2.617 -Life Sciences Tax Incentive Program

Item Description FY2014 FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018
2.617 Life Sciences Tax Incentive Program
On June 16, 2008, "An Act Providing for the Investment in and Expansion of the Life Sciences Industry in the Commonwealth" was passed. The Act established the Life Sciences Tax Incentive Program which initially included, among other things, the following credits: the life sciences research credit, the life sciences refundable research credit, the life sciences refundable investment tax credit, and the life sciences FDA user fees credit, effective from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2018. Effective January 1, 2011, the life sciences refundable jobs credit was added to this program. Since the tax expenditures under this line item will be subject to approval and their composition will differ from year-to-year, it is not known what proportion will be in the form of corporate tax credits as opposed to income tax credits. However, because the Department of Revenue believes that the largest portion of the tax expenditures described in this line item will be in the form of corporate tax credits, it has placed it in this section of the tax expenditure budget. Except for the life sciences research credit, the other credits are refundable up to 90%.

Effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, an angel investor credit is allowed for individual income taxpayers. The credit will be administered within the cumulative cap of $25 million for all the life sciences incentives. See St. 2016, c. 219, § 72; TIR 16-15.

Accordingly, the addition of the angel investor credit is reflected in the tax expenditure estimation of the life sciences tax incentive program, though the angel investor credit will be claimed by individual income taxpayers.

Origin:  M.G.L. c. 62, S. 6 (m), (n), and (r) and c.63, S. 38M (j), 38U , 38W and 38CC
Estimate:   $25.0
16.5 19.6 15.5 18.8 25.0

Key:

ORIGIN
IRC Federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C.)
M.G.L. Massachusetts General Laws
U.S.C United States Code
ESTIMATES All estimates are in $ millions.