NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A9958
SPONSOR: Kellner
 
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the tax law, in relation to providing
for an angel investor tax credit
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To institute an angel investor tax
credit to incentivize business investments in New York State
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1:
Amends section 606 of the tax law to establish an angel investor tax
credit
-Credit will be twenty-five percent of the investment in a qualifying
business, but not exceeding two hundred fifty thousand dollars
-a qualifying business is one that: (1)has gross revenues of less than
one million dollars immediately preceding the year the credit is allowed
for; (2) has no more than twenty five full time employees, sixty percent
of whom must be a NYS resident; (3) has operated in the state for no
more than seven consecutive years; (4) has received no more than two
million dollars in investments eligible for the credit from one or more
than one angel investor
-an angel investor is an accredited investor as defined in rule 501 of
regulation D of the Federal Securities Act of 1933 except for those who:
(1) controls fifty percent or more of the qualifying business; (2) a
venture capital company or any bank, savings and loan association,
trust, insurance company or similar entity, whose normal business activ-
ities include venture capital investment
Section 2:
Amends section 210 of the tax law to establish an angel investor tax
credit
-Credit will be twenty-five percent of the investment in a qualifying
business, but not exceeding two hundred fifty thousand dollars
-a qualifying business is one that: (1)has gross revenues of less than
one million dollars immediately preceding the year the credit is allowed
for; (2) has no more than twenty five full time employees, sixty percent
of whom must be a NYS resident; (3) has operated in the state for no
more than seven consecutive years; (4) has received no more than two
million dollars in investments eligible for the credit from one or more
than one angel investor
-an angel investor is an accredited investor as defined in rule 501 of
regulation D of the Federal Securities Act of 1933 except for those who:
(1) controls fifty percent or more of the qualifying business; (2) a
venture capital company or any bank, savings and loan association,
trust, insurance company or similar entity, whose normal business activ-
ities include venture capital investment
Section 3:
Amends subparagraph (B) of paragraph 1 of subsection (i) of section 606
of the tax law to establish an angel investor tax credit
Section 4:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to personal
income taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2013
 
JUSTIFICATION: New York has made significant progress in its economic
recovery. In fact, for the seventh straight quarter venture capitalists
invested more money and closed more deals with New York-based internet
startups than ones in Boston. Last quarter, New York Internet tech
companies closed $434 million worth of funding in 60 deals compared with
Boston's $303 million in 40 deals. If this momentum is to continue, New
York must look to adopt policies that will give individuals further
incentives to invest in our State.
One way to spur this kind of investment is by adopting an 'Angel Inves-
tor tax credit. This credit would allow investors to take a credit
against the New York State income tax for investments of at least
$25,000 in a qualifying business. Wisconsin offers a 25 percent credit
and has seen angel investments statewide increase from $30 million in
2005 to $180 million in 2010.
Angel investment tax credits are a win-win-win proposition. New business
ventures benefit from an infusion of capital from the angel investors.
The investors/taxpayers benefit from the tax credit, which effectively
serves as an immediate return on their investments. Lastly, states
benefit because the creation of new businesses increases employment and
drives innovation, which ultimately enhance the local economy. Clearly,
as an alternative to risking their funds in the Stock market or real
estate, investors looking for that "sure thing" should consider angel
investments.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: None.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Undetermined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately and shall
apply to personal income taxable years beginning on and after January 1,
2013
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9958
IN ASSEMBLY
April 26, 2012
___________
Introduced by M. of A. KELLNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Ways and Means
AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to providing for an angel
investor tax credit
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 606 of the tax law is amended by adding a new
2 subsection (uu) to read as follows:
3 (uu) Angel investor credit. (1) Allowance of credit. A taxpayer, who
4 is an angel investor, as defined by subparagraph (ii) of paragraph three
5 of this subsection, shall be allowed a credit, to be computed as herein-
6 after provided, against the tax imposed by this article, for investing
7 twenty-five thousand dollars or more in a qualifying business. The
8 amount of the credit shall be twenty-five percent of the investment in
9 the qualifying business up to but not exceeding two hundred fifty thou-
10 sand dollars.
11 (2) Application of credit. If the amount of credit allowable under
12 this subsection for any taxable year shall exceed the taxpayer's tax for
13 such year, the excess may be carried over to the following year or
14 years, and may be deducted from the taxpayer's tax for such year or
15 years.
