404AHISTORIC PRESERVATION TAX CREDIT404A.1Definitions.For purposes of this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:1“Authority” means the economic development authority created in section 15.105.2“Eligible taxpayer” means the owner of the property that is the subject of a qualified rehabilitation project, or another person who will qualify for the federal rehabilitation credit allowed under section 47 of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the property that is the subject of a qualified rehabilitation project.3“Nonprofit organization” means an organization described in section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code unless the exemption is denied under section 501, 502, 503, or 504 of the Internal Revenue Code. “Nonprofit organization” does not include a governmental body, as that term is defined in section 362.2.4“Program” shall mean the historic preservation tax credit program set forth in this chapter.5a“Qualified rehabilitation expenditures” means the same as defined in section 47 of the Internal Revenue Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, expenditures incurred by an eligible taxpayer that is a nonprofit organization shall be considered “qualified rehabilitation expenditures” if they are any of the following:1Expenditures made for structural components, as that term is defined in 26 C.F.R. §1.48-1(e)(2).2Expenditures made for architectural and engineering fees, site survey fees, legal expenses, insurance premiums, and development fees.b“Qualified rehabilitation expenditures” does not include those expenditures financed by federal, state, or local government grants or forgivable loans unless otherwise allowed under section 47 of the Internal Revenue Code.c“Qualified rehabilitation expenditures” may include expenditures incurred prior to the date an agreement is entered into under section 404A.3, subsection 3.6“Qualified rehabilitation project” means a project for the rehabilitation of property in this state that meets all of the following criteria:aThe property is at least one of the following:1Property listed on the national register of historic places or eligible for such listing.2Property designated as of historic significance to a district listed in the national register of historic places or eligible for such designation.3Property or district designated a local landmark by a city or county ordinance.4A barn constructed prior to 1937.bThe property meets the physical criteria and standards for rehabilitation established by the authority by rule. To the extent applicable, the physical standards and criteria shall be consistent with the United States secretary of the interior’s standards for rehabilitation.cThe project has qualified rehabilitation expenditures that meet or exceed the following:1In the case of commercial property, expenditures totaling at least fifty thousand dollars or fifty percent of the assessed value of the property, excluding the land, prior to rehabilitation, whichever is less.2In the case of property other than commercial property, including but not limited to barns constructed prior to 1937, expenditures totaling at least twenty-five thousand dollars or twenty-five percent of the assessed value, excluding the land, prior to rehabilitation, whichever is less.dThe property is not a single-family dwelling unit, unless the project will result in two or more new single-family dwelling units that were not available for occupancy as residential housing during the immediately preceding consecutive six months prior to commencement of the project, and the dwelling units are located in the same neighborhood, as confirmed by the authority. The two or more new single-family dwelling units must be made available for occupancy as a result of the rehabilitation project. The authority may promulgate by rule criteria used by the authority to determine if a property is a single-family dwelling unit, and qualifies as a qualified rehabilitation project under this paragraph.7“Registration date” means the date on which the authority notifies an eligible taxpayer of successful registration of the taxpayer’s qualified rehabilitation project pursuant to section 404A.3, subsection 2.2000 Acts, ch 1194, §3, 20; 2002 Acts, ch 1003, §1, 5; 2005 Acts, ch 150, §20, 21; 2007 Acts, ch 165, §1, 9; 2011 Acts, ch 99, §1, 6; 2011 Acts, ch 130, §30, 35; 2013 Acts, ch 112, §1; 2014 Acts, ch 1093, §12; 2014 Acts, ch 1118, §2, 12; 2016 Acts, ch 1109, §14, 35, 36; 2017 Acts, ch 29, §114; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2113, 2114; 2025 Acts, ch 147, §16 – 18404A.2Historic preservation tax credit.1An eligible taxpayer who has entered into an agreement under section 404A.3, subsection 3, is eligible to receive a historic preservation tax credit in an amount equal to twenty-five percent of the qualified rehabilitation expenditures of a qualified rehabilitation project that are specified in the agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or any provision in the agreement to the contrary, the amount of the tax credits shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the final qualified rehabilitation expenditures verified by the authority pursuant to section 404A.3, subsection 5, paragraph “c”.2The tax credit shall be allowed against the taxes imposed in chapter 422, subchapters II, III, and V, and in chapter 432. An individual may claim a tax credit under this section of a partnership, limited liability company, S corporation, estate, or trust electing to have income taxed directly to the individual. For an individual claiming a tax credit of an estate or trust, the amount claimed by the individual shall be based upon the pro rata share of the individual’s earnings from the estate or trust. For an individual claiming a tax credit of a partnership, limited liability company, or S corporation, the amount claimed by the partner, member, or shareholder, respectively, shall be based upon the amounts designated by the eligible partnership, S corporation, or limited liability company, as applicable.3aTax credit certificates issued under section 404A.3 may be transferred to any person. Within ninety days of transfer, the transferee shall submit the transferred tax credit certificate to the department of revenue along with a statement containing the transferee’s name, tax identification number, address, the denomination that each replacement tax credit certificate is to carry, and any other information required by the department of revenue. However, tax credit certificate amounts of less than the minimum amount established by rule by the department of revenue shall not be transferable.bWithin thirty days of receiving the transferred tax credit certificate and the transferee’s statement, the department of revenue shall issue one or more replacement tax credit certificates to the transferee. Each replacement tax credit certificate must contain the information required for the original tax credit certificate and must have the same expiration date that appeared on the transferred tax credit certificate.cA tax credit shall not be claimed by a transferee under this section until a replacement tax credit certificate identifying the transferee as the proper holder has been issued. The transferee may use the amount of the tax credit transferred against the taxes imposed in chapter 422, subchapters II, III, and V, and in chapter 432, for any tax year the original transferor could have claimed the tax credit. Any consideration received for the transfer of the tax credit shall not be included as income under chapter 422, subchapters II, III, and V. Any consideration paid for the transfer of the tax credit shall not be deducted from income under chapter 422, subchapters II, III, and V.4aFor a tax credit claimed by an eligible taxpayer or a transferee for qualified rehabilitation projects with agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2014, the following percentage of any credit in excess of the taxpayer’s tax liability for the tax year may be refunded:1For the tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2023, but before January 1, 2024, ninety-five percent.2For the tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2024, but before January 1, 2025, ninety percent.3For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, one hundred percent.bIn lieu of claiming a refund, a taxpayer may elect to have the overpayment otherwise eligible for a refund shown on the taxpayer’s final, completed return credited to the tax liability for the following five tax years or until depleted, whichever is earlier.cA tax credit shall not be carried back to a tax year prior to the tax year in which the taxpayer redeems the tax credit. As used in this subsection, “taxpayer” includes an eligible taxpayer or a person transferred a tax credit certificate pursuant to subsection 3.5aTo claim a tax credit under this section, a taxpayer shall include one or more tax credit certificates with the taxpayer’s tax return.bThe tax credit certificate shall contain the taxpayer’s name, address, tax identification number, the amount of the credit, the name of the eligible taxpayer, any other information required by the department of revenue, and a place for the name and tax identification number of a transferee and the amount of the tax credit being transferred.cThe tax credit certificate, unless rescinded by the authority, shall be accepted by the department of revenue as payment for taxes imposed in chapter 422, subchapters II, III, and V, and in chapter 432, subject to any conditions or restrictions placed by the authority or the department of revenue upon the face of the tax credit certificate and subject to the limitations of this program.6For purposes of the individual and corporate income taxes and the franchise tax, the increase in the basis of the rehabilitated property that would otherwise