Child care tax credits.

(1) For purposes of this section, the term:

(a) “Department” means the Department of Revenue.

(b) “Division” means the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

(c) “Eligible child” means the child or grandchild of an employee of a taxpayer, if such employee is the child’s or grandchild’s caregiver as defined in s. 39.01.

(d) “Eligible child care facility” means a child care facility that:

1. Is licensed under s. 402.305; or

2. Is exempt from licensure under s. 402.316.

(e) “Employee” includes full-time employees and part-time employees who work an average of at least 20 hours per week.

(f) “Maximum annual tax credit amount” means, for any state fiscal year, the sum of the amount of tax credits approved under this section, including tax credits to be taken under s. 211.0254, s. 212.1835, s. 220.19, s. 561.1214, or s. 624.5107, which are approved for taxpayers whose taxable years begin on or after January 1 of the calendar year preceding the start of the applicable state fiscal year.

(g) “Tax due” means any tax required under chapter 211, chapter 220, chapter 561, or chapter 624, or due under chapter 212 from a direct pay permitholder as a result of a direct pay permit held pursuant to s. 212.183.

(2)(a) A taxpayer who operates an eligible child care facility for the taxpayer’s employees is allowed a credit of 50 percent of the startup costs of such facility against any tax due for the taxable year such facility begins operation as an eligible child care facility. The maximum credit amount a taxpayer may be granted in a taxable year under this paragraph is based on the average number of employees employed by the taxpayer during such year. For an employer that employed:

1. One to 19 employees, the maximum credit is $1 million.

2. Twenty to 250 employees, the maximum credit is $500,000.

3. More than 250 employees, the maximum credit is $250,000.

(b) A taxpayer who operates an eligible child care facility for the taxpayer’s employees is allowed a credit of $300 per month for each eligible child enrolled in such facility against any tax due for the taxable year. The maximum credit amount a taxpayer may be granted in a taxable year under this paragraph is based on the average number of employees employed by the taxpayer during such year. For an employer that employed:

1. One to 19 employees, the maximum credit is $50,000.

2. Twenty to 250 employees, the maximum credit is $500,000.

3. More than 250 employees, the maximum credit is $1 million.

(c) A taxpayer who makes payments to an eligible child care facility in the name and for the benefit of an employee employed by the taxpayer whose eligible child attends such facility is allowed a credit of 100 percent of the amount of such payments against any tax due for the taxable year up to a maximum credit of $3,600 per child per taxable year. The taxpayer may make payments directly to the eligible child care facility or contract with an early learning coalition to process payments. The maximum credit amount a taxpayer may be granted in a taxable year under this paragraph is based on the average number of employees employed by the taxpayer during such year. For an employer that employed:

1. One to 19 employees, the maximum credit is $50,000.

2. Twenty to 250 employees, the maximum credit is $500,000.

3. More than 250 employees, the maximum credit is $1 million.

(d) A taxpayer may qualify for a tax credit under more than one paragraph of this subsection; however, the total credit taken by such taxpayers in a single taxable year may not exceed the sum total of the maximum credit they are granted under each applicable paragraph.

(e) For state fiscal years 2024-2025 through 2027-2028, the maximum annual tax credit amount is $5 million. Tax credits may not be approved pursuant to this section for a state fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2028.

(3)(a) If the credit granted under this section is not fully used within the specified state fiscal year for credits under s. 211.0254, s. 212.1835, or s. 561.1214, or against taxes due for the specified taxable year for credits under s. 220.19 or s. 624.5107, because of insufficient tax liability on the part of the taxpayer, the unused amount may be carried forward for a period not to exceed 5 years. For purposes of s. 220.19, a credit carried forward may be used in a subsequent year after applying the other credits and unused carryovers in the order provided by s. 220.02(8).

(b)1. If a taxpayer receives a credit for startup costs pursuant to paragraph (2)(a), and the eligible child care facility fails to operate for at least 5 years, a pro rata share of the credit must be repaid, in accordance with the formula:

A = C x (1 - (N/60))

Where:

a. “A” is the amount, in dollars, of the required repayment.

b. “C” is the total credits taken by the taxpayer for eligible child care facility startup costs against a tax due under this section.

c. “N” is the number of months the eligible child care facility was in operation.

2. A taxpayer who is required to repay a pro rata share of the credit under this paragraph shall file an amended return with the department, or such other report as the department prescribes by rule, and pay such amount within 60 days after the last day of operation of the eligible child care facility. The department shall distribute such funds in accordance with the applicable statutory provision for the tax against which such credit was taken by that taxpayer.

(4)(a) A taxpayer may claim a credit only for the creation or operation of, or payments to, an eligible child care facility.

(b) The services of an eligible child care facility for which a taxpayer claims a credit under paragraph (2)(b) must be available to all employees employed by the taxpayer, or must be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and must be used by at least one eligible child.

