§ 1400N. Tax benefits for Gulf Opportunity Zone

(a) Tax-exempt bond financing

(1) In general

For purposes of this title—

(A) any qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone Bond described in paragraph (2)(A)(i) shall be treated as an exempt facility bond, and

(B) any qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone Bond described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii) shall be treated as a qualified mortgage bond.

(2) Qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone Bond

For purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone Bond” means any bond issued as part of an issue if—

(A)

(i) 95 percent or more of the net proceeds (as defined in section 150(a)(3)) of such issue are to be used for qualified project costs, or

(ii) such issue meets the requirements of a qualified mortgage issue, except as otherwise provided in this subsection,

(B) such bond is issued by the State of Alabama, Louisiana, or Mississippi, or any political subdivision thereof,

(i) in the case of a bond which is required under State law to be approved by the bond commission of such State, such bond commission, and

(ii) in the case of any other bond, the Governor of such State,

(D) such bond is issued after the date of the enactment of this section and before January 1, 2012, and

(E) no portion of the proceeds of such issue is to be used to provide any property described in section 144 (c)(6)(B).

(3) Limitations on bonds

(A) Aggregate amount designated

The maximum aggregate face amount of bonds which may be designated under this subsection with respect to any State shall not exceed the product of $2,500 multiplied by the portion of the State population which is in the Gulf Opportunity Zone (as determined on the basis of the most recent census estimate of resident population released by the Bureau of Census before August 28, 2005).

(B) Movable property

No bonds shall be issued which are to be used for movable fixtures and equipment.

(4) Qualified project costs

For purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified project costs” means—

(A) the cost of any qualified residential rental project (as defined in section 142 (d)) located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone, and

(B) the cost of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, and renovation of—

(i) nonresidential real property (including fixed improvements associated with such property) located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone, and

(ii) public utility property (as defined in section 168 (i)(10)) located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone.

(5) Special rules

In applying this title to any qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone Bond, the following modifications shall apply:

(A) Section 142 (d)(1) (defining qualified residential rental project) shall be applied—

(i) by substituting “60 percent” for “50 percent” in subparagraph (A) thereof, and

(ii) by substituting “70 percent” for “60 percent” in subparagraph (B) thereof.

(B) Section 143 (relating to mortgage revenue bonds: qualified mortgage bond and qualified veterans’ mortgage bond) shall be applied—

(i) only with respect to owner-occupied residences in the Gulf Opportunity Zone,

(ii) by treating any such residence in the Gulf Opportunity Zone as a targeted area residence,

(iii) by applying subsection (f)(3) thereof without regard to subparagraph (A) thereof, and

(iv) by substituting “$150,000” for “$15,000” in subsection (k)(4) thereof.

(C) Except as provided in section 143, repayments of principal on financing provided by the issue of which such bond is a part may not be used to provide financing.

(D) Section 146 (relating to volume cap) shall not apply.

(E) Section 147 (d)(2) (relating to acquisition of existing property not permitted) shall be applied by substituting “50 percent” for “15 percent” each place it appears.

(F) Section 148 (f)(4)(C) (relating to exception from rebate for certain proceeds to be used to finance construction expenditures) shall apply to the available construction proceeds of bonds which are part of an issue described in paragraph (2)(A)(i).

(G) Section 57 (a)(5) (relating to tax-exempt interest) shall not apply.

(6) Separate issue treatment of portions of an issue

This subsection shall not apply to the portion of an issue which (if issued as a separate issue) would be treated as a qualified bond or as a bond that is not a private activity bond (determined without regard to paragraph (1)), if the issuer elects to so treat such portion.

(7) Special rule for repairs and reconstructions

(A) In general

For purposes of section 143 and this subsection, any qualified GO Zone repair or reconstruction shall be treated as a qualified rehabilitation.

(B) Qualified Go Zone repair or reconstruction

For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “qualified GO Zone repair or reconstruction” means any repair of damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, or Hurricane Wilma to a building located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone, the Rita GO Zone, or the Wilma GO Zone (or reconstruction of such building in the case of damage constituting destruction) if the expenditures for such repair or reconstruction are 25 percent or more of the mortgagor’s adjusted basis in the residence. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the mortgagor’s adjusted basis shall be determined as of the completion of the repair or reconstruction or, if later, the date on which the mortgagor acquires the residence.

This paragraph shall apply only to owner-financing provided after the date of the enactment of this paragraph and before January 1, 2012.

(8) Inclusion of certain counties

For purposes of this subsection, the Gulf Opportunity Zone includes Colbert County, Alabama and Dallas County, Alabama.

