GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

S	2 

SENATE BILL 1620
Second Edition Engrossed 6/7/94

Short Title:  Repeal Intangibles Tax.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senators Winner of Buncombe, Hoyle, Sands, Kerr,  Perdue, Daniel, Conder, Plyler, Sherron, Lee, Martin of Pitt, Cooper, Winner of Mecklenburg, Plexico, Ward, Martin of Guilford, Lucas, Cochrane, Edwards, Albertson, Hartsell, Marshall, Carpenter, Smith, Gunter, Forrester, Soles, Simpson, Kincaid; Allran, Harris, Parnell, Speed, Walker, and Warren.
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Referred to:  Finance.

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May 27, 1994

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REPEAL THE INTANGIBLES TAX, TO REIMBURSE COUNTIES AND CITIES FOR THE RESULTING REVENUE LOSS, TO REPEAL EXISTING INCOME TAX PREFERENCES FOR NORTH CAROLINA DIVIDENDS, TO INCREASE THE FRANCHISE TAX, AND TO LEVY A ONE PERCENT TAX ON INCOME FROM INTANGIBLES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 105-213.1 is recodified as G.S. 105-275.2.  The remainder of Article 7 of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes is repealed.  Any taxes collected pursuant to Article 7 of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes on or after the date the Article is repealed shall remain in the General Fund and any refunds made on or after the date the Article is repealed of taxes collected pursuant to that Article shall be charged to the General Fund.
Sec. 2.  G.S. 105-275 is amended by adding the following new subdivisions:
"(31a)	Accounts receivable.
(31b)	Bonds, notes, and other evidences of debt.
(31c)	Shares of stock, including shares and units of ownership of mutual funds, investment trusts, and investment funds.
(31d)	The beneficial or equitable interest in a trust, trust fund, or trust account, including custodial accounts, held by a foreign fiduciary."
Sec. 3.  G.S. 105-213.1, as recodified as G.S. 105-275.2 by Section 1 of this act, reads as rewritten:
"§ 105-275.2.  Reimbursement to counties and municipalities for repeal of State tax on intangible personal property.
(a)	Reimbursement for Repeal of Tax on Money on Deposit, Money on Hand, and Funds on Deposit with Insurance Companies. – On or before August 30 of each year, the Secretary of Revenue shall allocate for distribution to each county and the municipalities in the county the amount allocated to the county under this subsection in 1990.
(a1)	Reimbursement for Partial Repeal of Tax on Accounts Receivable. – On or before August 30 of each year, the Secretary of Revenue shall distribute to counties and municipalities an amount equal to forty percent (40%) of the tax collected on accounts receivable under former Article 7 of this Chapter (repealed) during the 1989-90 fiscal year. The Secretary shall allocate this amount among the counties in proportion to the amount allocated to each county under former G.S. 105-213 (repealed) in August 1994.
(a2)	Reimbursement for Repeal of Tax on Accounts Receivable, Bonds, Stocks, and Foreign Trust Interests. – On or before August 30 of each year, the Secretary shall distribute to counties and municipalities the base amount for that year minus the deduction for local cost items for that year.  The Secretary shall allocate this amount among the counties in proportion to the amount allocated to each county under former G.S. 105-213 (repealed) in August 1994.
For 1995, the base amount is one hundred three percent (103%) of the amount of revenue collected under former Article 7 of this Chapter (repealed) during the 1989-90 fiscal year.  Each year thereafter, the base amount is one hundred three percent (103%) of the base amount for the previous year.  Each year, the deduction for local cost items is an amount equal to the costs during the preceding fiscal year of:
(1)	The Department of Revenue in performing the duties imposed by Article 15 of this Chapter.
(2)	The Property Tax Commission.
(3)	The Institute of Government in operating a training program in property tax appraisal and assessment.
(4)	The personnel and operations provided by the Department of State Treasurer for the Local Government Commission.
(5)	Refunds made during the fiscal year of taxes levied under former Article 7 of this Chapter (repealed).
