Source: https://www.pmbusinessadvisors.com/california-rd-tax-credit/
Timestamp: 2019-02-21 09:24:45
Document Index: 356917340

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 41', '§ 17052', '§ 41', '§ 41', '§41', '§41']

California R&D Tax Credit Summary - PM Business Advisors
California State R&D Tax Credit
California allows the credit in accordance with IRC § 41, as modified by California Revenue & Taxation Code §§ 17052.12 (Personal Income Tax) and 23609 (Corporation Tax).
Refundable/Transferrable Tax Credit – No
The California research credit is 15% of the excess of current year research expenditures over a computed base amount.
24% of basic research expenses for university-based research for the taxable year determined in accordance with IRC § 41
California Specific Modifications
“Qualified research” and “basic research” must be conducted in California to qualify for the California credit.
California does not conform to the federal “Alternative Simplified Method,” but it allows an election for the “Alternative Incremental Research Credit.”
The definition of “qualified organization” includes hospitals run by public universities and certain cancer centers.
Research that has a specific commercial objective may qualify as “basic research.”
For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2000, the credit is equal to 15% of the excess of the qualified research expenses, over the base amount, plus 24% of the basic research payments.
The credit can be carried over indefinitely, but it cannot be carried back.
California gross receipts include receipts from the sale of real, tangible, or intangible property held for sale to customers in the ordinary course of the taxpayer’s trade or business that is delivered or shipped to a purchaser within this state. This would include sales to the U.S. government, which could be identified as delivered in California. Excluded receipts would be items such as “throwback” sales, as well as receipts from services, rents, operating leases, and interest.
The credit has no termination date for California purposes.
California Specific Modifications For Start-Up Companies
Fewer than 3 taxable years beginning after 1983 and before 1989 in which it has both gross receipts and qualified research expenses.
For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1997, the first taxable year for which it has both gross receipts and qualified research expenses is a taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 1984. Prior to taxable years beginning on or before January 1, 1994, all “start-up companies” were assigned a fixed base percentage of 3% for both federal and California purposes. After January 1, 1994, the fixed base percentage of 3% only applies to the taxpayer’s first 5 taxable years beginning after December 31, 1993, for which the taxpayer has qualified research expenses. For the taxpayer’s 6th through 10th taxable years and all taxable years thereafter, see IRC § 41(c)(3)(B)(ii)(II)-(VII).
If the credit exceeds the tax for the taxable year, the excess may be carried over to reduce the tax in the following year, and succeeding years, if necessary, until the credit has been exhausted.
S-Corporations may claim 1/3 of the research credit against the 1.5% entity-level tax after applying the limitations relating to passive activity losses and credits. However, S-Corporations are not eligible for the “basic research” credit. (IRC §41(e)(7)(E)(i)) S-Corporations can pass through 100% of this credit to their shareholders on a pro-rata basis. The amount of research credit passed through to the shareholder on the Schedule K-1 may be limited to the amount of tax attributable to the shareholder’s interest in the S-Corporation (IRC §41(g)). To determine the shareholder’s credit limitation, see FTB Form 3523 – Line 40 instructions.
Complete Form FTB 3523.