16 (3) Definitions. For purposes of the credit described in this
17 subsection:
18 (i) "Qualifying business" shall mean a business enterprise, including
19 a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation that:
20 (A) has not yet generated revenue or has gross revenues, along with
21 the gross revenues of its affiliates and related members, not exceeding
22 one million dollars for the taxable year immediately preceding the year
23 the taxpayer is allowed a credit under this subsection. For purposes of
24 this paragraph, the term "related member" shall have the same meaning as
25 set forth in clauses (A) and (B) of subparagraph one of paragraph (o) of
26 subdivision nine of section two hundred eight of this chapter, and the
27 term "affiliates" shall mean those corporations that are members of the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14666-03-2
A. 9958 2
1 same affiliated group (as defined in section fifteen hundred four of the
2 internal revenue code) as the taxpayer;
3 (B) has no more than twenty-five full-time employees, of which at
4 least sixty percent are employed in New York state;
5 (C) has operated in the state for no more than seven consecutive
6 years; and
7 (D) has received no more than two million dollars in investments
8 eligible for the credit described in this subsection from one or more
9 than one angel investor;
10 (ii) "Angel investor" shall mean an accredited investor as defined in
11 rule 501 of regulation D of the Federal Securities Act of 1933, as
12 amended; but shall not include:
13 (A) an investor who controls fifty percent or more of the qualifying
14 business receiving the investment subject to the credit described by
15 this subsection; or
16 (B) a venture capital company or any bank, savings and loan associ-
17 ation, trust, insurance company or similar entity, whose normal business
18 activities include venture capital investment.
19 § 2. Section 210 of the tax law is amended by adding a new subdivision
20 45 to read as follows:
21 45. Angel investor credit. (a) Allowance of credit. A taxpayer, who is
22 an angel investor, as defined by subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (c) of
23 this subdivision, shall be allowed a credit, to be computed as herein-
24 after provided, against the tax imposed by this article, for investing
25 twenty-five thousand dollars or more in a qualifying business. The
26 amount of the credit shall be twenty-five percent of the investment in
27 the qualifying business up to but not exceeding two hundred fifty thou-
28 sand dollars.
29 (b) Application of credit. The credit allowed under this subdivision
30 for any taxable year shall not reduce the tax due for such year to less
31 than the higher amount prescribed in paragraphs (c) and (d) of subdivi-
32 sion one of this section. However, if the amount of credit allowed under
33 this subdivision for any taxable year reduces the tax to such amount,
34 any amount of credit thus not deductible in such taxable year may be
35 carried over to the following year or years and may be deducted from the
36 taxpayer's tax for such year or years.
37 (c) Definitions. For purposes of the credit described in this subdivi-
38 sion:
39 (i) "Qualifying business" shall mean a business enterprise, including
40 a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation that:
41 (A) has not yet generated revenue or has gross revenues, along with
42 the gross revenues of its affiliates and related members, not exceeding
43 one million dollars for the taxable year immediately preceding the year
44 the taxpayer is allowed a credit under this subdivision. For purposes of
45 this paragraph, the term "related member" shall have the same meaning as
46 set forth in clauses (A) and (B) of subparagraph one of paragraph (o) of
47 subdivision nine of section two hundred eight of this chapter, and the
48 term "affiliates" shall mean those corporations that are members of the
49 same affiliated group (as defined in section fifteen hundred four of the
50 internal revenue code) as the taxpayer;
51 (B) has no more than twenty-five full-time employees, of which at
52 least sixty percent are employed in New York state;
53 (C) has operated in the state for no more than seven consecutive
54 years; and
A. 9958 3
1 (D) has received no more than two million dollars in investments
2 eligible for the credit described in this subdivision from one or more
3 than one angel investor;
4 (ii) "Angel investor" shall mean an accredited investor as defined in
5 rule 501 of regulation D of the Federal Securities Act of 1933, as
6 amended; but shall not include:
7 (A) an investor who controls fifty percent or more of the qualifying
8 business receiving the investment subject to the credit described by
9 this subdivision; or
10 (B) a venture capital company or any bank, savings and loan associ-
11 ation, trust, insurance company or similar entity, whose normal business
12 activities include venture capital investment.
13 § 3. Subparagraph (B) of paragraph 1 of subsection (i) of section 606
14 of the tax law is amended by adding a new clause (xxxiv) to read as
15 follows:
16 (xxxiv) Angel investor creditAmount of credit under
17 under subsection (uu)subdivision forty-five of
18 section two hundred ten
19 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to
20 personal income taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2013.