(6)	The Department of Revenue to collect and administer the taxes levied under former Article 7 of this Chapter (repealed).
(a3)	Distribution Between County and Its Municipalities. – The amounts allocated to each county under this section shall be allocated between the county and the municipalities in the county in proportion to the total amount of ad valorem taxes levied by each during the fiscal year preceding the distribution.  In dividing these amounts between each county and its municipalities, the Secretary of Revenue shall treat taxes levied by a merged school administrative unit described in G.S. 115C-513 in a part of the unit located in a county as taxes levied by the county in which that part is located.
After making these allocations, the Secretary shall certify to the State Controller and to the State Treasurer the amount to be distributed to each county and municipality in the State.  The State Controller shall then issue a warrant on the State Treasurer to each county and municipality in the amount certified.
For the purpose of computing the distribution to any county and the municipalities located in the county for any year with respect to which the property valuation of a public service company is the subject of an appeal and the Department of Revenue is restrained by law from certifying the valuation to the county and the municipalities in the county, the Department shall use the last property valuation of the public service company that has been certified.
The chair of each board of county commissioners and the mayor of each municipality shall report to the Secretary of Revenue information requested by the Secretary to enable the Secretary to allocate the amount distributed by this section.  If a county or municipality fails to make a requested report within the time allowed, the Secretary may disregard the county or municipality in allocating the amount distributed by this section.
	(b)	Restrictions on Use. –The amount distributed to each county and municipality shall be used by the county or municipality in proportion to property tax levies made by it for the various funds and activities of the county or municipality, unless the county or municipality has pledged the amount to be distributed to it under this section in payment of a loan agreement with the North Carolina Solid Waste Management Capital Projects Financing Agency.  A county or municipality that has pledged amounts distributed under this section in payment of a loan agreement with the Agency may apply the amount the loan agreement requires.
	(d)	Source. – Funds distributed under this section shall be drawn from collections received under Division II of Article 4 of this Chapter."
Sec. 4.  Division II of Article 4 of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 105-134.2A. Supplemental income tax imposed.
(a)	Tax. – A tax is imposed upon every resident individual's net income from intangibles at the rate of one percent (1%).  This tax is in addition to the tax imposed in G.S. 105-134.2 and shall be levied, collected, and paid annually in the same manner as the tax levied in G.S. 105-134.2.  An individual's net income from intangibles is the lesser of (i) the individual's North Carolina taxable income or (ii) the individual's net capital gains as defined in section 1222 of the Code and gross dividend income as determined under the Code from intangible personal property described in G.S. 105-275(31b) and (31c) and gross interest income, as determined under the Code, from intangible personal property.  A taxpayer whose tax liability under this section for a taxable year is six dollars ($6.00) or less is not required to pay the tax for that year.
(b)	Exemptions. – The tax levied in this section does not apply to income:
(1)	From an obligation of (i) the United States or its possessions, (ii) this State or a political subdivision of this State, or (iii) a nonprofit educational institution organized or chartered under the laws of this State.
(2)	Deductible under G.S. 105-134.6(b)(2).
(3)	From units of ownership in an investment trust, the corpus of which is composed entirely of obligations described in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, at least eighty percent (80%) of the fair market value of which represents obligations of this State.  In order for the exemption described in this subdivision to apply, the trustees of the investment trust must provide the Secretary not later than December 31 of each year information in the form required by the Secretary sufficient to establish the applicability of the exemption."
Sec. 5.  Division III of Article 4 of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 105-160.2A. Supplemental tax.
