Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 560-7-8-.69 - Qualified Law Enforcement Donation Credit
(1)
Purpose. The purpose of this regulation is to provide guidance
concerning the administration of the tax credit under O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25.
(2)
Definitions.
(a) The terms "qualified contributions",
"qualified expenditures", and "local law enforcement unit" shall have the same
meaning as in O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25.
(b) "Law enforcement foundation" means any
domestic nonprofit corporation with the sole function of supporting one local
law enforcement unit through a formal relationship recognized by such local law
enforcement unit and which maintains nonprofit status under Section 501(c)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code and tax-exempt status under O.C.G.A. §
48-7-25. A law enforcement
foundation may conduct additional activities that support firefighters and
first responders but cannot use qualified contributions for such additional
activities.
(c) "Letter of
authorization" means the letter from a local law enforcement unit that
designates a law enforcement foundation as its sole and exclusive law
enforcement foundation and that is signed by the chief of police, law
enforcement head, or sheriff of the local law enforcement unit.
(d) "Form 990" means the annual information
returns and electronic notices of the Federal Form 990 series filed with the
Internal Revenue Service, including Form 990, Form 990-EZ, and Form
990-N.
(e) "Contributions Report"
means the report detailing the contributions received that must be prepared on
a calendar-year basis and submitted to the Department.
(3)
Certification of Qualified Law
Enforcement Foundation. The law enforcement foundation must apply for
certification as a qualified law enforcement foundation and submit Form IT-LEF
to the Department through the Georgia Tax Center. The Department will not
process any Form IT-LEF that is submitted or filed in any other manner.
(a) Application. The law enforcement
foundation must electronically attest on Form IT-LEF to the Department through
the Georgia Tax Center that:
1. An authorized
person is submitting Form IT-LEF on behalf of the law enforcement
foundation;
2. A single local law
enforcement unit has designated the applicant as its sole and exclusive
qualified law enforcement foundation;
3. The law enforcement foundation agrees to
fully comply with the terms and conditions under O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25; and
4. The law enforcement foundation understands
that to knowingly prepare or present a document that is false, fictitious, or
fraudulent in any matter within the jurisdiction of the Department is a felony
under O.C.G.A. §
16-10-20.
(b) Letter of Authorization. The law
enforcement foundation must submit the letter of authorization along with Form
IT-LEF to the Department through the Georgia Tax Center. The letter of
authorization must state:
1. The name of the
local law enforcement unit;
2. The
type of agency, office, or department of the local law enforcement
unit;
3. The address of the local
law enforcement unit;
4. The
federal employer identification number of the local law enforcement
unit;
5. The name of the law
enforcement foundation that is designated by the local law enforcement unit to
be its sole and exclusive law enforcement foundation;
6. The federal employer identification number
of the law enforcement foundation that is designated by the local law
enforcement unit to be its sole and exclusive law enforcement
foundation;
7. The address of the
law enforcement foundation that is designated by the local law enforcement unit
to be its sole and exclusive law enforcement foundation;
8. The name of the previous law enforcement
foundation that was designated by the local law enforcement unit to be its sole
and exclusive law enforcement foundation (if applicable); and
9. The federal employer identification number
of the previous law enforcement foundation that was designated by the local law
enforcement unit to be its sole and exclusive law enforcement foundation (if
applicable).
(c) Letter
of Determination Recognizing Nonprofit Status under Section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code. The law enforcement foundation must submit a copy of the
letter of determination recognizing nonprofit status under Section 501(c)(3) of
the Internal Revenue Code along with Form IT-LEF to the Department through the
Georgia Tax Center.
1. If the law enforcement
foundation has a pending application for nonprofit status filed with the
Internal Revenue Service, it must submit copies of official correspondence from
the Internal Revenue Service relating to the pending application, such as
receipt acknowledgement letters or requests for additional information letters,
along with Form IT-LEF to the Department through the Georgia Tax
Center.
2. When the pending
application is later processed by the Internal Revenue Service, the law
enforcement foundation is not required to later submit a copy of the letter of
determination recognizing nonprofit status under Section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code to the Department.
3. If the law enforcement foundation has a
pending protest after receiving a proposed adverse determination letter denying
nonprofit status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the
foundation must submit copies of official correspondence from the Internal
Revenue Service Appeals Office, such as an acknowledgment and conference
letter, along with Form IT-LEF to the Department through the Georgia Tax
Center.
4. If the law enforcement
foundation has a pending action for declaratory judgment after receiving a
final adverse determination letter denying nonprofit status under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the foundation must submit copies of
court documents relating to the pending action, such as a notice of receipt of
petition or a court order, along with Form IT-LEF to the Department through the
Georgia Tax Center.
(d)
The Department shall have rolling applications and certifications for qualified
law enforcement foundations.
(e)
Notice. The Department will notify the law enforcement foundation of the
approval or denial of certification within thirty (30) days from the date the
Form IT-LEF was submitted through the Georgia Tax Center.
(4)
Law Enforcement Foundation
Designation Change. If a qualified law enforcement foundation that was
designated by a local law enforcement unit as the sole and exclusive foundation
for the local law enforcement unit is no longer designated as such, then the
qualified law enforcement foundation or the local law enforcement unit shall
notify the Department in writing. The law enforcement foundation shall be
removed from the Department's list of approved qualified law enforcement
foundations, and the Department shall not preapprove any future contributions
to such law enforcement foundation. If a new law enforcement foundation is
designated by the local law enforcement unit as the new sole and exclusive
foundation for the local law enforcement unit, then the new law enforcement
foundation shall apply for certification as a qualified law enforcement
foundation.
(5)
Credit
Cap. In no event shall the aggregate amount of tax credits allowed under
O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25 exceed $75 million per
calendar year for years beginning on or after January 1, 2023 and ending on or
before December 31, 2027, unless otherwise provided by law.
(6)
Individual Law Enforcement
Foundation Limitation. For each calendar year of the credit, no more
than $3 million of credit shall be preapproved for qualified contributions to
any individual law enforcement foundation. On the day and time any Form
IT-QLED-TP1 is received during a calendar year that causes the individual law
enforcement foundation limitation in this paragraph to be reached, then any
subsequent credit preapproval applications for qualified contributions to such
individual law enforcement foundation shall be denied. There shall be no
proration based on the date an application is received. The Department shall
notify such individual law enforcement foundation if the $3 million limitation
is reached.
(a) If a taxpayer is denied
preapproval for this tax credit by the Department due to the individual law
enforcement foundation limitation in this paragraph, the taxpayer may reapply
for preapproval and list a law enforcement foundation from the Department's
list of approved law enforcement foundations that has not reached the
individual law enforcement foundation limitation. For purposes of priority, in
the event the credit cap is reached, the taxpayer's date of reapplication will
govern.
(b) No provision in
O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25 or in this regulation
shall be construed to limit the ability of a local law enforcement unit to
receive gifts, grants, and other benefits from any source allowed by law;
provided, however, that no local law enforcement unit shall accept or receive
more than $3 million in contributions made under O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25 and this regulation in
any calendar year.
