2011 Ohio Revised Code
Title [1] I STATE GOVERNMENT
Chapter 122: DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT
122.175 Tax exemption for sale, storage, use, or other consumption of computer data center equipment.

(A) As used in this section:

(1) “Capital investment project” means a plan of investment at a project site for the acquisition, construction, renovation, expansion, replacement, or repair of a computer data center or of computer data center equipment, but does not include any of the following:

(a) Project costs paid before a date determined by the tax credit authority for each capital investment project;

(b) Payments made to a related member as defined in section 5733.042 of the Revised Code or to a consolidated elected taxpayer or a combined taxpayer as defined in section 5751.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) “Computer data center” means a facility used or to be used primarily to house computer data center equipment used or to be used in conducting a computer data center business, as determined by the tax credit authority.

(3) “Computer data center business” means, as may be further determined by the tax credit authority, a business that provides electronic information services as defined in division (Y)(1)(c) of section 5739.01 of the Revised Code. “Computer data center business” does not include providing electronic publishing as defined in division (LLL) of that section.

(4) “Computer data center equipment” means tangible personal property used or to be used for any of the following:

(a) To conduct a computer data center business, including equipment cooling systems to manage the performance of computer data center equipment;

(b) To generate, transform, transmit, distribute, or manage electricity necessary to operate the tangible personal property used or to be used in conducting a computer data center business;

(c) As building and construction materials sold to construction contractors for incorporation into a computer data center.

(5) “Eligible computer data center” means a computer data center that satisfies all of the following requirements:

(a) The taxpayer will make payments for a capital investment project of at least one hundred million dollars in the aggregate at the project site during a period of three consecutive calendar years;

(b) The taxpayer will pay annual compensation that is subject to the withholding obligation imposed under section 5747.06 of the Revised Code of at least five million dollars to employees employed at the project site for the term of the agreement.

(6) “Person” has the same meaning as in section 5701.01 of the Revised Code.

(7) “Project site,” “related member,” and “tax credit authority” have the same meanings as in sections 122.17 and 122.171 of the Revised Code.

(8) “Taxpayer” means any person subject to the taxes imposed under Chapters 5739. and 5741. of the Revised Code.

(B) The tax credit authority may completely or partially exempt from the taxes levied under Chapters 5739. and 5741. of the Revised Code the sale, storage, use, or other consumption of computer data center equipment used or to be used at an eligible computer data center. Any such exemption shall extend to charges for the delivery, installation, or repair of the computer data center equipment subject to the exemption under this section.

(C) A taxpayer that proposes a capital improvement project for an eligible computer data center in this state may apply to the tax credit authority to enter into an agreement under this section for a complete or partial exemption from the taxes imposed under Chapters 5739. and 5741. of the Revised Code on computer data center equipment used or to be used at the eligible computer data center. The director of development shall prescribe the form of the application. After receipt of an application, the authority shall forward copies of the application to the director of budget and management, the tax commissioner, and the director of development, each of whom shall review the application to determine the economic impact that the proposed eligible computer data center would have on the state and any affected political subdivisions and submit to the authority a summary of their determinations and recommendations.

(D) Upon review and consideration of such determinations and recommendations, the tax credit authority may enter into an agreement with the taxpayer for a complete or partial exemption from the taxes imposed under Chapters 5739. and 5741. of the Revised Code on computer data center equipment used or to be used at an eligible computer data center if the authority determines all of the following:

(1) The taxpayer’s capital investment project for the eligible computer data center will increase payroll and the amount of income taxes to be withheld from employee compensation pursuant to section 5747.06 of the Revised Code.

(2) The taxpayer is economically sound and has the ability to complete the proposed capital investment project.

(3) The taxpayer intends to and has the ability to maintain operations at the project site for the term of the agreement.

(4) Receiving the exemption is a major factor in the taxpayer’s decision to begin, continue with, or complete the capital investment project.

(E) An agreement entered into under this section shall include all of the following:

(1) A detailed description of the capital investment project that is the subject of the agreement, including the amount of the investment, the period over which the investment has been or is being made, the annual compensation to be paid by the taxpayer to its employees at the project site, and the anticipated amount of income taxes to be withheld from employee compensation pursuant to section 5747.06 of the Revised Code.

(2) The percentage of the exemption from the taxes imposed under Chapters 5739. and 5741. of the Revised Code for the computer data center equipment used or to be used at the eligible computer data center, the length of time the computer data center equipment will be exempted, and the first date on which the exemption applies.

(3) A requirement that the taxpayer maintain the computer data center as an eligible computer data center during the term of the agreement and that the taxpayer maintain operations at the eligible computer data center during that term.

(4) A requirement that during each year of the term of the agreement the taxpayer pay annual compensation that is subject to the withholding obligation imposed under section 5747.06 of the Revised Code of at least five million dollars to its employees at the eligible computer data center.

(5) A requirement that the taxpayer annually report to the director of development employment, tax withholding, capital investment, and other information required by the director to perform the director’s duties under this section.

(6) A requirement that the director of development annually review the annual reports of the taxpayer to verify the information reported under division (E)(5) of this section and compliance with the agreement. Upon verification, the director shall issue a certificate to the taxpayer stating that the information has been verified and that the taxpayer remains eligible for the exemption specified in the agreement.