A tax is imposed upon every trust's and every estate's net income from intangibles that is for the benefit of a resident of this State.  The tax shall be at the rate of one percent (1%).  This tax is in addition to the tax imposed in G.S. 105-160.2 and shall be levied, collected, and paid annually in the same manner as the tax levied in G.S. 105-160.2.  A trust's or estate's net income from intangibles is the lesser of (i) the trust's or estate's income taxable under G.S. 105-160.2 or (ii) the trust's or estate's net capital gains as defined in section 1222 of the Code and gross dividend income as determined under the Code from intangible personal property described in G.S. 105-275(31b) and (31c) and gross interest income, as determined under the Code, from intangible personal property.  The tax levied in this section does not apply to income exempt from the tax under G.S. 105-134.2A(b).  A taxpayer whose tax liability under this section for a taxable year is six dollars ($6.00) or less is not required to pay the tax for that year."
Sec. 6. G.S. 105-151.19 is repealed.
Sec. 7. G.S. 105-130.7 reads as rewritten:
"§ 105-130.7.  Deductible portion of dividends.
Dividends from stock issued by a corporation are deductible to the extent provided in this section.
	(2)	Dividends received by a corporation from stock in any insurance company of this State taxed under the provisions of G.S. 105-228.5 shall be deductible by such corporation, and a proportionate part of any dividends received from stock in any foreign insurance corporation shall be deductible, such part to be determined on the basis of the ratio of premiums reported for taxation in this State to total premiums collected both in and out of this State.
(3)	A corporation shall be allowed to deduct such proportionate part of dividends received by it from a regulated investment company or a real estate investment trust, as defined in G.S. 105-130.12, as represents and corresponds to income received by such regulated investment company or real estate investment trust which would not be taxed by this State if received directly by the corporation.
(3a)	Dividends received on shares of capital stock owned in a stock-owned savings and loan association taxed under Article 8D of this Chapter shall be deductible.
(4)	Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a corporation may deduct all dividends received from corporations in which it owns more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock.
(5)	Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Division, a corporation that is a shareholder in a holding company may deduct an amount equal to those dividends received by it from the holding company, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the dividends received by the holding company that are deductible by it under subdivisions (2) through (3a) of this section and the denominator of which is the gross dividends received by the holding company. A holding company that owns more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock of one or more holding companies as defined in this subdivision is allowed a deduction for all dividends received from those holding companies and all other corporations in which it owns more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock. As used in this section, the term 'holding company' means a corporation subject to the tax imposed by G.S. 105-130.3 whose ordinary gross income consists of fifty percent (50%) or more of dividend income received from corporations in which it owns more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock.  As used in this subdivision, the term 'dividend' includes, in addition to corporate dividends, distributions received from a partnership by a corporation owning more than a fifty percent (50%) interest in the partnership.
(6)	In no case shall the total amount of dividends that are allowed as a deduction to a corporation as a result of the application of subdivisions (2) through (3a) of this section be in excess of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for the taxable year."
Sec. 8.  G.S. 105-276 reads as rewritten:
"§ 105-276. Taxation of intangible personal property.
Intangible personal property that is not excluded from taxation under G.S. 	105-275 is subject to this Subchapter.  "
Sec. 9.  G.S. 105-305 reads as rewritten:
"§ 105-305. Place for listing intangible personal property.
(a)	Listing Instructions. – This section applies to all taxable intangible personal property that has a tax situs in this State and is not required by this Subchapter to be appraised originally by the Department of Revenue.  The place in this State at which this property is taxable shall be determined as provided in this section.  The person whose duty it is to list property shall list it in the county in which the place of taxation is located, indicating on the abstract the information required by G.S. 105-309(d).  If the place of taxation lies within a city or town that requires separate listing under G.S. 105-326(a), the person whose duty it is to list shall also list the property for taxation in the city or town.
(b)	General Rule. – Except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) through (e) of this section, intangible personal property shall be taxable at the residence of the owner.  For the purposes of this section:
(1)	The residence of a person who has two or more places in this State at which the person occasionally dwells shall be the place the person dwelt for the longest period of time during the calendar year immediately preceding the date as of which property is to be listed for taxation.
(2)	The residence of a domestic or foreign taxpayer other than an individual person shall be the place at which its principal North Carolina office is located.
(c)	Intangible personal property representing an interest or interests in real property that is situated in this State shall be taxable in the place in which the represented real property is located.