(b) Advance refundings of certain tax-exempt bonds

(1) In general

With respect to a bond described in paragraph (3), one additional advance refunding after the date of the enactment of this section and before January 1, 2011, shall be allowed under the applicable rules of section 149 (d) if—

(A) the Governor of the State designates the advance refunding bond for purposes of this subsection, and

(B) the requirements of paragraph (5) are met.

(2) Certain private activity bonds

With respect to a bond described in paragraph (3) which is an exempt facility bond described in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 142 (a), one advance refunding after the date of the enactment of this section and before January 1, 2011, shall be allowed under the applicable rules of section 149 (d) (notwithstanding paragraph (2) thereof) if the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) are met.

(3) Bonds described

A bond is described in this paragraph if such bond was outstanding on August 28, 2005, and is issued by the State of Alabama, Louisiana, or Mississippi, or a political subdivision thereof.

(4) Aggregate limit

The maximum aggregate face amount of bonds which may be designated under this subsection by the Governor of a State shall not exceed—

(A) $4,500,000,000 in the case of the State of Louisiana,

(B) $2,250,000,000 in the case of the State of Mississippi, and

(5) Additional requirements

The requirements of this paragraph are met with respect to any advance refunding of a bond described in paragraph (3) if—

(A) no advance refundings of such bond would be allowed under this title on or after August 28, 2005,

(B) the advance refunding bond is the only other outstanding bond with respect to the refunded bond, and

(6) Use of proceeds requirement

This subsection shall not apply to any advance refunding of a bond which is issued as part of an issue if any portion of the proceeds of such issue (or any prior issue) was (or is to be) used to provide any property described in section 144 (c)(6)(B).

(1) Additional housing credit dollar amount for Gulf Opportunity Zone

(A) In general

For purposes of section 42, in the case of calendar years 2006, 2007, and 2008, the State housing credit ceiling of each State, any portion of which is located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone, shall be increased by the lesser of—

(i) the aggregate housing credit dollar amount allocated by the State housing credit agency of such State to buildings located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone for such calendar year, or

(ii) the Gulf Opportunity housing amount for such State for such calendar year.

(B) Gulf Opportunity housing amount

For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “Gulf Opportunity housing amount” means, for any calendar year, the amount equal to the product of $18.00 multiplied by the portion of the State population which is in the Gulf Opportunity Zone (as determined on the basis of the most recent census estimate of resident population released by the Bureau of Census before August 28, 2005).

For purposes of determining the unused State housing credit ceiling under section 42 (h)(3)(C) for any calendar year, any increase in the State housing credit ceiling under subparagraph (A) shall be treated as an amount described in clause (ii) of such section.

(2) Additional housing credit dollar amount for Texas and Florida

For purposes of section 42, in the case of calendar year 2006, the State housing credit ceiling of Texas and Florida shall each be increased by $3,500,000.

(3) Difficult development area

(A) In general

For purposes of section 42, in the case of property placed in service during the period beginning on January 1, 2006, and ending on December 31, 2010, the Gulf Opportunity Zone, the Rita GO Zone, and the Wilma GO Zone—

(i) shall be treated as difficult development areas designated under subclause (I) of section 42 (d)(5)(C)(iii),^[1] and

(ii) shall not be taken into account for purposes of applying the limitation under subclause (II) of such section.

(B) Application

Subparagraph (A) shall apply only to—

(i) housing credit dollar amounts allocated during the period beginning on January 1, 2006, and ending on December 31, 2008, and

(ii) buildings placed in service during the period described in subparagraph (A) to the extent that paragraph (1) of section 42 (h) does not apply to any building by reason of paragraph (4) thereof, but only with respect to bonds issued after December 31, 2005.

(4) Special rule for applying income tests

In the case of property placed in service—

(A) during 2006, 2007, or 2008,

(B) in the Gulf Opportunity Zone, and

section 42 shall be applied by substituting “national nonmetropolitan median gross income (determined under rules similar to the rules of section 142 (d)(2)(B))” for “area median gross income” in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 42 (g)(1).

(5) Time for making low-income housing credit allocations

Section 42 (h)(1)(B) shall not apply to an allocation of housing credit dollar amount to a building located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone, the Rita GO Zone, or the Wilma GO Zone, if such allocation is made in 2006, 2007, or 2008, and such building is placed in service before January 1, 2012.

