The Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law allow various credits against the taxes imposed by those laws including, for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2014, and before January 1, 2030, a California Competes Tax Credit in an amount allocated by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) through the 2027–28 fiscal year, and provided in a written agreement between GO-Biz and the taxpayer, approved by the California Competes Tax Credit Committee, and based on specified factors, including the number of jobs the taxpayer will create or retain in the state and the amount of investment in the state by the taxpayer.

This bill would, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2030, allow a taxpayer in a strategic industry, as defined, to make an election in the form and manner provided by GO-Biz for the California Competes Tax Credit to be refundable to the taxpayer from the Tax Relief and Refund Account, as provided. By increasing the payments from the Tax Relief and Refund Account, a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.