Start-ups and small businesses that were previously unable to benefit from the R&D tax credits due to lack of taxability should take advantage of the payroll tax liability offset.  Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 41(h) allows start-ups and small businesses to use the tax credit up to $250,000 to offset against payroll tax liabilities.

Qualified Small Businesses (“QSB”) may elect to use R&D credits to offset up to $250,000 of payroll tax liability. A QSB is a corporation, partnership, or individual with less than $5 million of gross receipts during the taxable year AND did not have gross receipts for any tax year before the fifth tax year ending with the year of the claim. The payroll benefit can be claimed in the first quarter subsequent to filing the prior year income tax return.

The payroll-tax offset is available to eligible new businesses and start-up companies for up to five years. Any unused R&D credits that aren’t elected to offset payroll taxes may be carried forward for up to 20 years and used when the business becomes profitable.

Businesses with research and development activities should consult with their tax advisor if they can benefit from the credit.

President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 into law on August 16, 2022. The bill includes numerous investments in climate protection, including tax credits for households to reduce energy costs, and investment in clean energy production to reduce carbon emissions. Here are some incentives which can benefit individual taxpayers who are planning to purchase electric vehicles and install solar PV system on their residence.

Solar Investment Tax Credit: The federal government has incentivized homeowners to switch to solar through the solar investment tax credit (ITC), also known as the federal solar tax credit. The rate of this credit has fluctuated over the years. The IRA included an extension of the ITC. Starting on January 1, 2023, homeowners can now claim 30% of their total solar photovoltaic (PV) system installation costs as a deduction on their federal taxes. The ITC will decrease to 26% in 2033 and drop to 22% in 2034.

The ITC is available for solar customers throughout the United States. However, specific qualifications must be met to take advantage of the tax credit; (1) Solar PV system must be in place by the end of a year  to qualify for 30% deduction on the same year tax return, (2) The solar PV system must be new or being used for the first time during the specific year, (3) you must own the solar PV system. You cannot claim the tax credit if you lease your system or agree to Power purchase agreement, and (4) the solar PV system must be located at your primary residence or secondary home in the United States.

EV tax credit: The federal government has provided EV tax credits up to $7,500 to consumers who purchased battery electric vehicles through Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit since 2010. The IRA amended the EV tax credit, which includes an extension of the credit with new assembly requirements. In addition, it provides a reduced $4,000 credit to taxpayers who purchase used EVs. If the taxpayer entered into a written binding contract to purchase a new qualifying electric vehicle and did not take possession of EVs before August 16, 2022, the taxpayer may claim the EV credit based on the rules before amendment.  If the taxpayer purchases and takes possession of an electric vehicle between August 16, 2022 and December 31, 2022, the vehicle must be assembled in North America.  To be qualified for the EV tax credit from January 1, 2023, battery components should be assembled and made of critical minerals which are extracted, processed, or recycled in North America. In addition, the percentage of the value of the battery’s components that were manufactured or assembled in North America has to exceed a certain threshold.

In addition to EV federal tax credit, California residents can apply for Clean Vehicle Rebate Program (CVRP) and get up to $7,000 to purchase or lease a new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, battery electric vehicle, or a fuel cell electric vehicle.

국세청이 발표한 Notice 2022-36에 따라 2019년과 2020년 과세연도에 대한 세금신고의 미신고분 Penalty가 자동으로 면제된다. 이러한 벌금을 이미 납부한 것으로 추정되는 160만 명의 납세자들은 자동으로 총 예상금액 12억 달러의 환불 또는 공제를 받게 될 것이다. 납세자들은 이 면제를 요청할 필요 없으며, 국세청은 다음 달 말까지 환급금의 대부분을 자동으로 지불하거나 공제 적용할 것이라고 말했다. 그러나, 아직 제출되지 않은 2019년도 2020 년도 과세연도에 해당하는 세금신고서는2022년 9월 30일까지 제출하여야 미신고분 Penalty를 면제받을 자격이 된다.

면제를 받을 수 있는 세금 신고서는 Form 1040, 1041 및 1120 시리즈에 명시된 신고서, Form 1066 U.S. Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC), Form 990-PF Return of Private Foundation또는 Section 4947(a)(1) Trust, 그리고 Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return and Proxy Tax Under Section 6033(e) 등이 있다. 또한 Form 1065, Partnership 소득 신고서 및 양식 1120-S, (S Corporation에 대한 미국 소득세 신고서) 도 면제 대상이 된다.

 
이 Notice 2022-36는 면제 가능한 신고서로 Form 5471 (특정 외국법인에 대한 미국인의 정보신고서), 그리고 Form 1065및 1120에만 첨부되는 Form 5472 (25% 외국 소유의 미국법인 또는 외국법인의 정보신고서)를 포함한다. 하지만, 납세자가 특정 국제 정보 신고서를 (예: Form 5471), 1065 및 1120 이외의 신고서 즉,  Form 1040 또는 1041같은 신고서에 첨부하여 제출하는 경우 미신고 Penalty 부분에 대한 면제를 제공하지 않는다.

자세한 내용은the Notice 2022-36 를 참고하기 바란다.

바이든 대통령은2021년 11월 15일, 세법 section 4661과 4671에 따른 슈퍼펀드 세금 (Superfund Tax)를 복원하고 확대하는 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (the “The Infrastructure Bill”) 법안에 서명했다. 법안이 만료되던 1995년 이전까지, 슈퍼펀드 세금은 위험 물질 대응 신탁기금 또는 슈퍼펀드에 자금을 대기 위해 사용되었다. 지출들은 환경보호청에 의해 관리되었고 미국의 유해 폐기물 장소를 청소하는 데 사용되었다. 슈퍼펀드 세금은 지정된 화학물질 및 화학물질이 함유된 물질에 적용되며, 연장이 없는 한2022년 7월 1일부터 2031년 12월 31일까지 유효하다. 슈퍼펀드 세금은 과세대상 화학물질 (taxable chemical)와 과세대상 물질(taxable substance)의 두 가지 주요 세금으로 구성된다.