(7)
Credit Amount. Subject to the aggregate limit provided in
paragraph (5) and the individual law enforcement foundation limitation provided
in paragraph (6), for calendar years beginning on January 1, 2023, and ending
on or before December 31, 2027, the amount of qualified law enforcement
donation credit allowed to a taxpayer shall be as follows:
(a) For an individual taxpayer or head of
household, the credit amount shall not exceed the actual amount of qualified
contributions made or $5,000, whichever is less.
(b) For an individual taxpayer filing a
married-filing-separate return, the credit amount shall not exceed the actual
amount of qualified contributions made or $5,000, whichever is less.
(c) For individual taxpayers filing a
married-filing-joint return, the credit amount shall not exceed the actual
amount of qualified contributions made or $10,000, whichever is less.
1. Example: Taxpayers, a married couple
filing jointly, request preapproval for the qualified law enforcement donation
credit for calendar year 2025 by electronically submitting Form IT-QLED-TP1
through the Georgia Tax Center. On Form IT-QLED-TP1, Taxpayers' intended 2025
contribution is $7,100; therefore, the Department preapproves Taxpayers for a
qualified law enforcement donation credit of $7,100. Taxpayers make a $3,000
donation to the qualified law enforcement foundation within 60 days of
receiving preapproval from the Department and before the end of 2025 (this is
the only amount of qualified contributions made by Taxpayers to a qualified law
enforcement foundation in 2025). When Taxpayers file their 2025 Georgia income
tax return, they can only claim a qualified law enforcement donation credit of
$3,000 (which is the actual amount of qualified contributions made), and the
extra $4,100 that was preapproved but not contributed cannot be claimed by
Taxpayers and cannot be carried forward. Any amount of the $3,000 qualified law
enforcement donation credit claimed but not used on Taxpayers' 2025 Georgia
income tax return shall be allowed to be carried forward to apply to their
succeeding three years' tax liability.
(d) For an individual taxpayer who is a
member of a limited liability company duly formed under state law (including a
member who owns a single-member limited liability company that is disregarded
for income tax purposes), a shareholder of a S corporation, or a partner in a
partnership, the credit is limited to the actual amount of qualified
contributions made or $10,000 per year, whichever is less; provided, however,
that the tax credits shall only be allowed for the Georgia income on which such
tax was actually paid by such member of a limited liability company,
shareholder of a S corporation, or partner in a partnership. In determining
such Georgia income, the shareholder, partner, or member shall exclude any
income that was subtracted on their Georgia return because the entity paid tax
at the pass-through entity level in Georgia as provided in Regulation
560-7-3-.03. If the individual
taxpayer is a member, partner, or shareholder in more than one pass-through
entity, the total credit allowed cannot exceed $10,000; the individual taxpayer
decides which pass-through entities to include when computing Georgia income
for purposes of the qualified law enforcement donation credit. All Georgia
income, loss, and expense from the taxpayer-selected pass-through entities will
be combined to determine Georgia income for purposes of the qualified law
enforcement donation credit. Such combined Georgia income shall be multiplied
by the applicable marginal tax rate to determine the tax that was actually
paid. If the taxpayer is filing a joint return, the taxpayer's spouse may also
claim a credit for the spouse's ownership interests and shall separately be
eligible for a credit as provided in this subparagraph. If the taxpayer is
preapproved for an amount that exceeds the amount that is calculated as allowed
when the return is filed, the excess amount cannot be claimed by the taxpayer
and cannot be carried forward.
1. Example:
Taxpayer, an individual taxpayer, is the sole shareholder of A, Inc., an S
corporation. Taxpayer is also a 50% partner in BC Company, a partnership, and
is also a 20% member of a limited liability company, XYZ Company, which is
taxed as a partnership. Taxpayer requests preapproval for the qualified law
enforcement donation credit for calendar year 2025 by submitting Form
IT-QLED-TP1. On Form IT-QLED-TP1, Taxpayer estimates that the Georgia income
from A, Inc. is $120,000 and that the share of Georgia income from BC Company
is $80,000. Taxpayer chooses not to include any income from XYZ Company when
estimating Georgia income for purposes of the qualified law enforcement
donation credit; therefore, the Department preapproves Taxpayer for a qualified
law enforcement donation credit of $10,000 (since $10,000 is less than $10,380
(5.19% of $200,000) and the applicable marginal tax rate for 2025 is 5.19%).
Taxpayer makes a $10,000 donation to the law enforcement foundation within 60
days of receiving preapproval from the Department and before the end of 2025.
When Taxpayer files the 2025 Georgia income tax return, Taxpayer received a
salary from A, Inc. of $50,000, and A, Inc.'s actual Georgia income is $60,000.
Taxpayer's actual share of Georgia income from BC Company is $20,000, and
Taxpayer received a guaranteed payment from BC Company of $15,000. Taxpayer's
actual share of Georgia income from XYZ Company is $5,000 (Taxpayer can choose
to include this company even though it was not considered at the time of
preapproval). Taxpayer can only claim a qualified law enforcement donation
credit of $7,785 (which is 5.19% of the $150,000 actual income from Taxpayer's
selected pass-through entities), and the extra $2,215 cannot be claimed by
Taxpayer and cannot be carried forward. Any amount of the $7,785 qualified law
enforcement donation credit claimed but not used on Taxpayer's 2025 Georgia
income tax return shall be allowed to be carried forward to apply to Taxpayer's
succeeding three years' tax liability.
(e) For a corporation, fiduciary, an S
corporation that makes the election to pay tax at the entity level under
O.C.G.A. §
48-7-21, or a partnership that
makes the election to pay tax at the entity level under O.C.G.A. §
48-7-23, the credit amount shall
not exceed the actual amount of qualified contributions made or 75 percent of
the corporation's, fiduciary's, electing S corporation's, or electing
partnership's income tax liability, whichever is less. Fiduciary entities
cannot pass the credit through to their beneficiaries. S corporations and
partnerships that elect to pay taxes at the entity level may make an
irrevocable election to pass all or part of the credit through to their
members, partners, or shareholders by completing the "credit allocation to
owners" schedule on an original or amended Form 600S or Form 700.
1. Example: Taxpayer, a corporation, requests
preapproval for the qualified law enforcement donation credit for calendar year
2025 by electronically submitting Form IT-QLED-TP1 through the Georgia Tax
Center. On Form IT-QLED-TP1, Taxpayer's intended 2025 contribution is $75,000,
and Taxpayer's estimated 2025 income tax liability is $100,000. Therefore, the
Department preapproves Taxpayer for a qualified law enforcement donation credit
of $75,000 for 2025. Taxpayer makes a $75,000 donation to the law enforcement
foundation within 60 days of receiving preapproval from the Department and
before the end of 2025. When Taxpayer files its 2025 Georgia income tax return,
Taxpayer's 2025 income tax liability is $80,000. Taxpayer can only claim a
qualified law enforcement donation credit of $60,000 ($60,000 is 75% of the
actual 2025 Georgia income tax liability), and the extra $15,000 cannot be
claimed by Taxpayer and cannot be carried forward. Any amount of the $60,000
qualified law enforcement donation credit claimed but not used on Taxpayer's
2025 Georgia income tax return shall be allowed to be carried forward to apply
to its succeeding three years' tax liability.