(6) Community development block grants not taken into account in determining if buildings are federally subsidized

For purpose of applying section 42 (i)(2)(D) ^[1] to any building which is placed in service in the Gulf Opportunity Zone, the Rita GO Zone, or the Wilma GO Zone during the period beginning on January 1, 2006, and ending on December 31, 2010, a loan shall not be treated as a below market Federal loan solely by reason of any assistance provided under section 106, 107, or 108 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 by reason of section 122 of such Act or any provision of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006, or the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006.

(7) Definitions

Any term used in this subsection which is also used in section 42 shall have the same meaning as when used in such section.

(d) Special allowance for certain property acquired on or after August 28, 2005

(1) Additional allowance

In the case of any qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone property—

(A) the depreciation deduction provided by section 167 (a) for the taxable year in which such property is placed in service shall include an allowance equal to 50 percent of the adjusted basis of such property, and

(B) the adjusted basis of the qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone property shall be reduced by the amount of such deduction before computing the amount otherwise allowable as a depreciation deduction under this chapter for such taxable year and any subsequent taxable year.

(2) Qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone property

For purposes of this subsection—

(A) In general

The term “qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone property” means property—

(i)

(I) which is described in section 168 (k)(2)(A)(i), or

(II) which is nonresidential real property or residential rental property,

(ii) substantially all of the use of which is in the Gulf Opportunity Zone and is in the active conduct of a trade or business by the taxpayer in such Zone,

(iii) the original use of which in the Gulf Opportunity Zone commences with the taxpayer on or after August 28, 2005,

(iv) which is acquired by the taxpayer by purchase (as defined in section 179 (d)) on or after August 28, 2005, but only if no written binding contract for the acquisition was in effect before August 28, 2005, and

(v) which is placed in service by the taxpayer on or before December 31, 2007 (December 31, 2008, in the case of nonresidential real property and residential rental property).

(B) Exceptions

(i) Alternative depreciation property Such term shall not include any property described in section 168 (k)(2)(D)(i).

(ii) Tax-exempt bond-financed property Such term shall not include any property any portion of which is financed with the proceeds of any obligation the interest on which is exempt from tax under section 103.

(iii) Qualified revitalization buildings Such term shall not include any qualified revitalization building with respect to which the taxpayer has elected the application of paragraph (1) or (2) of section 1400I (a).

(iv) Election out If a taxpayer makes an election under this clause with respect to any class of property for any taxable year, this subsection shall not apply to all property in such class placed in service during such taxable year.

(3) Special rules

For purposes of this subsection, rules similar to the rules of subparagraph (E) of section 168 (k)(2) shall apply, except that such subparagraph shall be applied—

(A) by substituting “August 27, 2005” for “December 31, 2007” each place it appears therein,

(B) without regard to “and before January 1, 2013” in clause (i) thereof, and

(4) Allowance against alternative minimum tax

For purposes of this subsection, rules similar to the rules of section 168 (k)(2)(G) shall apply.

(5) Recapture

For purposes of this subsection, rules similar to the rules under section 179 (d)(10) shall apply with respect to any qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone property which ceases to be qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone property.

(6) Extension for certain property

(A) In general

In the case of any specified Gulf Opportunity Zone extension property, paragraph (2)(A) shall be applied without regard to clause (v) thereof.

(B) Specified Gulf Opportunity Zone extension property

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “specified Gulf Opportunity Zone extension property” means property—

(i) substantially all of the use of which is in one or more specified portions of the GO Zone, and

(ii) which is—

(I) nonresidential real property or residential rental property which is placed in service by the taxpayer on or before December 31, 2011, or

(II) in the case of a taxpayer who places a building described in subclause (I) in service on or before December 31, 2011, property described in section 168 (k)(2)(A)(i) if substantially all of the use of such property is in such building and such property is placed in service by the taxpayer not later than 90 days after such building is placed in service.

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “specified portions of the GO Zone” means those portions of the GO Zone which are in any county or parish which is identified by the Secretary as being a county or parish in which hurricanes occurring during 2005 damaged (in the aggregate) more than 60 percent of the housing units in such county or parish which were occupied (determined according to the 2000 Census).

(D) Only pre-January 1, 2012, basis of real property eligible for additional allowance

In the case of property which is qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone property solely by reason of subparagraph (B)(ii)(I), paragraph (1) shall apply only to the extent of the adjusted basis thereof attributable to manufacture, construction, or production before January 1, 2012.

(E) Exception for bonus depreciation property under section 168 (k)

The term “specified Gulf Opportunity Zone extension property” shall not include any property to which section 168 (k) applies.

