N.J. Admin. Code § 19:31-9.7

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 9, May 6, 2024

Section 19:31-9.7 - Review of application and certification of project completion

(a) A business seeking an approval of tax credits for a qualified business facility may apply for tax credits for a qualified business facility that was commenced after January 13, 2008, within five years after January 13, 2008, the effective date of the Act. A residential developer may apply for tax credits for a qualified residential facility that was commenced after July 28, 2009, by December 21, 2012.

(b) The Authority shall conduct a review of the applications commencing with the completed application bearing the earliest submission date or if interest in the program so warrants, at its discretion and upon notice, institute a competitive application process whereby all applications submitted by a date certain will be evaluated as if submitted on that date. The Authority may require the submission of additional information to complete the application or may require the resubmission of the entire application, if incomplete. In order to be deemed complete, the application shall identify the proposed project site and demonstrate financial and organizational ability to undertake the proposed project through evidence of available capital sufficient to complete the project. The review will determine whether the applicant:

1. Complies with the eligibility criteria;

2. Satisfies the submission requirements; and

3. Adequately provides information for the subject application.

(c) In determining whether the company meets the net economic benefits test, as certified by the owner pursuant to 19:31-9.5(a)2 iv and 3iv, the Authority's consideration shall include, but not be limited to, the local and State taxes paid directly by and generated indirectly by the business, property taxes or payment in lieu of taxes paid directly by and generated indirectly by the business, taxes paid directly or generated indirectly by new or retained employees, and peripheral economic growth caused by the business's relocation to the urban transit hub, provided that such determination shall be limited to the net economic benefits derived from the capital investment commenced after the submission of an application to the Authority.

(d) In developing a recommendation for allocating credits to qualified residential projects, the chief executive officer shall take into account, together with other factors deemed relevant by the Executive Director:

1. An evaluation of the residential developer's pro forma analysis submitted pursuant to 19:31-9.5(a)2 v;

2. Input from the municipality in which the project is located;

3. Whether the project furthers specific State or municipal planning and development objectives, or both; and

4. Whether the project furthers a public purpose, such as catalyzing urban development or maximizing the value of vacant, dilapidated, outmoded, government-owned, or underutilized property or both.

(e) Upon completion of the review of an application pursuant to (b) through (d) above, and receipt of a recommendation from Authority staff on the application, the Board shall determine whether or not to approve the application, the maximum amount of tax credits to be granted and, in the case of a residential developer, the maximum percentage amount of allowed tax credits for its capital investment in a qualified residential project, and promptly notify the applicant and the Director of the Division of Taxation of the determination. When considering an application involving intra-State transfers pursuant to 19:31-9.3(g), the Board shall make a separate determination to verify and confirm that the jobs are at risk of leaving the State, which will consist of reviewing the materials submitted by the applicant, testing the validity of financial information and assumptions through the use of computer models and, to the extent necessary, seeking input from third party consultants, the cost of which will be paid by the applicant. The Board's award of the credits will be subject to conditions subsequent that must be met in order to retain the credits. An approval letter setting forth the conditions subsequent will be sent to the applicant. Such conditions shall include, but not be limited to, the requirement that the project complies with the Authority's prevailing wage requirements P.L. 2007, c. 245 (34:1B-5.1 ) and affirmative action requirements P.L. 1979, c. 303 (34:1B-5.4 ), that the project does not violate any environmental law requirements, and requirements regarding the use of renewable energy, energy-efficient technology, and non-renewable resources in order to reduce environmental degradation and encourage long-term cost reduction.

1. If the application is approved, the project approval is subject to the terms and conditions of the approval letter, and any benefits under the program are subject to the completion of the project and satisfaction of the capital investment and employment qualifications required for the urban transit hub tax credits.

2. In the approval notice to the business, the Authority shall set a date by which its approval will expire.

(f) Within one year following the date of application approval by the Authority, each approved business shall submit progress information indicating that the business has site plan approval, financing for and site control of the qualified business facility or qualified residential project. Unless otherwise determined by the Authority in its sole discretion, the Authority's approval of the tax credits shall expire if the progress information is not received by the Authority within one year of the date of application approval.

(g) Upon completion of the capital investment and employment requirements of the program, the business shall submit a certification of a certified public accountant, which may be made pursuant to an "agreed upon procedures" letter acceptable to the Authority evidencing that the business has satisfied the conditions relating to capital investment and any employment requirements.

1. The certification with respect to the capital investment shall define the amount of the tax credits and shall not be increased regardless of additional capital investment in the qualified business facility, provided however that in no event will the amount of tax credits exceed the amount of tax credits previously approved by the Board or, in the case of a residential developer, the maximum percentage amount of allowed tax credits approved by the Board for the business's capital investment in a qualified residential project. If the certification indicates that the capital investment is less than the minimum eligibility requirement, the business shall no longer be eligible for tax credits.

2. In general, this certification shall be submitted to the Authority no later than five years after the Authority's receipt of the progress information.

3. For project applications for a qualified business facility approved in the fifth year that the Act is in effect but prior to September 18, 2013, the certification shall be submitted no later than eight years after the effective date of the Act (that is, by January 13, 2016). For developer applications approved in the fifth year that the Act is in effect but prior to September 18, 2013, any tenant's application and certification relating to a qualified business facility so approved shall be submitted no later than eight years after the effective date of the Act (that is, by January 13, 2016). For project applications approved on or after September 18, 2013, and on or before December 31, 2013, the certification shall be submitted no later than April 26, 2019, and the credit amount for any tax period ending after July 28, 2019, during which the documentation of the business's credit amount remains uncertified shall be forfeited, although credit amounts for the remainder of the years of the 10-year credit period shall remain available to it. Residential developers shall submit their documentation to support the amount of their capital investment no later than April 26, 2019. Other documentation may be submitted after that date, but the credit amount for any tax period during which the documentation of the business's credit amount remains uncertified after July 28, 2019, shall be forfeited, although credit amounts for the remainder of the years shall remain available to it.

4. The Authority may seek additional information from the business and or information from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to support the certification.

(h) Once the Authority accepts the certification of the business that it has satisfied the capital investment and employment requirements, if any, of the program, and the Authority determines that other necessary conditions have been met, the Authority shall notify the business and notify the Director of the Division of Taxation, and the business shall receive its tax credit certificate. The use of the tax credit certificate shall be subject to the receipt of an annual letter of compliance.

N.J. Admin. Code § 19:31-9.7

Amended by 47 N.J.R. 3160(a), effective 12/21/2015

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 134(a), effective 1/3/2017