2. Example: Taxpayer, a S corporation
electing to pay tax at the entity level, requests preapproval for the qualified
law enforcement donation credit for calendar year 2025 by electronically
submitting Form IT-QLED-TP1 through the Georgia Tax Center. On Form
IT-QLED-TP1. Taxpayer's intended 2025 contribution is $75,000, and Taxpayer's
estimated 2025 income tax liability is $100,000. Therefore, the Department
preapproves Taxpayer for a qualified law enforcement donation credit of $75,000
for 2025. Taxpayer makes a $75,000 donation to the law enforcement foundation
within 60 days of receiving preapproval from the Department and before the end
of 2025. When Taxpayer files its 2025 Georgia income tax return, Taxpayer's
2025 income tax liability is $80,000. Taxpayer can only claim a qualified law
enforcement donation credit of $60,000 ($60,000 is 75% of the actual 2025
Georgia income tax liability), and the extra $15,000 cannot be claimed by
Taxpayer and cannot be carried forward. Any amount of the $60,000 qualified law
enforcement donation credit claimed but not used on Taxpayer's 2025 Georgia
income tax return shall be allowed to be carried forward to apply to its
succeeding five years' tax liability but shall not be allowed to be passed
through to and used by the shareholders unless an election is made to pass the
credit through to the shareholders.
(f) Except as provided in subparagraph (7)(e)
of this regulation, when the taxpayer is a pass-through entity that has no
income tax liability of its own, the tax credits will be considered earned by
its members, shareholders, or partners based on their profit/loss percentage at
the end of the year and the limitations of subparagraph (7)(d) of this
regulation. The expenditure is made by the pass-through entity, but all credit
forms (preapproval, claiming, and reporting) will be filed in the name of its
members, shareholders, or partners. The credit can only be applied against the
shareholders', members', or partners' tax liabilities on their income tax
returns. The pass-through entity shall provide all necessary information to the
law enforcement foundation so that the preapproval, claiming, and reporting
forms can be filed in the name of its members, shareholders, or
partners.
(g) A taxpayer may apply
to make a donation to multiple law enforcement foundations or may apply to make
multiple donations to the same law enforcement foundation; provided, however,
that each donation must be applied for separately.
(8)
Form 990. Each qualified law
enforcement foundation must submit a copy of its most recent Form 990 to the
Department by May 15. If the qualified law enforcement foundation filed the
Form 990-N, then it must submit a copy of the filing confirmation or the
listing by the Internal Revenue Service of the Form 990-N filing to the
Department. If the qualified law enforcement foundation is not required by
federal law to file a Form 990, then the foundation must submit the Form 990
Proxy Spreadsheet found on the Department's website through the Georgia Tax
Center by May 15.
(9)
Contributions Report.
(a) The
contributions report detailing the contributions received for the prior
calendar year shall be submitted by each qualified law enforcement foundation
by May 15. Form IT-QLED-LEF2 shall be the form used to submit the report. The
report shall be submitted electronically through the Georgia Tax
Center.
(b) The report shall be
prepared on a calendar-year basis, regardless of the fiscal year of the
qualified law enforcement foundation.
(c) The report shall include the following:
1. The total number and dollar value of
individual contributions and qualified law enforcement donation credits
preapproved. Individual contributions shall include contributions made by those
filing income tax returns as single, head of household, married filing
separately, and married filing jointly;
2. The total number and dollar value of
corporation, trust, S corporation, and partnership contributions and qualified
law enforcement donation credits preapproved;
3. The total number and dollar value of all
qualified expenditures made;
4. A
list of contributors, including the dollar value of each contribution and the
dollar value of each preapproved tax credit; and
5. Any other information required by the
Commissioner.
(10)
Website Posting by the
Department. The following shall be posted on the Department's website:
(a) The application and requirements to be
certified as a qualified law enforcement foundation:
(b) The list of all qualified law enforcement
foundations and their affiliate local law enforcement units;
(c) The aggregate amount of tax credits
remaining and available for preapproval for each year;
(d) The method for taxpayers seeking
preapproval status for contributions through the Georgia Tax Center;
and
(e) The Form 990 and
contributions report received from each qualified law enforcement foundation,
except for the information in subparagraph (c)4. of paragraph (9).
(11)
Confidential Taxpayer
Information. Except for the information published under paragraph (10),
all information or reports relative to O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25 and this regulation
that were provided by qualified law enforcement foundations to the Department
shall be confidential taxpayer information, governed by O.C.G.A. §§
48-2-15,
48-7-60, and
48-7-61, whether such information
relates to the contributing taxpayer or the qualified law enforcement
foundation.
(12)
Mandatory
Electronic Preapproval of the Contribution.
(a) The taxpayer must electronically submit
Form IT-QLED-TP1 through the Georgia Tax Center to request preapproval of the
qualified law enforcement donation credit from the Department. The Department
will not preapprove any qualified law enforcement donation credit where the
Form IT-QLED-TP1 is submitted or filed in any other manner. Each qualified law
enforcement foundation shall be registered with the Department to facilitate
the preapproval process for Form IT-QLED-TP1.
(b) The taxpayer should not submit Form
IT-QLED-TP1 to the Department until the taxpayer's recipient law enforcement
foundation is listed on the Department's website. If the taxpayer's recipient
law enforcement foundation is not listed on the website at the time that the
Department attempts to verify the organization's listing, the Department shall
deny the preapproval request. If, at a later date, the taxpayer's recipient law
enforcement foundation becomes listed, it will be necessary for the taxpayer to
submit a new Form IT-QLED-TP1 to the Department.
(c) The electronic Form IT-QLED-TP1 shall
include the following information:
1. The name
of the qualified law enforcement foundation listed on the Department's website
to which the contribution will be made;
2. The taxpayer identification number of the
qualified law enforcement foundation to which the contribution will be
made;
3. The name, address, and
taxpayer identification number of the taxpayer;
4. The type of taxpayer;
5. If the taxpayer is an individual, the
filing status;
6. If the taxpayer
is an individual filing a joint return, the name and taxpayer identification
number of the joint filer;
7. The
intended contribution amount;
8. If
the contributor is a corporation, fiduciary, electing S corporation, or
electing partnership, 75% of the estimated income tax liability the
corporation, fiduciary, electing S corporation, or electing partnership expects
for the tax year of the corporation, fiduciary, S corporation, or partnership
in which the contribution will be made;
9. Tax year end of the taxpayer;
10. Calendar year in which the contribution
will be made;
11. Any other
information the Commissioner may require;
12. Certification that all information
contained on the Form IT-QLED-TP1 is true to his/her best knowledge and belief
and is submitted for the purpose of obtaining preapproval from the
Commissioner.
(d) The
qualified law enforcement donation credit shall be allowed on a first-come,
first-served basis. The date and time the Form IT-QLED-TP1 is electronically
submitted shall be used to determine such first-come, first-served
basis.
(e) The Department will
notify each taxpayer and the taxpayer's selected qualified law enforcement
foundation of the tax credits preapproved, denied, or prorated to such taxpayer
within 30 days from the date the Form IT-QLED-TP1 was received.