(7) A provision providing that the taxpayer may not relocate a substantial number of employment positions from elsewhere in this state to the project site unless the director of development determines that the taxpayer notified the legislative authority of the county, township, or municipal corporation from which the employment positions would be relocated. For purposes of this paragraph, the movement of an employment position from one political subdivision to another political subdivision shall be considered a relocation of an employment position unless the movement is confined to the project site. The transfer of an employment position from one political subdivision to another political subdivision shall not be considered a relocation of an employment position if the employment position in the first political subdivision is replaced by another employment position.

(8) A waiver by the taxpayer of any limitations periods relating to assessments or adjustments resulting from the taxpayer’s failure to comply with the agreement.

(F) The term of an agreement under this section shall be determined by the tax credit authority, and the amount of the exemption shall not exceed one hundred per cent of such taxes that would otherwise be owed in respect to the exempted computer data center equipment.

(G) If a taxpayer fails to meet or comply with any condition or requirement set forth in an agreement under this section, the tax credit authority may amend the agreement to reduce the percentage of the exemption or term during which the exemption applies to the computer data center equipment used or to be used at an eligible computer data center. The reduction of the percentage or term may take effect in the current calendar year.

(H) Financial statements and other information submitted to the department of development or the tax credit authority by an applicant for or recipient of an exemption under this section, and any information taken for any purpose from such statements or information, are not public records subject to section 149.43 of the Revised Code. However, the chairperson of the authority may make use of the statements and other information for purposes of issuing public reports or in connection with court proceedings concerning tax exemption agreements under this section. Upon the request of the tax commissioner, the chairperson of the authority shall provide to the tax commissioner any statement or other information submitted by an applicant for or recipient of an exemption under this section. The tax commissioner shall preserve the confidentiality of the statement or other information.

(I) The tax commissioner shall issue a direct payment permit under section 5739.031 of the Revised Code to a taxpayer that enters into an agreement under this section. Such direct payment permit shall authorize the taxpayer to pay any sales and use taxes due on purchases of computer data center equipment used or to be used in an eligible computer data center and to pay any sales and use taxes due on purchases of tangible personal property or taxable services other than computer data center equipment used or to be used in an eligible computer data center directly to the tax commissioner. Each taxpayer shall pay pursuant to such direct payment permit all sales tax levied on such purchases under sections 5739.02, 5739.021, 5739.023, and 5739.026 of the Revised Code and all use tax levied on such purchases under sections 5741.02, 5741.021, 5741.022, and 5741.023 of the Revised Code, consistent with the terms of the agreement entered into under this section.

During the term of an agreement under this section the taxpayer shall submit to the tax commissioner a return that shows the amount of computer data center equipment purchased for use at the eligible computer data center, the amount of tangible personal property and taxable services other than computer data center equipment purchased for use at the eligible computer data center, the amount of tax under Chapter 5739. or 5741. of the Revised Code that would be due in the absence of the agreement under this section, the exemption percentage for computer data center equipment specified in the agreement, and the amount of tax due under Chapter 5739. or 5741. of the Revised Code as a result of the agreement under this section. The taxpayer shall pay the tax shown on the return to be due in the manner and at the times as may be further prescribed by the tax commissioner. The taxpayer shall include a copy of the director of development’s certificate of verification issued under division (E)(6) of this section. Failure to submit a copy of the certificate with the return does not invalidate the claim for exemption if the taxpayer submits a copy of the certificate to the tax commissioner within sixty days after the tax commissioner requests it.

(J) If the director of development determines that a taxpayer that received an exemption under this section is not complying with the requirement under division (E)(3) of this section, the director shall notify the tax credit authority of the noncompliance. After receiving such a notice, and after giving the taxpayer an opportunity to explain the noncompliance, the authority may terminate the agreement and require the taxpayer to pay to the state all or a portion of the taxes that would have been owed in regards to the exempt equipment in previous years, all as determined under rules adopted pursuant to division (K) of this section. In determining the portion of the taxes that would have been owed on the previously exempted equipment to be paid to this state by the taxpayer, the authority shall consider the effect of market conditions on the taxpayer’s eligible computer data center and whether the taxpayer continues to maintain other operations in this state. After making the determination, the authority shall certify to the tax commissioner the amount to be paid by the taxpayer. The tax commissioner shall make an assessment for that amount against the taxpayer under Chapter 5739. or 5741. of the Revised Code. The time limitations on assessments under those chapters do not apply to an assessment under this division, but the tax commissioner shall make the assessment within one year after the date the authority certifies to the tax commissioner the amount to be paid by the taxpayer.

(K) The director of development, after consultation with the tax commissioner and in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section. The rules may provide for recipients of tax exemptions under this section to be charged fees to cover administrative costs incurred in the administration of this section. The fees collected shall be credited to the tax incentive programs operating fund created in section 122.174 of the Revised Code. At the time the director gives public notice under division (A) of section 119.03 of the Revised Code of the adoption of the rules, the director shall submit copies of the proposed rules to the chairpersons of the standing committees on economic development in the senate and the house of representatives.

(L) On or before the first day of August of each year, the director of development shall submit a report to the governor, the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives on the tax exemption authorized under this section. The report shall include information on the number of agreements that were entered into under this section during the preceding calendar year, a description of the eligible computer data center that is the subject of each such agreement, and an update on the status of eligible computer data centers under agreements entered into before the preceding calendar year.

Added by 129th General Assembly File No. 28, HB 153, § 101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.