result from the qualified rehabilitation expenditures shall be reduced by the amount of the credit computed under this section.2000 Acts, ch 1194, §4, 20; 2002 Acts, ch 1003, §2, 5; 2004 Acts, ch 1175, §250, 287; 2009 Acts, ch 98, §1; 2011 Acts, ch 99, §2, 6; 2014 Acts, ch 1118, §3, 12; 2016 Acts, ch 1109, §15 – 19, 35, 36; 2017 Acts, ch 29, §115; 2020 Acts, ch 1062, §94; 2022 Acts, ch 1002, §50, 54, 55; 2025 Acts, ch 132, §39, 40404A.3Application and registration agreement compliance and examination.1Application and fees.aAn eligible taxpayer seeking historic preservation tax credits provided in section 404A.2 shall make application to the authority in the manner prescribed by the authority.bThe authority may accept applications on a continuous basis or may accept applications, or one or more components of an application, during one or more application periods.cThe application shall include any information deemed necessary by the authority to evaluate the eligibility under the program of the applicant and the rehabilitation project, the amount of projected qualified rehabilitation expenditures of a rehabilitation project, and the amount and source of all funding for a rehabilitation project. An applicant shall have the burden of proof to demonstrate to the authority that the applicant is an eligible taxpayer and the project is a qualified rehabilitation project under the program.dThe authority may establish criteria for the use of electronic or other alternative filing or submission methods for any application, document, or payment requested or required under this program. Such criteria may provide for the acceptance of a signature in a form other than the handwriting of a person.e1The authority may charge application and other fees to eligible taxpayers who apply to participate in the program. The amount of such fees shall be determined based on the costs to the authority of administering the program.2Fees collected by the authority pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited with the authority notwithstanding section 8A.708, subsection 1.2Registration.aUpon review of the application by the authority, the authority may register a qualified rehabilitation project under the program. If the authority registers the project, the authority shall make a preliminary determination as to the amount of tax credits for which the project qualifies.bAfter registering the qualified rehabilitation project, the authority shall notify the eligible taxpayer of successful registration under the program within a period of time established by the authority by rule. The notification shall include the amount of tax credits under section 404A.2 for which the qualified rehabilitation project has received a tentative award and a statement that the amount is a preliminary determination only.3Agreement.aUpon successful registration of a qualified rehabilitation project, the eligible taxpayer shall enter into an agreement with the authority for the successful completion of all requirements of the program.bThe agreement shall contain mutually agreeable terms and conditions which, at a minimum, provide for the following:1The amount of the tax credit award. An eligible taxpayer has no right to receive a tax credit certificate or claim a tax credit until all requirements of the agreement and subsections 4 and 5 have been satisfied. The amount of tax credit included on a tax credit certificate issued under this section shall be contingent upon verification by the authority of the amount of final qualified rehabilitation expenditures.2The rehabilitation work to be performed. An eligible taxpayer shall perform the rehabilitation work consistent with the United States secretary of the interior’s standards for rehabilitation, as determined by the authority.3The budget of the qualified rehabilitation project, including the projected qualified rehabilitation expenditures, allowable cost overruns, and the source and amount of all funding received or anticipated to be received. The amount of allowable cost overruns provided for in the agreement shall not exceed the following amount:aFor a qualified rehabilitation project with final qualified rehabilitation expenditures of not more than seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, fifteen percent of the projected qualified rehabilitation expenditures provided for in the agreement.bFor a qualified rehabilitation project with final qualified rehabilitation expenditures of more than seven hundred fifty thousand dollars but not more than six million dollars, ten percent of the projected qualified rehabilitation expenditures provided for in the agreement.cFor a qualified rehabilitation project with final qualified rehabilitation expenditures of more than six million dollars, five percent of the projected qualified rehabilitation expenditures provided for in the agreement.4The date by which the qualified rehabilitation project must commence, which