(f) On the day any Form IT-QLED-TP1 is
received for a calendar year that causes the calendar-year limit in paragraph
(5) of this regulation to be reached, the remaining tax credits shall be
allocated among the applicants who submitted the Form IT-QLED-TP1 on the day
the calendar-year limit was exceeded on a pro rata basis based upon the amounts
otherwise allowed by O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25 and this regulation.
Only credit amounts on Form IT-QLED-TP1(s) received on the day the
calendar-year limit was exceeded shall be allocated on a pro rata
basis.
(g) The contribution must be
made by the taxpayer within 60 days of the date of the preapproval notice
received from the Department and within the calendar year in which it was
preapproved.
(h) In the event it is
determined that a taxpayer has not met all the requirements of O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25, then the qualified law
enforcement donation credit shall not be preapproved or the preapproved
qualified law enforcement donation credit shall be retroactively denied. With
respect to such denied credit, any applicable tax, interest, and penalties
shall be due if the qualified law enforcement donation credit has already been
claimed.
(i) If the Commissioner
preapproved a donation for a tax credit prior to the date the qualified law
enforcement foundation is removed from the Department's list pursuant to
O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25(j) and
paragraph (22) of this regulation, notwithstanding any laws to the contrary,
the Department shall not take any adverse action against preapproved donors,
and all such donations shall remain as preapproved tax credits subject only to
the donor's compliance with O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25(e) and
this paragraph.
(j) Once the
calendar-year limit is reached for a calendar year, taxpayers shall no longer
be eligible for a credit pursuant to O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25 for such calendar year.
If any Form IT-QLED-TP1 is received after the calendar-year limit has been
reached, then it shall be denied and not be reconsidered for preapproval at any
later date.
(13)
Letter of Confirmation. Form IT-QLED-LEF1 shall be provided by the
law enforcement foundation to the taxpayer to confirm the contribution within
30 days of the contribution.
(14)
Claiming the Credit. A taxpayer claiming the qualified law
enforcement donation credit, unless indicated otherwise by the Commissioner,
must submit Form IT-QLED-TP2 with the taxpayer's Georgia tax return when the
qualified law enforcement donation credit is claimed. An electronically filed
Georgia income tax return that includes the software's electronic Form
IT-QLED-TP2 satisfies this requirement.
(15)
E-filing Attachment
Requirements. If a taxpayer claiming the credit electronically files
their tax return, the Form IT-QLED-LEF1 shall be required to be attached to the
return only if the Internal Revenue Service allows such attachments when the
data is transmitted to the Department. In the event the taxpayer files an
electronic return and such information is not attached because the Internal
Revenue Service does not, at the time of such electronic filing, allow
electronic attachments to the Georgia return, such information shall be
maintained by the taxpayer and made available upon request by the
Commissioner.
(16)
Carryforward. Any credit that is claimed but not used in a taxable
year shall be allowed to be carried forward for the number of years authorized
under O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25. However, any amount in
excess of the credit amount limits in paragraph (7) of this regulation shall
not be eligible for carryforward to the taxpayer's succeeding years' tax
liability, nor shall such excess amount be claimed by or reallocated to any
other taxpayer.
(17)
Taxpayer
Must Add Back Portion of Federal Deduction on State Return if Taxpayer Takes
State Credit. O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25(k)
provides that no qualified law enforcement donation credit shall be allowed
under O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25 with respect to any
amount deducted from taxable net income by the taxpayer. If the taxpayer is
allowed the state income tax deduction as allowed by the Internal Revenue
Service, for purposes of this paragraph, such deduction shall be considered a
charitable contribution to the extent such deduction is allowed federally.
Accordingly, the taxpayer must add back to Georgia taxable income that part of
any federal deduction taken on a federal return for which a Georgia qualified
law enforcement donation credit is allowed under O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25.
(a) If a taxpayer's itemized deductions are
limited federally (and therefore limited for Georgia purposes) because their
Federal Adjusted Gross Income exceeds a certain amount, the taxpayer is only
required to add back to Georgia taxable income that portion of the federal
charitable deduction that was deducted. The federal charitable deduction that
must be added back to Georgia taxable income shall be the amount of the federal
charitable contribution relating to the qualified law enforcement donation
credit multiplied by the following ratio: The numerator is the amount of the
itemized deductions subject to limitation and allowed as itemized deductions
after the limitation is applied. The denominator is the total itemized
deductions that are subject to limitation before the limitation is applied.
1. For example. A taxpayer has a charitable
contribution of $2,500 relating to the qualified law enforcement donation
credit of $2,500 and has property taxes of $1,500, both of which are subject to
limitation. The taxpayer also has mortgage interest expense of $10,000 (which
is not limited). Accordingly, the taxpayer's total itemized deductions before
limitation are $14,000. After applying the federal limitation, the taxpayer is
allowed $13,000 in itemized deductions. As such, only $3,000 ($13,000 less the
$10,000 mortgage interest expense, which is not limited) of the original $4,000
charitable deduction and property taxes are allowed to be deducted. Applying
the ratio from the subparagraph above, the taxpayer must add back $1,875 of the
charitable contribution to their Georgia taxable income (($2,500) X ($3,000 /
$4,000)).
(18)
Website Posting by Qualified Law Enforcement Foundation. By April
1st of each year, each qualified law enforcement foundation shall post on its
website in a prominent place a copy of its affiliated local law enforcement
unit's prior year's annual budget containing the total amount of funds received
from the local law enforcement unit's local governing body. If a qualified law
enforcement foundation does not maintain a public website, such information
shall be otherwise made available by the foundation to the public upon
request.
(19)
Designation of
Contributions. The tax credit shall not be allowed if the taxpayer
directly or indirectly designates the taxpayer's qualified contributions to any
particular purpose or for the direct benefit of any particular
individual.
(20)
Direct
Contracts. The tax credit shall not be allowed for contributions made to
a qualified law enforcement foundation if the taxpayer directly or indirectly
operates, owns, or is a subsidiary of an association, organization, or other
entity that contracts directly with such qualified law enforcement foundation
or its affiliated local law enforcement unit.
(21)
Soliciting Contributions.
In soliciting contributions, a law enforcement foundation shall not represent
or direct a local law enforcement unit to represent that, in exchange for
contributing to the law enforcement foundation, a taxpayer shall receive a
direct or particular benefit.
(22)
Failure to Comply and Revocation of Qualified Status.
(a) Any qualified law enforcement foundation
that fails to comply with the requirements under O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25 shall be given written
notice of its failure and have 90 days from receipt of such notice to correct
all deficiencies.
(b) If the
qualified law enforcement foundation fails to correct all deficiencies within
90 days of receipt of notice from the Department, such qualified law
enforcement foundation shall:
1. Have its
status as a qualified law enforcement foundation revoked and be immediately
removed from the Department's list of approved qualified law enforcement
foundations;
2. Have all
applications for preapproval of tax credits under O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25 rejected by the
Department on or after the date that the Department removes the qualified law
enforcement foundation from its list of approved qualified law enforcement
foundations; and
3. Be required to
cease all operations as a qualified law enforcement foundation and transfer all
contribution funds that are not yet expended to a properly operating qualified
law enforcement foundation within 30 days of receipt of notice from the
Department of removal from the approved list.