1. Taxable Chemical (과세대상 화학물질)

IRC section 4661에 따른 과세 대상 화학물질에 대한 세금은 해당 화학물질의 제조자, 생산자 또는 수입자가 section 4661에 열거된 42개의 특정 과세 대상 화학물질의 판매 또는 사용에 적용된다. 각 화학 물질에는 정해진 세율이 있으며, 톤당 0.44달러에서 9.74달러까지 부과된다. 또한, Section 4662는 예외 조항도 포함하고 있다. 예를 들어, 수출용 또는 재구매자가 수출을 위해 두 번째 구매자에게 재판매를 위해 판매한 과세 대상 화학물질은 세금이 면제된다.

2. Taxable Substance (과세대상 물질)

Section 4671는 수입업자가 판매하거나 사용하는 과세 대상 물질에 대해 세금을 부과한다. 과세 대상 물질에는 Section 4672에서 (1) 과세대상물질의 최초 목록에 포함된 50가지 물질, (2) IRS에서 발행한 Notice 2021-66에 열거된 101가지 물질, (3) 중량 또는 가치에 따라 Section 4661에 열거된 과세대상 화학물질이 20% 이상으로 구성된 물질 및 (4) 국세청이 수입업자 또는 수출업자의 요청에 따라 과세 대상 물질 목록에 추가하는 모든 물질 등으로 정의되어 있다. Notice 2021-66은 아직까지 각 과세대상 물질의 현세율을 제공하지 않고 있다. 과세대상 물질에 대한 추가 지침과 새롭게 공표된 세율 없이, 납세자들은 물질에 대한 구성을 바탕으로 각각의 과세 물질의 세율을 결정하도록 강요된다. 만약 납세자가 적용 가능한 세율을 정하기 위해 물질에 사용된 화학물에 대한 충분한 정보를 제공할 수 없다면, 수입된 물질의 평가된 가치의 10%의 세금을 부과하여야 한다.

3. Reporting requirement (보고 사항)

과세대상 화학물질 또는 과세대상 물질에 대해 슈퍼펀드 세금을 부과해야 하는 납세자는 신고 및 납부 요건을 준수해야 한다. 이러한 세금은 IRS Form 720와 IRS Form 6627에 기초하여 분기별로 보고되어야 한다. 또한, 납세자들은 분기 납부 세액이 2,500달러보다 크면 월 2회 국세청에 납부해야 한다. 슈퍼펀드 세금의 복원은 전국적으로 다양한 산업에 영향을 미칠 것이다. 과세대상 화학물질과 과세대상 물질을 수입, 생산 및/또는 사용하는 납세자는 슈퍼펀드 세금의 적용 가능성을 염두해두고, 법률을 준수할 준비를 해야 한다.

On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (the “The Infrastructure Bill”), which reinstated and expanded the Superfund Taxes under sections 4661 and 4671 of the tax code.  Prior to the expiration in 1995, the Superfund Taxes were used to fund the Hazardous Substance Response Trust or “Superfund”. Expenditures were administered by the Environmental Protection Agency and used to clean up hazardous waste sites in the United States.  The Superfund Taxes will apply to designated chemicals and chemical-containing substances, effective July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2031, absent extension. The Superfund Taxes are comprised of two main taxes on taxable chemicals and taxable substances.

1. Taxable Chemical

The tax on taxable chemicals, under Section 4661 of the IRC, applies to the sale or use of 42 specific taxable chemical listed in Section 4661 by a manufacturer, producer, or importer of such chemical. Each chemical has a specified rate of tax and imposed on a per-ton basis, ranging from $0.44 to $9.74. There are exceptions to and exemptions from the chemical sales excise tax that are provided in Section 4662. For example, taxable chemicals sold for export or for resale by the purchaser to a second purchaser for export are exempted from the tax.

2. Taxable Substance

Section 4671 imposes tax on taxable substances sold or used by importers. Taxable substances are defined in Section 4672 as (1) the 50 substances included on the initial list of taxable substances, (2) 101 taxable substances listed on Notice 2021-66 published by the IRS, (3) substances that are comprised of more than 20% of taxable chemicals listed in Section 4661 by weight or value, and (4) any substance that IRS adds to the list of taxable substances at the request of an importer or exporter.  Notice 2021-66 does not provide the current tax rate of each taxable substance. Without further guidance and new published rates, taxpayers are forced to determine the rate for each taxable substance based on the composition of such substance . If the taxpayer cannot provide sufficient information about the chemicals used in a substance to determine the applicable tax, taxes are imposed on 10% of the appraised value of the imported substance.

3. Reporting requirement

Taxpayers who are liable for Superfund Taxes on either the taxable chemical or the taxable substance are subject to reporting and payment requirements. These taxes must be reported quarterly bases on IRS Form 6627, which is attached to IRS Form 720. In addition, taxpayers will be required to make semi-monthly deposits to the IRS if quarterly liability is greater than $2,500.

The reinstatement of the Superfund Taxes will impact companies throughout the country in a wide variety of industries. Taxpayers who import, produce, and/or use the taxable chemicals and/or taxable substances should determine the applicability of the Superfund Taxes and be ready to comply with the law.