(e) Increase in expensing under section 179

(1) In general

For purposes of section 179—

(A) the dollar amount in effect under section 179 (b)(1) for the taxable year shall be increased by the lesser of—

(i) $100,000, or

(ii) the cost of qualified section 179 Gulf Opportunity Zone property placed in service during the taxable year, and

(B) the dollar amount in effect under section 179 (b)(2) for the taxable year shall be increased by the lesser of—

(i) $600,000, or

(ii) the cost of qualified section 179 Gulf Opportunity Zone property placed in service during the taxable year.

(2) Qualified section 179 Gulf Opportunity Zone property

For purposes of this subsection—

(A) In general

The term “qualified section 179 Gulf Opportunity Zone property” means section 179 property (as defined in section 179 (d)) which is qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone property (as defined in subsection (d)(2) without regard to subsection (d)(6)).

(B) Extension for certain property

In the case of property substantially all of the use of which is in one or more specified portions of the GO Zone (as defined by subsection (d)(6)), such term shall include section 179 property (as so defined) which is described in subsection (d)(2), determined—

(i) without regard to subsection (d)(6), and

(ii) by substituting “2008” for “2007” in subparagraph (A)(v) thereof.

(3) Coordination with empowerment zones and renewal communities

For purposes of sections 1397A and 1400J, qualified section 179 Gulf Opportunity Zone property shall not be treated as qualified zone property or qualified renewal property, unless the taxpayer elects not to take such qualified section 179 Gulf Opportunity Zone property into account for purposes of this subsection.

(4) Recapture

For purposes of this subsection, rules similar to the rules under section 179 (d)(10) shall apply with respect to any qualified section 179 Gulf Opportunity Zone property which ceases to be qualified section 179 Gulf Opportunity Zone property.

(f) Expensing for certain demolition and clean-up costs

(1) In general

A taxpayer may elect to treat 50 percent of any qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone clean-up cost as an expense which is not chargeable to capital account. Any cost so treated shall be allowed as a deduction for the taxable year in which such cost is paid or incurred.

(2) Qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone clean-up cost

For purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone clean-up cost” means any amount paid or incurred during the period beginning on August 28, 2005, and ending on December 31, 2007, for the removal of debris from, or the demolition of structures on, real property which is located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone and which is—

(A) held by the taxpayer for use in a trade or business or for the production of income, or

(B) property described in section 1221 (a)(1) in the hands of the taxpayer.

For purposes of the preceding sentence, amounts paid or incurred shall be taken into account only to the extent that such amount would (but for paragraph (1)) be chargeable to capital account.

(g) Extension of expensing for environmental remediation costs

With respect to any qualified environmental remediation expenditure (as defined in section 198 (b)) paid or incurred on or after August 28, 2005, in connection with a qualified contaminated site located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone, section 198 (relating to expensing of environmental remediation costs) shall be applied—

(1) in the case of expenditures paid or incurred on or after August 28, 2005, and before January 1, 2008, by substituting “December 31, 2007” for the date contained in section 198 (h), and

(2) except as provided in section 198 (d)(2), by treating petroleum products (as defined in section 4612 (a)(3)) as a hazardous substance.

(h) Increase in rehabilitation credit

In the case of qualified rehabilitation expenditures (as defined in section 47 (c)) paid or incurred during the period beginning on August 28, 2005, and ending on December 31, 2011, with respect to any qualified rehabilitated building or certified historic structure (as defined in section 47 (c)) located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone, subsection (a) of section 47 (relating to rehabilitation credit) shall be applied—

(1) by substituting “13 percent” for “10 percent” in paragraph (1) thereof, and

(2) by substituting “26 percent” for “20 percent” in paragraph (2) thereof.

(i) Special rules for small timber producers

(1) Increased expensing for qualified timber property

In the case of qualified timber property any portion of which is located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone, in that portion of the Rita GO Zone which is not part of the Gulf Opportunity Zone, or in the Wilma GO Zone, the limitation under subparagraph (B) of section 194 (b)(1) shall be increased by the lesser of—

(A) the limitation which would (but for this subsection) apply under such subparagraph, or

(B) the amount of reforestation expenditures (as defined in section 194 (c)(3)) paid or incurred by the taxpayer with respect to such qualified timber property during the specified portion of the taxable year.

(2) 5 year NOL carryback of certain timber losses

For purposes of determining any farming loss under section 172 (i), income and deductions which are allocable to the specified portion of the taxable year and which are attributable to qualified timber property any portion of which is located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone, in that portion of the Rita GO Zone which is not part of the Gulf Opportunity Zone, or in the Wilma GO Zone shall be treated as attributable to farming businesses.