(c) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (a) and
(b), any qualified law enforcement foundation that fails to comply with the
requirements under O.C.G.A. §
48-7-29.25(i)(3)
and paragraph (21) of this regulation shall have its status as a qualified law
enforcement foundation revoked and shall not be renewed as a qualified law
enforcement foundation for at least two years from the date of the revocation.
1. The law enforcement foundation shall be
removed from the Department's list of approved qualified law enforcement
foundations, and the Department shall not preapprove any contributions to such
law enforcement foundation.
(23)
Effective Date. This
regulation shall be applicable to taxableyears beginning on or after January 1,
2025. Taxable years beginning before January 1, 2025 will be governed by the
regulations of Chapter 560-7 as they existed before January 1, 2025 in the same
manner as if the amendments thereto set forth in this regulation had not been
promulgated.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
(1) Purpose. The purpose of this regulation is to provide guidance concerning the administration of the tax credit under O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25.
(2) Definitions.
(a) The terms "qualified contributions", "qualified expenditures", and "local law enforcement unit" shall have the same meaning as in O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25.
(b) "Law enforcement foundation" means any domestic nonprofit corporation with the sole function of supporting one local law enforcement unit through a formal relationship recognized by such local law enforcement unit and which maintains nonprofit status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and tax-exempt status under O.C.G.A. § 48-7-25. A law enforcement foundation may conduct additional activities that support firefighters and first responders but cannot use qualified contributions for such additional activities.
(c) "Letter of authorization" means the letter from a local law enforcement unit that designates a law enforcement foundation as its sole and exclusive law enforcement foundation and that is signed by the chief of police, law enforcement head, or sheriff of the local law enforcement unit.
(d) "Form 990" means the annual information returns and electronic notices of the Federal Form 990 series filed with the Internal Revenue Service, including Form 990, Form 990-EZ, and Form 990-N.
(e) "Contributions Report" means the report detailing the contributions received that must be prepared on a calendar-year basis and submitted to the Department .
(3) Certification of Qualified Law Enforcement Foundation. The law enforcement foundation must apply for certification as a qualified law enforcement foundation and submit Form IT-LEF to the Department through the Georgia Tax Center . The Department will not process any Form IT-LEF that is submitted or filed in any other manner.
(a) Application. The law enforcement foundation must electronically attest on Form IT-LEF to the Department through the Georgia Tax Center that:
1. An authorized person is submitting Form IT-LEF on behalf of the law enforcement foundation;
2. A single local law enforcement unit has designated the applicant as its sole and exclusive qualified law enforcement foundation;
3. The law enforcement foundation agrees to fully comply with the terms and conditions under O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25; and
4. The law enforcement foundation understands that to knowingly prepare or present a document that is false, fictitious, or fraudulent in any matter within the jurisdiction of the Department is a felony under O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20.
(b) Letter of Authorization. The law enforcement foundation must submit the letter of authorization along with Form IT-LEF to the Department through the Georgia Tax Center . The letter of authorization must state :
1. The name of the local law enforcement unit;
2. The type of agency, office, or department of the local law enforcement unit;
3. The address of the local law enforcement unit;
4. The federal employer identification number of the local law enforcement unit;
5. The name of the law enforcement foundation that is designated by the local law enforcement unit to be its sole and exclusive law enforcement foundation;
6. The federal employer identification number of the law enforcement foundation that is designated by the local law enforcement unit to be its sole and exclusive law enforcement foundation;
7. The address of the law enforcement foundation that is designated by the local law enforcement unit to be its sole and exclusive law enforcement foundation;
8. The name of the previous law enforcement foundation that was designated by the local law enforcement unit to be its sole and exclusive law enforcement foundation (if applicable); and
9. The federal employer identification number of the previous law enforcement foundation that was designated by the local law enforcement unit to be its sole and exclusive law enforcement foundation (if applicable).
(c) Letter of Determination Recognizing Nonprofit Status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code . The law enforcement foundation must submit a copy of the letter of determination recognizing nonprofit status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code along with Form IT-LEF to the Department through the Georgia Tax Center .
1. If the law enforcement foundation has a pending application for nonprofit status filed with the Internal Revenue Service, it must submit copies of official correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service relating to the pending application, such as receipt acknowledgement letters or requests for additional information letters, along with Form IT-LEF to the Department through the Georgia Tax Center .
2. When the pending application is later processed by the Internal Revenue Service, the law enforcement foundation is not required to later submit a copy of the letter of determination recognizing nonprofit status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to the Department .
3. If the law enforcement foundation has a pending protest after receiving a proposed adverse determination letter denying nonprofit status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code , the foundation must submit copies of official correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service Appeals Office, such as an acknowledgment and conference letter, along with Form IT-LEF to the Department through the Georgia Tax Center .
4. If the law enforcement foundation has a pending action for declaratory judgment after receiving a final adverse determination letter denying nonprofit status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code , the foundation must submit copies of court documents relating to the pending action, such as a notice of receipt of petition or a court order, along with Form IT-LEF to the Department through the Georgia Tax Center .
(d) The Department shall have rolling applications and certifications for qualified law enforcement foundations.
(e) Notice. The Department will notify the law enforcement foundation of the approval or denial of certification within thirty (30) days from the date the Form IT-LEF was submitted through the Georgia Tax Center .
(4) Law Enforcement Foundation Designation Change. If a qualified law enforcement foundation that was designated by a local law enforcement unit as the sole and exclusive foundation for the local law enforcement unit is no longer designated as such, then the qualified law enforcement foundation or the local law enforcement unit shall notify the Department in writing. The law enforcement foundation shall be removed from the Department 's list of approved qualified law enforcement foundations, and the_Department shall not preapprove any future contributions to such law enforcement foundation. If a new law enforcement foundation is designated by the local law enforcement unit as the new sole and exclusive foundation for the local law enforcement unit, then the new law enforcement foundation shall apply for certification as a qualified law enforcement foundation.
(5) Credit Cap. In no event shall the aggregate amount of tax credits allowed under O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25 exceed $75 million per calendar year for years beginning on or after January 1, 2023 and ending on or before December 31, 2027, unless otherwise provided by law.
(6) Individual Law Enforcement Foundation Limitation . For each calendar year of the credit, no more than $3 million of credit shall be preapproved for qualified contributions to any individual law enforcement foundation. On the day and time any Form IT-QLED-TP1 is received during a calendar year that causes the individual law enforcement foundation limitation in this paragraph to be reached, then any subsequent credit preapproval applications for qualified contributions to such individual law enforcement foundation shall be denied. There shall be no proration based on the date an application is received. The Department shall notify such individual law enforcement foundation if the $3 million limitation is reached.
(a) If a taxpayer is denied preapproval for this tax credit by the Department due to the individual law enforcement foundation limitation in this paragraph, the taxpayer may reapply for preapproval and list a law enforcement foundation from the Department 's list of approved law enforcement foundations that has not reached the individual law enforcement foundation limitation . For purposes of priority, in the event the credit cap is reached, the taxpayer 's date of reapplication will govern.
(b) No provision in O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25 or in this regulation shall be construed to limit the ability of a local law enforcement unit to receive gifts, grants, and other benefits from any source allowed by law; provided, however, that no local law enforcement unit shall accept or receive more than $3 million in contributions made under O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25 and this regulation in any calendar year.
