GO-Biz Now Accepting California Competes Tax Credit Applications

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) is now accepting California Competes Tax Credit applications for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.  GO-Biz will be awarding $151.1 million for businesses expanding or relocating to California.  The application deadlines are as follows:

  • September 29, 2014, through October 27, 2014 ($45 million available)
  • January 5, 2015, through February 2, 2015 ($75 million available)
  • March 9, 2015, through April 6, 2015 ($31.1 million available plus any previously unallocated amounts)

Applications are due by 11:59 PM (PDT) at each date.   The program is open to businesses of any size although 25% of the funding is targeted specifically for small businesses with gross receipts of less than $2 million.  The amount of credit allocated to a taxpayer is based on the following factors:

  • The number of jobs created or retained
  • Compensation paid to employees
  • Amount of investment
  • Extent of unemployment or poverty in business area
  • Other incentives available in California
  • Incentives available in other states
  • Duration of proposed project and duration of commitment to remain in California
  • Overall economic impact
  • Strategic important to the state, region, or locality
  • Opportunity for future growth and expansion
  • Extent the benefit to the state exceeds the amount of the tax credit

Additional information is available at http://www.business.ca.gov/Programs/CaliforniaCompetesTaxCredit.aspx.