever is earlier. Also, the combined amount of tax credits that may be issued under the bill could not in the aggregate exceed $4 million in any year. The department would issue certifications for the tax credit on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Under the bill, a taxpayer or the qualified beginning farmer may terminate a custom farming contract as provided in the agreement or by law. The taxpayer must notify the department of the termination within 30 days after the termination. If the department determines that the taxpayer is not at fault for the termination, the department would not issue a certification to the taxpayer for a subsequent privilege period or taxable year based on the approved application. Any prior tax credit would be allowed. The taxpayer may apply for and be issued another certification for the same agricultural land under a custom farming contract with another qualified beginning farmer. If the department determines that the taxpayer is at fault for the termination, any prior tax credit allowed would be disallowed. The amount of the tax credit would be immediately due and payable as a tax liability to the Division of Taxation. If a taxpayer does not notify the department of a termination with 30 days after the termination, the taxpayer would be conclusively deemed at fault for the termination.
The purpose of this bill is to provide an incentive to taxpayers to make agricultural lands and assets available to beginning farmers in the State, and keep agricultural lands in production. New Jersey cannot rest on the success of land preservation but must take further action to preserve its farmers as well. Currently, the average age of a farmer in the United States is 57.5 years. The national average age has increased by 1.6 percent annually since 1994, on average, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture. The average age of a New Jersey farmer is 59.7 years, according to the same report. The Statewide average age has increased more drastically at 2.72 percent annually since 2002, on average.