shall be no later than one calendar year from the registration date. Upon application of the eligible taxpayer, the authority may, at the discretion of the authority, extend the date by which the qualified rehabilitation project must commence up to an additional twelve consecutive months.5aThe date by which the qualified rehabilitation project must be completed, which shall be no later than three consecutive calendar years from the registration date. The qualified rehabilitation project shall be considered complete as of the date the property that is the subject of the qualified rehabilitation project is placed in service, as described in 26 U.S.C. §47.bUpon application of the eligible taxpayer, the authority may, at the discretion of the authority, extend the date by which the qualified rehabilitation project must be complete up to an additional twelve consecutive months.cUpon application of the eligible taxpayer made prior to the expiration of an extension under subparagraph division (b), the authority may, at the discretion of the authority, extend the date by which the qualified rehabilitation project must be complete up to an additional twelve consecutive months. The qualified eligible taxpayer must substantiate to the satisfaction of the authority that the requested extension is warranted due to extenuating circumstances outside the control of the eligible taxpayer.dAn application by an eligible taxpayer under subparagraph division (b) or (c) shall be made in the manner and form prescribed by the authority by rule.6The date on which the agreement terminates, which date shall not be earlier than five years from the date on which the tax credit certificate is issued.4Compliance.aThe eligible taxpayer shall, for the length of the agreement, annually certify to the authority compliance with the requirements of the agreement. The certification shall be made at such time as the authority shall determine in the agreement.bThe eligible taxpayer shall have the burden of proof to demonstrate to the authority that all requirements of the agreement are satisfied. The taxpayer shall notify the authority in a timely manner of any changes in the qualification of the rehabilitation project or in the eligibility of the taxpayer to claim the tax credit provided under this chapter, or of any other change that may have a negative impact on the eligible taxpayer’s ability to successfully complete any requirement under the agreement.c1If after entering into the agreement but before a tax credit certificate is issued, the eligible taxpayer or the qualified rehabilitation project no longer meets the requirements of the agreement, the authority may find the taxpayer in default under the agreement and may revoke the tax credit award.2If an eligible taxpayer obtains a tax credit certificate from the authority by way of a prohibited activity, the eligible taxpayer and any transferee shall be jointly and severally liable to the state for the amount of the tax credits so issued, interest and penalties allowed under chapter 422, and reasonable attorney fees and litigation costs, except that the liability of the transferee shall not exceed an amount equal to the amount of the tax credits acquired by the transferee. The department of revenue, upon notification or discovery that a tax credit certificate was issued to an eligible taxpayer by way of a prohibited activity, shall revoke any outstanding tax credit and seek repayment of the value of any tax credit already claimed, and the failure to make such a repayment may be treated by the department of revenue in the same manner as a failure to pay the tax shown due or required to be shown due with the filing of a return or deposit form. A qualifying transferee is not subject to the liability, revocation, and repayment imposed under this subparagraph.3For purposes of this paragraph:a“Control” means when a person, directly or indirectly or acting through or together with one or more persons, satisfies any of the following:iOwns, controls, or has the power to vote fifty percent or more of any class of voting securities or voting membership interests of another person.iiControls, in any manner, the election of a majority of the directors, managers, trustees, or other persons exercising similar functions of another person.iiiHas the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of another person.b“Prohibited activity” means a breach or default under the agreement with the authority, the violation of any warranty provided by the eligible taxpayer to the authority or the department of revenue, the claiming of a tax credit issued under this chapter for expenditures that are not qualified rehabilitation expenditures, the violation of any requirements of this chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter, misrepresentation, fraud, or any other unlawful act or omission.c“Qualifying transferee” means a transferee who acquires a tax credit certificate