(c) Two or more taxpayers may jointly establish and operate an eligible child care facility according to the provisions of this section. If two or more taxpayers choose to jointly establish and operate an eligible child care facility, or cause a not-for-profit taxpayer to establish and operate an eligible child care facility, the taxpayers must file a joint application, or the not-for-profit taxpayer may file an application, pursuant to subsection (5), setting forth the taxpayers’ proposal. The participating taxpayers may proportion the available credits in any manner they choose. In the event the child care facility does not operate for 5 years, the repayment required under paragraph (3)(b) must be allocated among, and apply to, the participating taxpayers in the proportion that such taxpayers received the credit under this section.

(d) Child care payments for which a taxpayer claims a credit under paragraph (2)(c) may not exceed the amount charged by the eligible child care facility for other children of like age and ability of persons not employed by the taxpayer.

(5) Beginning October 1, 2024, a taxpayer may submit an application to the department for the purposes of determining qualification for a credit under this section. The department must approve the application for the credit before the taxpayer is authorized to claim the credit on a return.

(a) The application must include:

1.a. For a credit under paragraph (2)(a), a proposal for establishing an eligible child care facility for use by its employees, the number of eligible children expected to be enrolled, and the expected date operations will begin. A credit may not be claimed on a return until operations have begun. If the facility has begun to operate, the application must show the number of eligible children enrolled and the date the operation began.

b. For a credit under paragraph (2)(b), the total number of eligible children for whom child care will be provided at the eligible child care facility and the total number of months the facility is expected to operate during the taxable year in which the credit will be earned.

c. For a credit under paragraph (2)(c), the total number of eligible children for whom child care payments will be paid and the estimated total annual amount of such payments during the taxable year in which the credit will be earned.

2. The taxable year in which the credit is expected to be earned. A taxpayer may apply for a credit to be used for a prior taxable year at any time before the date on which the taxpayer is required to file a return for that year pursuant to s. 220.222.

3. For a credit under paragraph (2)(a) or paragraph (2)(b), a statement signed by a person authorized to sign on behalf of the taxpayer that the facility meets the definition of eligible child care facility and otherwise qualifies for the credit under this section. Such statement must be attached to the application.

(b) The department shall approve tax credits on a first-come, first-served basis, and must obtain the division’s approval before approving a tax credit under s. 561.1214. Within 10 days after approving or denying an application, the Department of Revenue shall provide a copy of its approval or denial letter to the taxpayer.

(6)(a) A taxpayer may not convey, transfer, or assign an approved tax credit or a carryforward tax credit to another entity unless all of the assets of the taxpayer are conveyed, assigned, or transferred in the same transaction. However, a tax credit under s. 211.0254, s. 212.1835, s. 220.19, s. 561.1214, or s. 624.5107 may be conveyed, transferred, or assigned between members of an affiliated group of taxpayers if the type of tax credit under s. 211.0254, s. 212.1835, s. 220.19, s. 561.1214, or s. 624.5107 remains the same. A taxpayer shall notify the department of its intent to convey, transfer, or assign a tax credit to another member within an affiliated group of corporations as defined in s. 220.03(1)(b). The amount conveyed, transferred, or assigned is available to another member of the affiliated group of corporations upon approval by the department. The department shall obtain the division’s approval before approving a conveyance, transfer, or assignment of a tax credit under s. 561.1214.

(b) Within any state fiscal year, a taxpayer may rescind all or part of a tax credit approved under subsection (5). The amount rescinded shall become available for that state fiscal year to another taxpayer approved by the department under this section. The department must obtain the division’s approval before accepting the rescindment of a tax credit under s. 561.1214. Any amount rescinded under this paragraph must become available to a taxpayer on a first-come, first-served basis based on tax credit applications received after the date the rescindment is accepted by the department.

(c) Within 10 days after approving or denying the conveyance, transfer, or assignment of a tax credit under paragraph (a), or the rescindment of a tax credit under paragraph (b), the department shall provide a copy of its approval or denial letter to the taxpayer requesting the conveyance, transfer, assignment, or rescindment.

(7)(a) The department may adopt rules to administer this section, including rules for the approval or disapproval of proposals submitted by taxpayers and rules to provide for cooperative arrangements between for-profit and not-for-profit taxpayers.

(b) The department’s decision to approve or disapprove a proposal must be in writing, and, if the proposal is approved, the decision must state the maximum credit authorized for the taxpayer.

(c) In addition to its existing audit and investigation authority, the department may perform any additional financial and technical audits and investigations, including examining the accounts, books, or records of the tax credit applicant, which are necessary to verify the costs included in a credit application and to ensure compliance with this section.

(d) It is grounds for forfeiture of previously claimed and received tax credits if the department determines that a taxpayer received tax credits pursuant to this section to which the taxpayer was not entitled.