Sponsors: Representatives Wallace, Simpson, D., Linville, Morrell, Simpson, G. and Santos.

Brief Summary of Bill

• The small business tax credit under the Business and Occupation tax is increased from $35 to $40 per month.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Veloria, Chair; Eickmeyer, Vice Chair; Skinner, Ranking Minority Member; McDonald, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, Chase, Condotta, Kristiansen, McCoy, Ormsby, Pettigrew, Priest and Rodne.

Washington's business and occupation (B&O) tax is the second largest tax source for the state. In Fiscal Year 2002, B&O tax collection totaled $1.958 billion which represented approximately 16.4 percent of state revenue sources within the state general fund. Almost all businesses located or doing business in Washington are subject to the B&O tax, including corporations, partnerships, sole proprietors and nonprofit organizations.

Washington's B&O tax is calculated on gross income from business activities in the state. There are no deductions from the B&O tax for labor, materials, taxes or other costs of doing business. However, some businesses may qualify for certain exemptions, deductions or credits. An exempted activity is not subject to the B&O tax and is not reported on the Combined Excise Tax Return (CETR). Exempted activities include raising and selling plantation Christmas trees at wholesale; sales for fund-raising of certain nonprofit organizations; international banking facilities; and growing, raising or producing agricultural products.

Unlike exemptions, deductions must first be reported on a business' CETR as part of the business' gross income, then taken as a deduction. Allowable deductions include bad debts, freight, and delivery costs incurred by a Washington manufacturer for out-of-state shipments; and sales made in Washington by an out-of-state seller without activities in Washington that establish, maintain, or facilitate a market for its products or services.

Credits are amounts that have been paid to the Department of Revenue which are either not due or are granted by the Legislature for a specific purpose. Credits are subtracted from the B&O tax due on the CETR and include the multiple activities tax credit, the high technology B&O tax credit and the small business B&O tax credit.

Enacted in 1994, the small business B&O tax credit provides a credit against the B&O tax due of up to $35 per month. Firms with computed B&O tax liability of $35 or less pay no tax. The credit amount is reduced as B&O tax liability exceeds $35 per month. The credit is phased out completely when the tax liability reaches $70 per month. A total of 159,000 firms benefit from this tax credit.

The amount of the maximum small business B&O tax credit for a taxpayer is increased to $50 per month.

The amount of the credit is increased from $40 per month in the original bill to $50 per month in the substitute.

Testimony For: This bill is the result of the Governor's Competitiveness Council looking at the state's tax structure. It is one step we can take that can help small businesses in this state.

Majority Report: Do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Committee on Technology, Telecommunications & Energy. Signed by 9 members: Representatives McIntire, Chair; Hunter, Vice Chair; Cairnes, Ranking Minority Member; Orcutt, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ahern, Conway, Morris, Roach and Santos.

Summary of Recommendation of Committee On Finance Compared to Recommendation of Committee On Trade & Economic Development:

Increases the small business tax credit from $35 to $40 per month, instead of to $50 per month.

Testimony For: The Columbia River Economic Development Council's bread-and-butter mission is working with small businesses. Small business is responsible for over 60 percent of the jobs in-state. Anything we can do to support this sector would be great.