economyEconomic Development

Rule 9.1053, Entity Requesting Agreement to Limit Appraised Value and Tax Credit

Archive of the Texas Administrative Code that pertains to Chapter 313
As of December 31, 2013
TITLE 34PUBLIC FINANCE
PART 1COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
CHAPTER 9PROPERTY TAX ADMINISTRATION
SUBCHAPTER FLIMITATION ON APPRAISED VALUE AND TAX CREDITS ON CERTAIN QUALIFIED PROPERTY
RULE §9.1053Entity Requesting Agreement to Limit Appraised Value and Tax Credit

(a) Initial application contents. To request a limitation on appraised value for school district maintenance and operations ad valorem tax purposes pursuant to Tax Code, Chapter 313, an applicant shall file a completed application with the school district in which the qualified property will be located.

(1) A completed application shall consist of, at a minimum, the following items:

(A) the comptroller's current application form and Schedules A, B, C and D attached to the application form with all information boxes filled in with the information on which applicant intends to rely including but not limited to:

(i) a specific and detailed description of the property to which the appraised value limitation will apply sufficient to clearly distinguish the subject property from property to which the limitation does not apply and to establish that the property meets the criteria of qualified property pursuant to Tax Code, §313.021(2);

(ii) a specific and detailed description of the investment described in Tax Code, §313.021(1) that is proposed to be made in the property subject to the appraised value limitation and sound, good faith estimates of the dollar value of intended investment sufficient to establish that the investment meets minimum criteria for qualified investment pursuant to Tax Code, §313.023 or §313.053 if applicable, during the proposed qualified time period;

(iii) the total number of new jobs the applicant commits to create and maintain during the full term of the agreement and a schedule which identifies the estimated number of new jobs created and maintained in each year of the agreement;

(iv) the total number of qualifying jobs the applicant commits to create and maintain during the full term of the agreement and a schedule which identifies the number of qualifying jobs created and maintained in each year of the agreement;

(v) the wages, salaries, and benefits applicant commits to provide for each qualifying job;

(vi) a statement:

(I) that for the purposes of this statement, "payments to the school district" include any and all payments or transfers of things of value made to the school district or to any person or persons in any form if such payment or transfer of thing of value being provided is in recognition of, anticipation of, or consideration for the agreement for limitation on appraised value; and

(II) as to whether:

(-a-) the amount of any and all payments or transfers made to the school district may result in payments that are or are not in compliance with Tax Code, §313.027(i); or

(-b-) as to whether the method for determining the amount may result in payments to the school district that are or are not in compliance with Tax Code §313.027(i); and

(vii) a description of the real property on which the intended investment will be made, identified additionally by the county appraisal district parcel number;

(B) such other written documents containing information on which applicant relies to qualify for and obtain a limitation on appraised value pursuant to Tax Code, Chapter 313;

(C) such other written documents containing information reasonably requested by either the school district or the comptroller which shall be provided within 20 days of the date of the request, provided however the applicant may request up to 10 additional days to provide the requested information;

(D) information identifying the applicant, and if applicant is a combined group, identifying each such combined group's members that intend to own a direct interest in the property subject to the proposed agreement, by:

(i) official name, street address, city, county, state and mailing address, if different from the street address, of the official place of business of the applicant and, if the applicant is a combined group, of each such combined group's members that intend to own a direct interest in the property subject to the proposed agreement;

(ii) designation of an authorized representative for the applicant and, if the applicant is a combined group, for each such combined group's members that intend to own a direct interest in the property subject to the proposed agreement; and

(iii) for each authorized representative, and if the applicant is a combined group for each such combined group's members that intend to own a direct interest in the property subject to the proposed agreement, provide telephone number, email address, street address, city, county, state, and mailing address if different from the street address;

(E) the signature of applicant's authorized representative(s) by which applicant confirms and attests to the truth and accuracy of the information submitted in the application to the best knowledge and belief of applicant and its representative(s); and

(F) the application fee required by the school district with which the application will be filed.