(7) Credit Amount. Subject to the aggregate limit provided in paragraph (5) and the individual law enforcement foundation limitation provided in paragraph (6), for calendar years beginning on January 1, 2023, and ending on or before December 31, 2027, the amount of qualified law enforcement donation credit allowed to a taxpayer shall be as follows:
(a) For an individual taxpayer or head of household, the credit amount shall not exceed the actual amount of qualified contributions made or $5,000, whichever is less.
(b) For an individual taxpayer filing a married-filing-separate return, the credit amount shall not exceed the actual amount of qualified contributions made or $5,000, whichever is less.
(c) For individual taxpayers filing a married-filing-joint return, the credit amount shall not exceed the actual amount of qualified contributions made or $10,000, whichever is less.
1. Example: Taxpayers, a married couple filing jointly, request preapproval for the qualified law enforcement donation credit for calendar year 2023 by electronically submitting Form IT-QLED-TP1 through the Georgia Tax Center . On Form IT-QLED-TP1, Taxpayers' intended 2023 contribution is $7,100; therefore, the Department preapproves Taxpayers for a qualified law enforcement donation credit of $7,100. Taxpayers make a $3,000 donation to the qualified law enforcement foundation within 60 days of receiving preapproval from the Department and before the end of 2023 (this is the only amount of qualified contributions made by Taxpayers to a qualified law enforcement foundation in 2023). When Taxpayers file their 2023 Georgia income tax return, they can only claim a qualified law enforcement donation credit of $3,000 (which is the actual amount of qualified contributions made), and the extra $4,100 that was preapproved but not contributed cannot be claimed by Taxpayers and cannot be carried forward. Any amount of the $3,000 qualified law enforcement donation credit claimed but not used on Taxpayers' 2023 Georgia income tax return shall be allowed to be carried forward to apply to their succeeding five years' tax liability.
(d) For an individual taxpayer who is a member of a limited liability company duly formed under state law (including a member who owns a single-member limited liability company that is disregarded for income tax purposes), a shareholder of a S corporation , or a partner in a partnership, the credit is limited to the actual amount of qualified contributions made or $10,000 per year, whichever is less; provided, however, that the tax credits shall only be allowed for the Georgia income on which such tax was actually paid by such member of a limited liability company, shareholder of a S corporation , or partner in a partnership. In determining such Georgia income, the shareholder, partner, or member shall exclude any income that was subtracted on their Georgia return because the entity paid tax at the pass-through entity level in Georgia as provided in Regulation 560-7-3-.03. If the individual taxpayer is a member, partner, or shareholder in more than one pass-through entity, the total credit allowed cannot exceed $10,000; the individual taxpayer decides which pass-through entities to include when computing Georgia income for purposes of the qualified law enforcement donation credit. All Georgia income, loss, and expense from the taxpayer -selected pass-through entities will be combined to determine Georgia income for purposes of the qualified law enforcement donation credit. Such combined Georgia income shall be multiplied by the applicable marginal tax rate to determine the tax that was actually paid. If the taxpayer is filing a joint return, the taxpayer 's spouse may also claim a credit for the spouse's ownership interests and shall separately be eligible for a credit as provided in this subparagraph. If the taxpayer is preapproved for an amount that exceeds the amount that is calculated as allowed when the return is filed, the excess amount cannot be claimed by the taxpayer and cannot be carried forward.
1. Example: Taxpayer , an individual taxpayer , is the sole shareholder of A, Inc., an S corporation . Taxpayer is also a 50% partner in BC Company, a partnership, and is also a 20% member of a limited liability company, XYZ Company, which is taxed as a partnership. Taxpayer requests preapproval for the qualified law enforcement donation credit for calendar year 2023 by submitting Form IT-QLED-TP1. On Form IT-QLED-TP1, Taxpayer estimates that the Georgia income from A, Inc. is $120,000 and that the share of Georgia income from BC Company is $60,000. Taxpayer chooses not to include any income from XYZ Company when estimating Georgia income for purposes of the qualified law enforcement donation credit; therefore, the Department preapproves Taxpayer for a qualified law enforcement donation credit of $10,000 (since $10,000 is less than $10,350 (5.75% of $180,000) and the applicable marginal tax rate for 2023 is 5.75%). Taxpayer makes a $10,000 donation to the law enforcement foundation within 60 days of receiving preapproval from the Department and before the end of 2023. When Taxpayer files the_2023 Georgia income tax return, Taxpayer received a salary from A, Inc. of $50,000, and A, Inc.'s actual Georgia income is $60,000. Taxpayer 's actual share of Georgia income from BC Company is $20,000, and Taxpayer received a guaranteed payment from BC Company of $15,000. Taxpayer 's actual share of Georgia income from XYZ Company is $5,000 (Taxpayer can choose to include this company even though it was not considered at the time of preapproval). Taxpayer can only claim a qualified law enforcement donation credit of $8,625 (which is 5.75% of the $150,000 actual income from Taxpayer 's selected pass-through entities ), and the extra $1,375 cannot be claimed by Taxpayer and cannot be carried forward. Any amount of the $8,625 qualified law enforcement donation credit claimed but not used on Taxpayer 's 2023 Georgia income tax return shall be allowed to be carried forward to apply to Taxpayer 's succeeding five years' tax liability.
(e) For a corporation , fiduciary, an S corporation that makes the election to pay tax at the entity level under O.C.G.A. § 48-7-21, or a partnership that makes the election to pay tax at the entity level under O.C.G.A. § 48-7-23, the credit amount shall not exceed the actual amount of qualified contributions made or 75 percent of the corporation 's, fiduciary's, electing S corporation 's, or electing partnership's income tax liability, whichever is less. Fiduciary entities cannot pass the credit through to their beneficiaries. S corporations and partnerships that elect to pay taxes at the entity level may make an irrevocable election to pass all or part of the credit through to their members, partners, or shareholders by completing the "credit allocation to owners" schedule on an original or amended Form 600S or Form 700.
1. Example: Taxpayer , a corporation , requests preapproval for the qualified law enforcement donation credit for calendar year 2023 by electronically submitting Form IT-QLED-TP1 through the Georgia Tax Center . On Form IT-QLED-TP1, Taxpayer 's intended 2023 contribution is $75,000, and Taxpayer 's estimated 2023 income tax liability is $100,000. Therefore, the Department preapproves Taxpayer for a qualified law enforcement donation credit of $75,000 for 2023. Taxpayer makes a $75,000 donation to the law enforcement foundation within 60 days of receiving preapproval from the Department and before the end of 2023. When Taxpayer files its 2023 Georgia income tax return, Taxpayer 's 2023 income tax liability is $80,000. Taxpayer can only claim a qualified law enforcement donation credit of $60,000 ($60,000 is 75% of the actual 2023 Georgia income tax liability), and the extra $15,000 cannot be claimed by Taxpayer and cannot be carried forward. Any amount of the $60,000 qualified law enforcement donation credit claimed but not used on Taxpayer 's 2023 Georgia income tax return shall be allowed to be carried forward to apply to its succeeding five years' tax liability.
