As California struggles with its recent budget problems, the FTB is still pushing the Enterprise Zone program to help California businesses.  In the June issue of FTB’s Tax News the FTB had this pitch about the California Enterprise Zone program.

June 2009 – The Enterprise Zone (EZ) tax incentive program was created in 1986 to help local businesses, and encourage outside businesses to locate in economically depressed areas. The federal government does not have a comparable economic development program or business tax incentives.

The EZ program has been around for quite some time, but there have been changes to the program that could affect your clients’ businesses.

Between October 2006 and March 2009, 34 California’s enterprise zones expired. Many of these jurisdictions chose to apply again with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for a new designation along with new jurisdictions. Today there are 42 active or conditional designated enterprise zones. For a listing of expired, active, and conditional enterprise zones, go to hcd.ca.gov and search for EDA.

The re-designated zones are treated as two zones, the “Old Zone” that expired and the “New Zone.” In some cases, the jurisdictions added new geographic areas to the “New Zone” and in other cases, the jurisdictions removed areas that were once in the “Old Zone.” The following five business-related tax incentives are potentially available to a taxpayer doing business in an enterprise zone, so you may need to see if your client is doing business within one of these new geographic areas.
·         Hiring credit.
·         Sales or use tax credit.
·         Business expense deduction.
·         Net operating loss deduction.
·         Net interest deduction for lenders.

Enterprise zone tax incentives apply only to business activities and investments that take place after an enterprise zone has received final designation.

For more information on the EZ Credit, please visit ftb.ca.gov.

Yuba City has been working hard on developing the city into an economic haven for businesses throughout the state.  And it looks like the region’s enterprise zone is going to be at the forefront of its efforts.  Darin Gale as the city’s economic development manager had quite a bit to say about the work being done to make the city ever-increasingly more attractive to businesses.

Ashley Gebb, from the AppealDemocrat.com wrote, “Gale has already outlined quarterly goals to work on enterprise zone awareness, filling vacant commercial properties and making the city more attractive to development by cleaning up its corridors through construction and city ordinances.

A more intensified, concentrated approach can only benefit the city, Maan said.”

“We’ve always ranked at the bottom as far as unemployment goes,” he said. “It’s time we start figuring out what we can do to bring decent paying jobs to the area.”

As the State of California’s economy continues through the recession, the California Enterprise Zone program offers local businesses a great opportunity to save money and reap sizable tax benefits.  In another great demonstration of the power of the EZ program, EDC President Greg O’Sullivan thinks Shasta County can grow its economic job base, despite Sacramento.

With the recession forcing many companies to put expansion plans on hold, the EDC is focusing more on business retention, O’Sullivan said, promoting the Shasta Metro Enterprise Zone, which gives hiring credits to businesses.

In the past year, the enterprise zone has grown from about 800 credited employees to 1,300 credited employees, accounting for $13.5 million in hiring credits to companies, O’Sullivan said.

This is another great example of the potential of the EZ program, if you have a business that resides in an Enterprise Zone, contact us directly to see what benefits you are entitled to.

Click here for the Board of Equalizations June 2009 tax bulletin.

Centrally located, Fresno is the financial, industrial, trade, and commercial capital in the Central San Joaquin Valley. This dynamic city is the hub of a region rich in heritage, resources, and people. The home for a diverse mixture of industries, businesses, agencies and institutions, Fresno offers an ideal location and the tools you need to build a successful business.

Businesses in the zone – from large manufacturing companies to small neighborhood restaurants – can significantly reduce their state income taxes by taking advantage of special California Enterprise Zone tax benefits.

Located within the Fresno Enterprise Zone borders are affordable manufacturing and commercial sites, as well as unique retail locations.  The zone is within immediate access of two freeways, two state highways, the Fresno Yosemite International Airport and the Downtown Chandler Airport.  It is also in close proximity to a wide range of educational facilities, housing and other amenities.  These assets add up to an increasingly powerful ability to assist current businesses and attract new companies, jobs and investments.

A business located within the Enterprise Zone can receive tax credits each time it hires an eligible employee or purchases qualified new machinery, equipment or pollution control devices.  Incentives are also available to many employees who work in the zone and lenders who make loans to qualified businesses.  Most businesses in the Enterprise Zone are automatically eligible for benefits.  There is no certification process.

There is a bill being pushed through the California State Assembly that is taking aim at one of the State’s largest enterprise zones.  In it’s current state, the bill would alter the current enterprise zones while eliminating several key regions.  Considering the ramifications of this bill passing, it has met with heavy conflict, especially with the current job market and nationwide recession.

“Let’s be very clear, this isn’t a reform bill. It’s an enterprise zone killer, and would cost California thousands of jobs,” said Craig Johnson, president of the California Association of Enterprise Zones and manager of the Long Beach enterprise zone. He testified against the measure at a recent hearing in Sacramento.

California Assemblyman Bob Dutton of Rancho Cucamonga is proposing a new bill for personal income and corporate tax credits (SB 508) for hiring CalWORKS recipients, parolees, veterans or persons receiving unemployment benefits.  The provisions of this bill track the Federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and would supplement the current California Enterprise Zone Tax Credit Program.

Here’s a letter from CAEZ President Craig Johnson regarding how Enterprise Zones can help the soaring unemployment rates.

Dear CAEZ Board and Members,

I found the article linked below to be fascinating and frightening at the same time.  With such high unemployment rates among some of our Enterprise Zones, advocating and marketing the benefits of the Enterprise Zone program are more important than ever.  Our program may be the answer to some of the problems our businesses are facing during such difficult economic times.  Click for more information.

CRAIG JOHNSON
President
California Association of Enterprise Zones

Delano is a culturally diverse community and has long been regarded as an international community. Though the population is drawn from multiple origins, the citizens still have many things in common, including a strong sense of community and work ethic. Delano is strategically located along Highway 99, one of California’s primary north/south arteries.

Delano has been a California Enterprise Zone and has become a great destination for business owners looking to take advantage of the California EZ program.  If you have a company operating in this city, please contact us today to see what tax credits you are eligible for.

During the economic downturn, cities are beginning to utilize the tax credits available to them in order to attract new businesses to their region.  The latest was Santa Clarita, which has announced a 21 point plan for economic development.  Topping off the list was the promotion of the city’s Enterprise Zone.  Details are below:

The Enterprise Zone is a critical state-initiated tax savings program designed to stimulate the economy and return valuable dollars to local Santa Clarita business. As of March 23, 2009, this program has generated a potential $14,689,000 in savings to local business. This campaign will include increased marketing and direct outreach to local businesses as a way to help thousands of companies understand the potential tax savings available just by doing business in the City of Santa Clarita. To date less than 5% of eligible businesses have taken advantage of the hiring credits available through the Enterprise Zone, but with increased funding for outreach and marketing to generate awareness of the program and its benefits, this number should increase substantially. $50,000 (General Fund)