(2) The completed application contents shall be provided in the following formats:

(A) one original hard copy of the completed application in a three ring binder with tabs separating each section of the documents submitted; and

(B) an additional electronically digitized copy formatted in searchable pdf format or other format acceptable to the comptroller.

(3) The application shall be submitted in any manner acceptable to the comptroller.

(b) Optional application requests. An applicant may include in an application:

(1) a request that the school district waive the requirement of Tax Code, §313.021(2)(A)(iv)(b) or §313.051(b), whichever is applicable, to create new jobs. In order for a completed application to include a job waiver request, applicant shall submit:

(A) a specific request to waive the job requirement of the applicable Tax Code section included with the application that includes all the minimum requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this section; and

(B) separated and clearly marked within the application materials, documentation on which applicant intends to rely that demonstrates that the applicable jobs creation requirement of the applicable Tax Code section exceeds the industry standard for the number of employees reasonably necessary for the operation of the facility of applicant that is described in the application; or

(2) a request to begin the qualifying time period on a date that is after the date that the application is approved. In order for a completed application to include a qualifying time period deferral request, applicant shall submit:

(A) specific information identifying the requested qualifying time period within an application that includes all the minimum requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this section; and

(B) all relevant economic information that is related to the impact of the investment during the proposed qualifying time period, the proposed limitation period, and a period of time after the limitation period considered appropriate by the comptroller.

(c) Application changes. At the request of the school district or the comptroller, or at its own discretion, applicant may submit an application amendment or application supplement at any time after the submission of the initial application. In order to be considered as part of the application, the application amendment or supplement shall:

(1) be submitted in the same form or schedule and manner as the information was initially submitted or should have been initially submitted;

(2) include a date for the submission and a sequential number identifying the number of submissions made by applicant;

(3) if requested by the school district or comptroller, have the signature of the authorized representative(s) by which applicant confirms and attests to the truth and accuracy of the information submitted in the application amendment or supplement, as applicable, to the best knowledge and belief of applicant and its representative(s); and

(4) be submitted before the 120th day after the application was accepted by the school district or within another time period as provided in writing by the school district or the comptroller.

(d) Authorized representative(s). The person(s) identified in the application as applicant's authorized representative(s) shall serve as the person(s) to whom all correspondence and notifications from the school district and comptroller shall be sent. Notwithstanding subsection (c) of this section, applicant may change its authorized representative(s) if applicant submits to the school district and the comptroller a letter that provides the name of the new authorized representative(s), street and mailing address, telephone number, and official title, if any.

(e) Information confidentiality. At the time that applicant submits its application, application amendment, or application supplement, applicant may request that all or parts of such document not be posted on the internet and not otherwise be publicly released. In order to make such request, applicant shall:

(1) submit a written request that:

(A) specifically lists each document or portion of document and each entry in any form prescribed by the comptroller that applicant contends is confidential; and

(B) identifies specific detailed reasons stating why applicant believes each item listed should be considered confidential and identifies any relevant legal authority in support of the request;

(2) segregate the documents which are subject to the request from the other documents submitted with the application, application amendment, or application supplement that are not subject to the request; and

(3) adequately designate the documents subject to the request as "confidential."

(f) Continued eligibility for value limitation. In order to obtain and continue to receive a limitation on appraised value pursuant to Tax Code, Chapter 313, an applicant shall:

(1) have a completed application approved by the governing body of the school district in compliance with §9.1054(f) or (g) of this title (relating to School District Application Review and Agreement to Limit Appraised Value);

(2) at least 10 days prior to the meeting at which the governing body of the school district is scheduled to consider the application, provide to the school district and the comptroller an agreement acceptable to the applicant that includes at a minimum:

(A) all Texas Taxpayer Identification Numbers assigned by the comptroller to the approved applicant executing the agreement and all Texas Taxpayer Identification Numbers of its reporting entity, which shall be the same numbers listed on the application and, if the approved applicant is comprised of members of a combined group, all Texas Taxpayer Identification Numbers for each such combined group's members that own a direct interest in the property subject to the proposed agreement;

(B) a stipulation that the agreement is executed on the basis that the application is complete and accurately represents all material representations, information, and facts and incorporates the application and all the attachments thereto as part of the agreement as if set forth fully in the agreement;

(C) a condition that upon the written determination of the governing body of the school district that the application is either incomplete or inaccurate as to any material representation, information, or fact, the agreement shall be invalid and void except for the enforcement of the provisions required by subparagraph (K) of this paragraph;

(D) provisions required for an agreement listed in Tax Code, Chapter 313 with particular reference to Tax Code, §313.027(e), (f), and (i);

(E) a provision that identifies the qualifying time period that shall be consistent with the qualifying time period requested in the application;

(F) a condition that before the approved applicant may obtain the limitation on the appraised value identified in the agreement, the approved applicant shall make the qualified investment, as defined in Tax Code, §313.021(1), at least in the amounts required in Tax Code, §313.022, or §313.052 if applicable, within the qualifying time period specified in the agreement;

(G) a provision that the approved applicant is required to:

(i) create at least the number of new jobs and qualifying jobs required by Tax Code, Chapter 313;

(ii) create at least the number of qualifying jobs to which the applicant committed in the application no later than the last day of the tax year specified in the application;

(iii) maintain at least the number of new jobs required by Tax Code, Chapter 313 from the time the jobs are created until at least the end of the third year following the expiration of the limitation on appraised value provided by the agreement; and

(iv) maintain at least the number of qualifying jobs committed in the application from the time the jobs are created until at least the end of the third year following the expiration of the limitation on appraised value provided by the agreement;

(H) a provision that identifies the limitation on the appraised value of the qualified property of the approved applicant consistent with Tax Code, §313.027, or if applicable Tax Code, §313.054;

(I) a provision that separately states and explicitly identifies the amount, or the method for determining the amount, of any and all payments or transfers made to the school district or to any person or persons in any form if the payment or transfer of thing of value is provided in recognition of, anticipation of, or consideration for the agreement for limitation on appraised value made pursuant to Tax Code, §§313.027(f)(1), 313.027(f)(2), or 313.027(i);

(J) a provision by which the approved applicant is required to submit to the school district any information as thereafter may be reasonably requested by the school district or the comptroller;

(K) a provision that:

(i) in the event that the approved applicant fails in any year to comply with the stipulation, condition, provision, or term of the agreement identified in subparagraphs (C), (D), (G)(i), or (I) of this paragraph, the approved applicant is assessed as liquidated damages an amount equal to the amount computed by subtracting from the market value of the property for the tax year in which the approved applicant failed to comply, the value of the property as limited by the agreement and multiplying the difference by the maintenance and operations tax rate of the school district;

(ii) deems the penalty delinquent if it is not paid on or before February 1 of the following tax year; and

(iii) applies Tax Code, §33.01 to the delinquent penalty in the manner that section applies to delinquent taxes;

(L) a provision that the approved applicant shall comply with the conditions included in the final recommendation to approve the application from the comptroller;

(M) for agreements in which the governing body of the school district approved a deferral of the start of the qualifying time period, and in which the qualifying time period starts more than one year after the date that the application is approved, provisions that:

(i) require the approved applicant to provide an application amendment or supplement to the school district and comptroller:

(I) that identifies any changes in the information that was provided in the application that was approved by the school district and as considered by the comptroller;

(II) no earlier than 180 days prior to the start of the qualifying time period; and

(III) no later than 90 days prior to the start of the qualifying time period;

(ii) require the approved applicant to comply with a written request from the school district or the comptroller to provide additional information necessary to evaluate the economic impact analysis for the conditions prior to the start of the qualifying time period; and