(d)	The intangible personal property of a decedent whose estate is in the process of administration or has not been distributed shall be taxable in the place at which it would be taxable if the decedent were still alive and still residing in the place at which the decedent resided at the time of death.
(e)	Intangible personal property within the jurisdiction of the State held by a resident or nonresident trustee, guardian, or other fiduciary having legal title to the property shall be taxable in accordance with the following rules:
(1)	If a beneficiary is a resident of the State, an amount representing the beneficiary's portion of the property shall be taxable in the place at which it would be taxable if the beneficiary were the owner of that portion.
(2)	If a beneficiary is a nonresident of the State, an amount representing the beneficiary's portion of the property shall be taxable in the place at which it would be taxable if the fiduciary were the beneficial owner of the property."
Sec. 10.  G.S. 105-120.2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 105-120.2.  Franchise or privilege tax on holding companies.
(a)	
			Tax. – An annual privilege tax is imposed on holding companies.  This tax is in lieu of the tax imposed by G.S. 105-122.  A holding company shall report and pay the tax at the time set in G.S. 105-122 for reporting and paying the tax imposed by that section.
(b)		
			Rate. – The tax rate is one dollar and sixty-five cents ($1.65) for each one thousand dollars ($1,000) value of the greatest of:
(1)	The holding company's issued and outstanding capital stock, surplus, and undivided profits determined in accordance with G.S. 105-122.
(2)	Fifty-five percent (55%) of the appraised value as determined for ad valorem tax purposes of the holding company's real and tangible personal property in this State as determined annually under G.S. 105-122(d).
(3)	The holding company's investment in tangible property in this State determined in accordance with G.S. 105-122(d).
The tax imposed under subdivision (1)	of this subsection may not exceed eighty-two thousand five hundred dollars ($82,500).  The tax imposed by this section may not be less than the minimum tax set in G.S. 105-122.
(c)	Definition. – A 'holding company' is a corporation that receives during its taxable year more than eighty percent (80%) of its gross income from corporations in which it owns directly or indirectly more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock.
(d)	Repealed by Session Laws 1985, c. 656, s. 39.
(e)	No Local Tax. –  Counties, cities, and towns shall not levy a franchise tax on a holding company taxed under this section. 
(f)	Credit. – A credit is allowed against the tax imposed by this section for a holding company's investments in certain corporations in accordance with Division V of Article 4 of this Chapter.  "
Sec. 11.  G.S. 105-122(d) reads as rewritten:
"(d)	After determining the proportion of its total capital stock, surplus and undivided profits as set out in subsection (c) of this section, which amount so determined shall in no case be less than fifty-five percent (55%) of the appraised value as determined for ad valorem taxation of all the real and tangible personal property in this State of each such corporation nor less than its total actual investment in tangible property in this State, every corporation taxed under this section shall annually pay to the Secretary of Revenue, at the time the report and statement are due, a franchise or privilege tax, which is hereby levied at the rate of one dollar and sixty-five cents ($1.65) per one thousand dollars ($1,000) of the total amount of capital stock, surplus and undivided profits as herein provided. The tax imposed in this section shall in no case be less than thirty-five dollars ($35.00) and shall be for the privilege of carrying on, doing business, and/or the continuance of articles of incorporation or domestication of each such corporation in this State. Appraised value of tangible property including real estate shall be the ad valorem valuation for the calendar year next preceding the due date of the franchise tax return. The term 'total actual investment in tangible property' as used in this section shall be construed to mean the total original purchase price or consideration to the reporting taxpayer of its tangible properties, including real estate, in this State plus additions and improvements thereto less reserve for depreciation as permitted for income tax purposes, and also less any indebtedness incurred and existing by virtue of the purchase of any real estate and any permanent improvements made thereon. In computing 'total actual investment in tangible personal property' there shall also be deducted reserves for the entire cost of any air-cleaning device or sewage or waste treatment plant, including waste lagoons, and pollution abatement equipment purchased or constructed and installed which reduces the amount of air or water pollution