issued under this chapter for value, in good faith, without express or implied notice of a prohibited activity of the eligible taxpayer who was originally issued the tax credit, and without express or implied notice of any other claim to or defense against the tax credit, and which transferee is not associated with the eligible taxpayer by being one or more of the following:iAn owner, member, shareholder, or partner of the eligible taxpayer who directly or indirectly owns and controls, in whole or in part, the eligible taxpayer.iiA director, officer, or employee of the eligible taxpayer.iiiA relative of the eligible taxpayer or a person listed in subparagraph subdivision (i) or (ii) or, if the eligible taxpayer or an owner, member, shareholder, or partner of the eligible taxpayer is a legal entity, the natural persons who ultimately own such legal entity.ivA person who is owned or controlled, in whole or in part, by a person listed in subparagraph subdivision (i) or (ii).d“Relative” means an individual related by consanguinity within the second degree as determined by common law, a spouse, or an individual related to a spouse within the second degree as so determined, and includes an individual in an adoptive relationship within the second degree.5Examination of project.aAn eligible taxpayer shall engage a certified public accountant authorized to practice in this state to conduct an examination of the project in accordance with the American institute of certified public accountants’ statements on standards for attestation engagements. Upon completion of the qualified rehabilitation project, the eligible taxpayer shall submit the examination to the authority, along with a statement of the amount of final qualified rehabilitation expenditures and any other information deemed necessary by the authority in order to verify that all requirements of the agreement, this chapter, and all rules adopted pursuant to this chapter have been satisfied. The authority shall adopt rules governing examinations required under this subsection.bNotwithstanding paragraph “a”, the authority may waive the examination requirement in this subsection if all the following requirements are satisfied:1The final qualified rehabilitation expenditures of the qualified rehabilitation project, as verified by the authority, do not exceed one hundred thousand dollars.2The qualified rehabilitation project is funded exclusively by private funding sources.cUpon review of the examination, if applicable, the authority shall verify that all requirements of the agreement, this chapter, and all rules adopted pursuant to this chapter have been satisfied and shall verify the amount of final qualified rehabilitation expenditures. If the authority determines that all requirements of the agreement, this chapter, and all rules adopted pursuant to this chapter have been satisfied and it has verified the amount of final qualified rehabilitation expenditures, the authority shall issue a tax credit certificate to the eligible taxpayer stating the amount of the credit under section 404A.2 the eligible taxpayer may claim.6Waivers.Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, the authority may waive the requirements of subsections 1 through 4, except the requirements relating to allowable cost overruns in subsection 3, paragraph “b”, subparagraph (3), and the requirements in subsection 4, paragraphs “b” and “c”, for qualified rehabilitation projects with final qualified rehabilitation expenditures of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars or less and may establish by rule different application, registration, agreement, compliance, or other requirements relating to such projects.7Amendments.The authority may for good cause amend an agreement.2000 Acts, ch 1194, §5, 20; 2002 Acts, ch 1119, §162; 2005 Acts, ch 150, §22; 2009 Acts, ch 98, §2; 2011 Acts, ch 99, §3, 6; 2013 Acts, ch 112, §2, 4, 5; 2014 Acts, ch 1118, §4, 12; 2016 Acts, ch 1109, §20 – 28, 35, 36; 2017 Acts, ch 29, §116; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2115 – 2117; 2025 Acts, ch 147, §19; 2025 Acts, ch 159, §14404A.4Aggregate tax credit award limit.1aExcept as provided in subsections 2, 3, and 4, the authority shall not award in any one fiscal year an amount of tax credits provided in section 404A.2 in excess of forty-five million dollars.bOf the tax credits that may be awarded in a fiscal year pursuant to paragraph “a”, at least five percent of the dollar amount of the tax credits shall be allocated for purposes of new qualified rehabilitation projects with final qualified rehabilitation expenditures of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars or less.2aThe amount of a tax credit that is awarded during a fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2016, and that is irrevocably declined or revoked on or before June 30 of the next fiscal year may be awarded under section 404A.3 during the fiscal year in