(3) Rules not applicable to certain entities

Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to any taxpayer which—

(A) is a corporation the stock of which is publicly traded on an established securities market, or

(B) is a real estate investment trust.

(4) Rules not applicable to large timber producers

(A) Expensing

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any taxpayer if such taxpayer holds more than 500 acres of qualified timber property at any time during the taxable year.

(B) NOL carryback

Paragraph (2) shall not apply with respect to any qualified timber property unless—

(i) such property was held by the taxpayer—

(I) on August 28, 2005, in the case of qualified timber property any portion of which is located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone,

(II) on September 23, 2005, in the case of qualified timber property (other than property described in subclause (I)) any portion of which is located in that portion of the Rita GO Zone which is not part of the Gulf Opportunity Zone, or

(III) on October 23, 2005, in the case of qualified timber property (other than property described in subclause (I) or (II)) any portion of which is located in the Wilma GO Zone, and

(ii) such taxpayer held not more than 500 acres of qualified timber property on such date.

(5) Definitions

For purposes of this subsection—

(A) Specified portion

(i) In general The term “specified portion” means—

(I) in the case of qualified timber property any portion of which is located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone, that portion of the taxable year which is on or after August 28, 2005, and before the termination date,

(II) in the case of qualified timber property (other than property described in clause (i)) any portion of which is located in the Rita GO Zone, that portion of the taxable year which is on or after September 23, 2005, and before the termination date, or

(III) in the case of qualified timber property (other than property described in clause (i) or (ii)) any portion of which is located in the Wilma GO Zone, that portion of the taxable year which is on or after October 23, 2005, and before the termination date.

(ii) Termination date The term “termination date” means—

(I) for purposes of paragraph (1), January 1, 2008, and

(II) for purposes of paragraph (2), January 1, 2007.

(B) Qualified timber property

The term “qualified timber property” has the meaning given such term in section 194 (c)(1).

(j) Special rule for Gulf Opportunity Zone public utility casualty losses

(1) In general

The amount described in section 172 (f)(1)(A) for any taxable year shall be increased by the Gulf Opportunity Zone public utility casualty loss for such taxable year.

(2) Gulf Opportunity Zone public utility casualty loss

For purposes of this subsection, the term “Gulf Opportunity Zone public utility casualty loss” means any casualty loss of public utility property (as defined in section 168 (i)(10)) located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone if—

(A) such loss is allowed as a deduction under section 165 for the taxable year,

(B) such loss is by reason of Hurricane Katrina, and

(3) Reduction for gains from involuntary conversion

The amount of any Gulf Opportunity Zone public utility casualty loss which would (but for this paragraph) be taken into account under paragraph (1) for any taxable year shall be reduced by the amount of any gain recognized by the taxpayer for such year from the involuntary conversion by reason of Hurricane Katrina of public utility property (as so defined) located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone.

(4) Coordination with general disaster loss rules

Subsection (k) and section 165 (i) shall not apply to any Gulf Opportunity Zone public utility casualty loss to the extent such loss is taken into account under paragraph (1).

(5) Election

Any election under paragraph (2)(C) shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed by the Secretary and shall be made by the due date (including extensions of time) for filing the taxpayer’s return for the taxable year of the loss. Such election, once made for any taxable year, shall be irrevocable for such taxable year.

(k) Treatment of net operating losses attributable to Gulf Opportunity Zone losses

(1) In general

If a portion of any net operating loss of the taxpayer for any taxable year is a qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone loss, the following rules shall apply:

(A) Extension of carryback period

Section 172 (b)(1) shall be applied with respect to such portion—

(i) by substituting “5 taxable years” for “2 taxable years” in subparagraph (A)(i), and

(ii) by not taking such portion into account in determining any eligible loss of the taxpayer under subparagraph (F) thereof for the taxable year.

(B) Suspension of 90 percent AMT limitation

Section 56 (d)(1) shall be applied by increasing the amount determined under subparagraph (A)(ii)(I) thereof by the sum of the carrybacks and carryovers of any net operating loss attributable to such portion.

(2) Qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone loss

For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone loss” means the lesser of—

(A) the excess of—

(i) the net operating loss for such taxable year, over

(ii) the specified liability loss for such taxable year to which a 10-year carryback applies under section 172 (b)(1)(C), or

(B) the aggregate amount of the following deductions to the extent taken into account in computing the net operating loss for such taxable year:

(i) Any deduction for any qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone casualty loss.

(ii) Any deduction for moving expenses paid or incurred after August 27, 2005,

Tips

U.S. Code

§ 1400N. Tax benefits for Gulf Opportunity Zone