2. Example: Taxpayer , a S corporation electing to pay tax at the entity level, requests preapproval for the qualified law enforcement donation credit for calendar year 2023 by electronically submitting Form IT-QLED-TP1 through the Georgia Tax Center . On Form IT-QLED-TP1. Taxpayer 's intended 2023 contribution is $75,000, and Taxpayer 's estimated 2023 income tax liability is $100,000. Therefore, the Department preapproves Taxpayer for a qualified law enforcement donation credit of $75,000 for 2023. Taxpayer makes a $75,000 donation to the law enforcement foundation within 60 days of receiving preapproval from the Department and before the end of 2023. When Taxpayer files its 2023 Georgia income tax return, Taxpayer 's 2023 income tax liability is $80,000. Taxpayer can only claim a qualified law enforcement donation credit of $60,000 ($60,000 is 75% of the actual 2023 Georgia income tax liability), and the extra $15,000 cannot be claimed by Taxpayer and cannot be carried forward. Any amount of the $60,000 qualified law enforcement donation credit claimed but not used on Taxpayer 's 2023 Georgia income tax return shall be allowed to be carried forward to apply to its succeeding five years' tax liability but shall not be allowed to be passed through to and used by the shareholders unless an election is made to pass the credit through to the shareholders.
(f) Except as provided in subparagraph (7)(e) of this regulation, when the taxpayer is a pass-through entity that has no income tax liability of its own, the tax credits will be considered earned by its members, shareholders, or partners based on their profit/loss percentage at the end of the year and the limitations of subparagraph (7)(d) of this regulation. The expenditure is made by the pass-through entity, but all credit forms (preapproval, claiming, and reporting) will be filed in the name of its members, shareholders, or partners. The credit can only be applied against the shareholders', members', or partners' tax liabilities on their income tax returns. The pass-through entity shall provide all necessary information to the law enforcement foundation so that the preapproval, claiming, and reporting forms can be filed in the name of its members, shareholders, or partners.
(g) A taxpayer may apply to make a donation to multiple law enforcement foundations or may apply to make multiple donations to the same law enforcement foundation; provided, however, that each donation must be applied for separately.
(8) Form 990. Each qualified law enforcement foundation must submit a copy of its most recent Form 990 to the Department by May 15. If the qualified law enforcement foundation filed the Form 990-N, then it must submit a copy of the filing confirmation or the listing by the Internal Revenue Service of the Form 990-N filing to the Department . If the qualified law enforcement foundation is not required by federal law to file a Form 990, then the foundation must submit the Form 990 Proxy Spreadsheet found on the Department 's website through the Georgia Tax Center by May 15.
(9) Contributions Report.
(a) The contributions report detailing the contributions received for the prior calendar year shall be submitted by each qualified law enforcement foundation by May 15. Form IT-QLED-LEF2 shall be the form used to submit the report. The report shall be submitted electronically through the Georgia Tax Center .
(b) The report shall be prepared on a calendar-year basis, regardless of the fiscal year of the qualified law enforcement foundation.
(c) The report shall include the following:
1. The total number and dollar value of individual contributions and qualified law enforcement donation credits preapproved. Individual contributions shall include contributions made by those filing income tax returns as single, head of household, married filing separately, and married filing jointly;
2. The total number and dollar value of corporation , trust, S corporation , and partnership contributions and qualified law enforcement donation credits preapproved;
3. The total number and dollar value of all qualified expenditures made;
4. A list of contributors, including the dollar value of each_contribution and the dollar value of each preapproved tax credit; and
5. Any other information required by the Commissioner .
(10) Website Posting by the Department . The following shall be posted on the Department 's website:
(a) The application and requirements to be certified as a qualified law enforcement foundation:
(b) The list of all qualified law enforcement foundations and their affiliate local law enforcement units;
(c) The aggregate amount of tax credits remaining and available for preapproval for each year;
(d) The method for taxpayers seeking preapproval status for contributions through the Georgia Tax Center ; and
(e) The Form 990 and contributions report received from each qualified law enforcement foundation, except for the information in subparagraph (c)4. of paragraph (9).
(11) Confidential Taxpayer Information. Except for the information published under paragraph (10), all information or reports relative to O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25 and this regulation that were provided by qualified law enforcement foundations to the Department shall be confidential taxpayer information, governed by O.C.G.A. §§ 48-2-15, 48-7-60, and 48-7-61, whether such information relates to the contributing taxpayer or the qualified law enforcement foundation.
(12) Mandatory Electronic Preapproval of the Contribution.
(a) The taxpayer must electronically submit Form IT-QLED-TP1 through the Georgia Tax Center to request preapproval of the qualified law enforcement donation credit from the Department . The Department will not preapprove any qualified law enforcement donation credit where the Form IT-QLED-TP1 is submitted or filed in any other manner. Each qualified law enforcement foundation shall be registered with the Department to facilitate the preapproval process for Form IT-QLED-TP1.
(b) The taxpayer should not submit Form IT-QLED-TP1 to the Department until the taxpayer 's recipient law enforcement foundation is listed on the Department 's website. If the taxpayer 's recipient law enforcement foundation is not listed on the website at the time that the Department attempts to verify the organization's listing, the Department shall deny the preapproval request. If, at a later date, the taxpayer 's recipient law enforcement foundation becomes listed, it will be necessary for the taxpayer to submit a new Form IT-QLED-TP1 to the Department .
(c) The electronic Form IT-QLED-TP1 shall include the following information:
1. The name of the qualified law enforcement foundation listed on the Department 's website to which the contribution will be made;
2. The taxpayer identification number of the qualified law enforcement foundation to which the contribution will be made;
3. The name, address, and taxpayer identification number of the taxpayer ;
4. The type of taxpayer ;
5. If the taxpayer is an individual , the filing status;
6. If the taxpayer is an individual filing a joint return, the name and taxpayer identification number of the joint filer;
7. The intended contribution amount;
8. If the contributor is a corporation , fiduciary, electing S corporation , or electing partnership, 75% of the estimated income tax liability the corporation , fiduciary, electing S corporation , or electing partnership expects for the tax year of the corporation , fiduciary, S corporation , or partnership in which the contribution will be made;
9. Tax year end of the taxpayer ;
10. Calendar year in which the contribution will be made;
11. Any other information the Commissioner may require;
12. Certification that all information contained on the Form IT-QLED-TP1 is true to his/her best knowledge and belief and is submitted for the purpose of obtaining preapproval from the Commissioner .
(d) The qualified law enforcement donation credit shall be allowed on a first-come, first-served basis. The date and time the Form IT-QLED-TP1 is electronically submitted shall be used to determine such first-come, first-served basis.
(e) The Department will notify each taxpayer and the taxpayer 's selected qualified law enforcement foundation of the tax credits preapproved, denied, or prorated to such taxpayer within 30 days from the date the Form IT-QLED-TP1 was received.
(f) On the day any Form IT-QLED-TP1 is received for a calendar year that causes the calendar-year limit in paragraph (5) of this regulation to be reached, the remaining tax credits shall be allocated among the applicants who submitted the Form IT-QLED-TP1 on the day the calendar-year limit was exceeded on a pro rata basis based upon the amounts otherwise allowed by O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25 and this regulation. Only credit amounts on Form IT-QLED-TP1(s) received on the day the calendar-year limit was exceeded shall be allocated on a pro rata basis.