resulting from the emission of air contaminants or the discharge of sewage and industrial wastes or other polluting materials or substances into the outdoor atmosphere or into streams, lakes, or rivers, upon condition that the corporation claiming such deduction shall furnish to the Secretary a certificate from the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources or from a local air pollution control program for air-cleaning devices located in an area where the Environmental Management Commission has certified a local air pollution control program pursuant to G.S. 143-215.112 certifying that said Department or local air pollution control program has found as a fact that the air-cleaning device, waste treatment plant or pollution abatement equipment purchased or constructed and installed as above described has actually been constructed and installed and that such device, plant or equipment complies with the requirements of the Environmental Management Commission or local air pollution control program with respect to such devices, plants or equipment, that such device, plant or equipment is being effectively operated in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the permit, certificate of approval, or other document of approval issued by the Environmental Management Commission or local air pollution control program and that the primary purpose thereof is to reduce air or water pollution resulting from the emission of air contaminants or the discharge of sewage and waste and not merely incidental to other purposes and functions. The cost of constructing facilities of any private or public utility built for the purpose of providing sewer service to residential and outlying areas shall be treated as deductible for the purposes of this section; the deductible liability allowed by this section shall apply only with respect to such pollution abatement plants or equipment constructed or installed on or after January 1, 1955.
In determining the total tax payable by any corporation under this section, there shall be allowed as a credit on such tax the amount of the credit authorized by Division V of Article 4 of this Chapter."
Sec. 12.  G.S. 105-282.1(a)(2) reads as rewritten:
"(2)	Owners of the special classes of property excluded from taxation under G.S. 105-275(5), (15), (16), (26), (31), (31a), (31b), (31c), (31d), (32a), (33), (34), or (40), or exempted under G.S. 105-278.2 are not required to file applications for the exclusion or exemption of that property."
Sec. 13.  G.S. 105-288(d) reads as rewritten:
"(d)	Expenses. – The members of the Property Tax Commission shall receive travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with G.S. 138-5 and a salary of two hundred dollars ($200.00) a day when hearing cases.  The Secretary of Revenue shall supply all the clerical and other services required by the Commission.  All expenses of the Commission and the Department of Revenue in performing the duties enumerated in this Article shall be paid as provided in G.S. 105-275.2."
Sec. 14.  G.S. 108A-93 reads as rewritten:
"§ 108A-93. Withholding of State moneys from counties failing to pay public assistance costs.
The Director of the Budget may withhold from any county that does not pay its full share of public assistance costs to the State and has not obtained a loan for repayment under G.S. 108A-89, any State moneys appropriated from the General Fund for public assistance and related administrative costs, or may direct the Secretary of Revenue and State Controller to withhold any tax owed to a county under G.S. 105-113.82, Subchapter VIII of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes, or Chapter 1096 of the Session Laws of 1967. The Director of the Budget shall notify the chair of the board of county commissioners of the proposed action prior to the withholding of funds."
Sec. 15.  Effective January 1, 1996, G.S. 105-275.2(a2)(5) and (6), as enacted by this act, are repealed.
Sec. 16.  Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 105-163.15 and G.S. 105-163.41, no addition to tax shall be made under those sections for a taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 1994, and before January 1, 1995, with respect to any underpayment to the extent the underpayment was created or increased by Section 4, 5, 6, or 7 of this act.
Sec. 17.  Section 3 of this act becomes effective January 1, 1995.  The repeal of G.S. 105-213 by Section 1 of this act becomes effective January 1, 1995.  Section 15 of this act becomes effective January 1, 1996.  The remainder of this act is effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1994.  This act does not affect the rights or liabilities of the State, a taxpayer, or another person arising under a statute amended or repealed by this act before its amendment or repeal; nor does it affect the right to any refund or credit of a tax that would otherwise have been available under the amended or repealed statute before its amendment or repeal.