(iii) authorize the governing body of the school district to terminate the agreement after reviewing the amended application and the comptroller's recommendation or revised recommendation;

(N) a provision that at the end of the qualifying time period, the approved applicant shall provide to the school district, the comptroller, and the appraisal district a specific and detailed description of the tangible personal property, buildings, or permanent, nonremovable building components (including any affixed to or incorporated into real property) on the qualified property to which the value limitation applies including maps or surveys of sufficient detail and description to locate all such described property within the boundaries of the real property which is subject to the agreement;

(O) a provision that in order to apply the limitation to any property not specifically described in the application, agreement, or notice as provided by subparagraph (N) of this paragraph, the following shall occur:

(i) the approved applicant shall submit to the school district and the comptroller:

(I) a written request to add property to the limitation agreement which shall include a specific description of the additional property to which the applicant requests that the limitation apply;

(II) any other changes to the information that was provided in the application that was approved by the school district and considered by the comptroller; and

(III) any additional information requested by the school district or the comptroller necessary to evaluate the economic impact analysis for the additional property;

(ii) the comptroller shall provide a revised recommendation based on any changes to include any other property within 90 days of receiving the revised application or the prior recommendation of the comptroller shall remain the recommendation of the comptroller;

(iii) in accordance with the procedure identified in §9.1054(i) of this title, the governing body shall approve or disapprove the request before the expiration of 120 days after the request is filed; and

(P) any other provision negotiated between the applicant and the school district that does not conflict or impair the application or implementation of any stipulation, provision, or term required by this paragraph, this subchapter or Tax Code, Chapter 313;

(3) if the applicant includes a combined group or members of the combined group, have the agreement executed by the authorized representative of each member of the combined group that owns a direct interest in property subject to the proposed agreement by which such members are jointly and severally liable for the performance of the stipulations, provisions, terms, and conditions of the agreement;

(4) comply with all stipulations, provisions, terms, and conditions of the agreement for a limitation on appraised value executed with the school district, this subchapter, and Tax Code, Chapter 313;

(5) be and remain in good standing under the laws of this state and maintain legal status as an entity, as defined in this subchapter;

(6) owe no delinquent taxes to the state;

(7) maintain eligibility for limitation on appraised value pursuant to Tax Code, Chapter 313; and

(8) provide to the school district, the comptroller, and the appraisal district any change to information provided in the application, including but not limited to:

(A) changes of the authorized representative(s);

(B) changes to the location and contact information for the approved applicant including all members of the combined group participating in the limitation agreement;

(C) copies of any assignments of the agreement and contact information for authorized representative(s) of any assignees.

(g) Tax Credit. An approved applicant may receive a credit for that part of the maintenance and operations property taxes that were paid to a school district for each full tax year during the qualifying time period of an executed and performed tax limitation agreement in an amount that is equal to the difference between the amount of maintenance and operations tax that was actually paid on the qualified property and the amount of maintenance and operations tax that would have been paid based on the appraised value limitation to which the school district agreed. In order to request a tax credit, the approved applicant shall:

(1) fully and accurately complete the comptroller's current application form signed by the approved applicant or the individual duly authorized to act on behalf of the approved applicant by which the approved applicant confirms and attests to the truth and accuracy of the information submitted in the tax credit application to the best knowledge and belief of the approved applicant or its representative(s); and

(2) submit to the school district no earlier than the date the property taxes are paid for the last year of the qualifying time period:

(A) the completed comptroller's current application form;

(B) a tax receipt from the collector of taxes for the school district showing full payment of school district ad valorem taxes on the qualified property for the applicable qualifying time period; and

(C) on request of the school district or comptroller, any other document or information considered reasonably necessary for a determination of applicant's eligibility for the credit or the amount of the credit.


Source Note: The provisions of this §9.1053 adopted to be effective June 22, 2010, 35 TexReg 5355