(g) The contribution must be made by the taxpayer within 60 days of the date of the preapproval notice received from the Department and within the calendar year in which it was preapproved.
(h) In the event it is determined that a taxpayer has not met all the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25, then the qualified law enforcement donation credit shall not be preapproved or the preapproved qualified law enforcement donation credit shall be retroactively denied. With respect to such denied credit, any applicable tax, interest, and penalties shall be due if the qualified law enforcement donation credit has already been claimed.
(i) If the Commissioner preapproved a donation for a tax credit prior to the date the qualified law enforcement foundation is removed from the Department 's list pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25(j) and paragraph (22) of this regulation, notwithstanding any_laws to the contrary, the Department shall not take any adverse action against preapproved donors, and all such donations shall remain as preapproved tax credits subject only to the donor's compliance with O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25(e) and this paragraph.
(j) Once the calendar-year limit is reached for a calendar year, taxpayers shall no longer be eligible for a credit pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25 for such calendar year. If any Form IT-QLED-TP1 is received after the calendar-year limit has been reached, then it shall be denied and not be reconsidered for preapproval at any later date.
(13) Letter of Confirmation. Form IT-QLED-LEF1 shall be provided by the law enforcement foundation to the taxpayer to confirm the contribution within 15 days of the contribution.
(14) Claiming the Credit . A taxpayer claiming the qualified law enforcement donation credit, unless indicated otherwise by the Commissioner , must submit Form IT-QLED-TP2 with the taxpayer 's Georgia tax return when the qualified law enforcement donation credit is claimed. An electronically filed Georgia income tax return that includes the software's electronic Form IT-QLED-TP2 satisfies this requirement.
(15) E-filing Attachment Requirements. If a taxpayer claiming the credit electronically files their tax return, the Form IT-QLED-LEF1 shall be required to be attached to the return only if the Internal Revenue Service allows such attachments when the data is transmitted to the Department . In the event the taxpayer files an electronic return and such information is not attached because the Internal Revenue Service does not, at the time of such electronic filing, allow electronic attachments to the Georgia return, such information shall be maintained by the taxpayer and made available upon request by the Commissioner .
(16) Carry Forward . Any credit that is claimed but not used in a taxable year shall be allowed to be carried forward to apply to the taxpayer 's succeeding five years' tax liability. However, any amount in excess of the credit amount limits in paragraph (7) of this regulation shall not be eligible for carryforward to the taxpayer 's succeeding years' tax liability, nor shall such excess amount be claimed by or reallocated to any other taxpayer .
(17) Taxpayer Must Add Back Portion of Federal Deduction on State Return if Taxpayer Takes State Credit. O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25(k) provides that no qualified law enforcement donation credit shall be allowed under O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25 with respect to any amount deducted from taxable net income by the taxpayer . If the taxpayer is allowed the state income tax deduction as allowed by the Internal Revenue Service, for purposes of this paragraph, such deduction shall be considered a charitable contribution to the extent such deduction is allowed federally. Accordingly, the taxpayer must add back to Georgia taxable income that part of any federal deduction taken on a federal return for which a Georgia qualified law enforcement donation credit is allowed under O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25.
(a) If a taxpayer 's itemized deductions are limited federally (and therefore limited for Georgia purposes) because their Federal Adjusted Gross Income exceeds a certain amount, the taxpayer is only required to add back to Georgia taxable income that portion of the federal charitable deduction that was deducted. The federal charitable deduction that must be added back to Georgia taxable income shall be the amount of the federal charitable contribution relating to the qualified law enforcement donation credit multiplied by the following ratio: The numerator is the amount of the_itemized deductions subject to limitation and allowed as itemized deductions after the limitation is applied. The denominator is the total itemized deductions that are subject to limitation before the limitation is applied.
1. For example. A taxpayer has a charitable contribution of $2,500 relating to the qualified law enforcement donation credit of $2,500 and has property taxes of $1,500, both of which are subject to limitation . The taxpayer also has mortgage interest expense of $10,000 (which is not limited). Accordingly, the taxpayer 's total itemized deductions before limitation are $14,000. After applying the federal limitation , the taxpayer is allowed $13,000 in itemized deductions. As such, only $3,000 ($13,000 less the $10,000 mortgage interest expense, which is not limited) of the original $4,000 charitable deduction and property taxes are allowed to be deducted. Applying the ratio from the subparagraph above, the taxpayer must add back $1,875 of the charitable contribution to their Georgia taxable income (($2,500) X ($3,000 / $4,000)).
(18) Website Posting by Qualified Law Enforcement Foundation. By April 1st of each year, each qualified law enforcement foundation shall post on its website in a prominent place a copy of its affiliated local law enforcement unit's prior year's annual budget containing the total amount of funds received from the local law enforcement unit's local governing body. If a qualified law enforcement foundation does not maintain a public website, such information shall be otherwise made available by the foundation to the public upon request.
(19) Designation of Contributions. The tax credit shall not be allowed if the taxpayer directly or indirectly designates the taxpayer 's qualified contributions to any particular purpose or for the direct benefit of any particular individual .
(20) Direct Contracts. The tax credit shall not be allowed for contributions made to a qualified law enforcement foundation if the taxpayer directly or indirectly operates, owns, or is a subsidiary of an association, organization, or other entity that contracts directly with such qualified law enforcement foundation or its affiliated local law enforcement unit.
(21) Soliciting Contributions. In soliciting contributions, a law enforcement foundation shall not represent or direct a local law enforcement unit to represent that, in exchange for contributing to the law enforcement foundation, a taxpayer shall receive a direct or particular benefit.
(22) Failure to Comply and Revocation of Qualified Status.
(a) Any qualified law enforcement foundation that fails to comply with the requirements under O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25 shall be given written notice of its failure and have 90 days from receipt of such notice to correct all deficiencies.
(b) If the qualified law enforcement foundation fails to correct all deficiencies within 90 days of receipt of notice from the Department , such qualified law enforcement foundation shall:
1. Have its status as a qualified law enforcement foundation revoked and be immediately removed from the Department 's list of approved qualified law enforcement foundations;
2. Have all applications for preapproval of tax credits under O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25 rejected by the Department on or after the date that the Department removes the qualified law enforcement foundation from its list of approved qualified law enforcement foundations; and
3. Be required to cease all operations as a qualified law enforcement foundation and transfer all contribution funds that are not yet expended to a properly operating qualified law enforcement foundation within 30 days of receipt of notice from the Department of removal from the approved list.
(c) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (a) and (b), any qualified law enforcement foundation that fails to comply with the requirements under O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.25(i)(3) and paragraph (21) of this regulation shall have its status as a qualified law enforcement foundation revoked and shall not be renewed as a qualified law enforcement foundation for at least two years from the date of the revocation.
1. The law enforcement foundation shall be removed from the Department 's list of approved qualified law enforcement foundations, and the Department shall not preapprove any contributions to such law enforcement foundation.
(23) Effective Date . This regulation shall be applicable to years beginning on or after January 1, 2023.