which the declination or revocation occurs.bThe amount of a tax credit that was reserved prior to July 1, 2014, under section 404A.4, Code 2014, for use in a fiscal year beginning before July 1, 2016, that is irrevocably declined or revoked on or after July 1, 2014, but before July 1, 2016, may be awarded under section 404A.3 during the fiscal year in which such declination or revocation occurs. Such tax credits awarded shall not be claimed by a taxpayer in a fiscal year that is earlier than the fiscal year for which the tax credits were originally reserved.cThe amount of a tax credit that was available for approval by the state historical preservation office of the former department of cultural affairs under section 404A.4, Code 2014, in a fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2010, but before July 1, 2014, that was required to be allocated to new projects with final qualified rehabilitation costs of five hundred thousand dollars or less, or seven hundred fifty thousand dollars or less, as the case may be, and that was not finally approved by the state historical preservation office, may be awarded under section 404A.3 during the fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2014, but before July 1, 2016.dTax credits awarded pursuant to this subsection shall not be considered for purposes of calculating the aggregate tax credit award limit in subsection 1.3aIf during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016, or any fiscal year thereafter, the authority awards an amount of tax credits that is less than the maximum aggregate tax credit award limit specified in subsection 1, the difference between the amount so awarded and the amount specified in subsection 1, not to exceed ten percent of the amount specified in subsection 1, may be carried forward to the succeeding fiscal year and awarded during that fiscal year.bTax credits awarded pursuant to this subsection shall not be considered for purposes of calculating the aggregate tax credit award limit in subsection 1.4aIf, during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, or any fiscal year thereafter, the authority receives an application for a qualified rehabilitation project with qualified rehabilitation expenditures that, if registered by the authority, makes the eligible taxpayer eligible for tax credits of ten million dollars or more, the authority may award tax credits during the fiscal year in which the application is received in an amount not to exceed twenty percent more than the maximum aggregate tax credit award limit specified in subsection 1.bTax credits awarded pursuant to this subsection shall be considered for purposes of calculating the maximum aggregate tax credits awarded pursuant to subsection 1 in the immediately succeeding fiscal year.2000 Acts, ch 1194, §6, 20; 2003 Acts, ch 133, §2 – 4; 2003 Acts, ch 145, §286; 2003 Acts, 1st Ex, ch 2, §90, 209; 2004 Acts, ch 1001, §1; 2004 Acts, ch 1175, §395; 2005 Acts, ch 150, §23 – 25; 2006 Acts, ch 1158, §6; 2007 Acts, ch 165, §2, 3, 9; 2009 Acts, ch 98, §3; 2010 Acts, ch 1069, §50, 51; 2010 Acts, ch 1138, §29, 30; 2011 Acts, ch 34, §92; 2011 Acts, ch 99, §4 – 6; 2011 Acts, ch 118, §85, 89; 2013 Acts, ch 112, §3; 2014 Acts, ch 1093, §13; 2014 Acts, ch 1118, §5, 12; 2016 Acts, ch 1109, §29, 30, 35, 36; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2118; 2025 Acts, ch 147, §20, 21404A.5Economic impact recommendations.1The authority, in consultation with the department of revenue, shall be responsible for keeping the general assembly and the legislative services agency informed on the overall economic impact to the state of qualified rehabilitation projects.2An annual report shall be filed which shall include but is not limited to data on the number and potential value of qualified rehabilitation projects begun during the latest twelve-month period, the total historic preservation tax credits originally awarded or tax credit certificates originally issued during that period, the potential reduction in state tax revenues as a result of all awarded or issued tax credits still unclaimed and eligible for refund, and the potential increase in local property tax revenues as a result of the qualified rehabilitation projects.3The authority, to the extent it is able, shall provide recommendations on whether the limit on tax credits should be changed, the need for a broader or more restrictive definition of qualified rehabilitation project, and other adjustments to the tax credits under this chapter.2000 Acts, ch 1194, §7, 20; 2003 Acts, ch 35, §45, 49; 2005 Acts, ch 150, §26; 2009 Acts, ch 98, §4; 2014 Acts, ch 1118, §6, 12; 2016 Acts, ch 1109, §31, 35, 36; 2017 Acts, ch 29, §117404A.6Rules.The authority and the department of revenue shall each adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this chapter.2014 Acts, ch 1118, §7, 12; 2016 Acts, ch 1109, §32, 35, 36; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2119