2017 Montana Legislature

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HOUSE BILL NO. 249

INTRODUCED BY K. DUDIK

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING INCOME TAX BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS THAT PROVIDE STUDENT LOAN REIMBURSEMENTS TO EMPLOYEES; PROVIDING A DEDUCTION TO EMPLOYERS THAT REIMBURSE EMPLOYEES FOR STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS; PROVIDING AN EXCLUSION FROM STATE ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME FOR STUDENT LOAN REIMBURSEMENTS MADE BY AN EMPLOYER; EXEMPTING EMPLOYER STUDENT LOAN REIMBURSEMENTS FROM WAGES FOR PURPOSES OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION; AMENDING SECTIONS 15-30-2110 AND 39-51-201, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN APPLICABILITY DATE."

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

 

     NEW SECTION.  Section 1.  Deduction for employee student loan reimbursements. (1) In addition to all other deductions from gross corporate income allowed in computing net income under this part, an employer is allowed a deduction for student loan reimbursements made to an employee as provided in this section.

     (2) The total deduction may not exceed $3,600.

     (3) A deduction must be claimed in the tax year in which the student loan reimbursement is made.

     (4) To claim a deduction under this section, the employer must require the employee to provide documentation to the employer of the employee's student loan payment.

     (5) A deduction may not be claimed for more than 10 years for a single employee.

 

     Section 2.  Section 15-30-2110, MCA, is amended to read:

     "15-30-2110.  Adjusted gross income. (1) Subject to subsection (14), adjusted gross income is the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income as defined in section 62 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 62, and in addition includes the following:

     (a)  (i) interest received on obligations of another state or territory or county, municipality, district, or other political subdivision of another state, except to the extent that the interest is exempt from taxation by Montana under federal law;

     (ii) exempt-interest dividends as defined in section 852(b)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 852(b)(5), that are attributable to the interest referred to in subsection (1)(a)(i);

     (b)  refunds received of federal income tax, to the extent that the deduction of the tax resulted in a reduction of Montana income tax liability as determined under subsection (15);

     (c)  that portion of a shareholder's income under subchapter S. of Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code that has been reduced by any federal taxes paid by the subchapter S. corporation on the income;

     (d)  depreciation or amortization taken on a title plant as defined in 33-25-105;

     (e)  the recovery during the tax year of an amount deducted in any prior tax year to the extent that the amount recovered reduced the taxpayer's Montana income tax in the year deducted;

     (f)  if the state taxable distribution of an estate or trust is greater than the federal taxable distribution of the same estate or trust, the difference between the state taxable distribution and the federal taxable distribution of the same estate or trust for the same tax period; and

     (g)  except for exempt-interest dividends described in subsection (2)(a)(ii), the amount of any dividend to the extent that the dividend is not included in federal adjusted gross income.

     (2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, adjusted gross income does not include the following, which are exempt from taxation under this chapter:

     (a)  (i) all interest income from obligations of the United States government, the state of Montana, or a county, municipality, district, or other political subdivision of the state and any other interest income that is exempt from taxation by Montana under federal law;

     (ii) exempt-interest dividends as defined in section 852(b)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 852(b)(5), that are attributable to the interest referred to in subsection (2)(a)(i);

     (b)  interest income earned by a taxpayer who is 65 years of age or older in a tax year up to and including $800 for a taxpayer filing a separate return and $1,600 for each joint return;

     (c)  (i) except as provided in subsection (2)(c)(ii) and subject to subsection (16), the first $4,070 of all pension and annuity income received as defined in 15-30-2101;

     (ii) subject to subsection (16), for pension and annuity income described under subsection (2)(c)(i), as follows:

     (A)  each taxpayer filing singly, head of household, or married filing separately shall reduce the total amount of the exclusion provided in subsection (2)(c)(i) by $2 for every $1 of federal adjusted gross income in excess of $33,910 as shown on the taxpayer's return;

     (B)  in the case of married taxpayers filing jointly, if both taxpayers are receiving pension or annuity income or if only one taxpayer is receiving pension or annuity income, the exclusion claimed as provided in subsection (2)(c)(i) must be reduced by $2 for every $1 of federal adjusted gross income in excess of $33,910 as shown on their joint return;

     (d)  all Montana income tax refunds or tax refund credits;

     (e)  gain required to be recognized by a liquidating corporation under 15-31-113(1)(a)(ii);

     (f)  all tips or gratuities that are covered by section 3402(k) or service charges that are covered by section 3401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, 26 U.S.C. 3402(k) or 3401, as amended and applicable on January 1, 1983, received by a person for services rendered to patrons of premises licensed to provide food, beverage, or lodging;

     (g)  all benefits received under the workers' compensation laws;

     (h)  all health insurance premiums paid by an employer for an employee if attributed as income to the employee under federal law;

     (i)  all money received because of a settlement agreement or judgment in a lawsuit brought against a manufacturer or distributor of "agent orange" for damages resulting from exposure to "agent orange";

     (j)  principal and income in a medical care savings account established in accordance with 15-61-201 or withdrawn from an account for eligible medical expenses, as defined in 15-61-102, of the taxpayer or a dependent of the taxpayer or for the long-term care of the taxpayer or a dependent of the taxpayer;

     (k)  principal and income in a first-time home buyer savings account established in accordance with 15-63-201 or withdrawn from an account for eligible costs, as provided in 15-63-202(7), for the first-time purchase of a single-family residence;

     (l)  contributions or earnings withdrawn from a family education savings account or from a qualified tuition program established and maintained by another state as provided by section 529(b)(1)(A)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 529(b)(1)(A)(ii), for qualified higher education expenses, as defined in 15-62-103, of a designated beneficiary;

     (m)  the recovery during the tax year of any amount deducted in any prior tax year to the extent that the recovered amount did not reduce the taxpayer's Montana income tax in the year deducted;

     (n)  if the federal taxable distribution of an estate or trust is greater than the state taxable distribution of the same estate or trust, the difference between the federal taxable distribution and the state taxable distribution of the same estate or trust for the same tax period;

     (o)  deposits, not exceeding the amount set forth in 15-30-3003, deposited in a Montana farm and ranch risk management account, as provided in 15-30-3001 through 15-30-3005, in any tax year for which a deduction is not provided for federal income tax purposes;

     (p)  income of a dependent child that is included in the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code. The child is required to file a Montana personal income tax return if the child and taxpayer meet the filing requirements in 15-30-2602.

     (q)  principal and income deposited in a health care expense trust account, as defined in 2-18-1303, or withdrawn from the account for payment of qualified health care expenses as defined in 2-18-1303;

     (r)  that part of the refundable credit provided in 33-22-2006 that reduces Montana tax below zero;

     (s)  the amount of the gain recognized from the sale or exchange of a mobile home park as provided in 15-31-163; and

     (t)  the amount of a scholarship to an eligible student by a student scholarship organization pursuant to 15-30-3104;

     (u) student loan reimbursements made to the taxpayer pursuant to [section 1] or subsection (15) of this section. A health care professional that meets the requirements of subsection (13) may exclude student loan reimbursements provided for in [section 1] or subsection (15) of this section in excess of the limit provided for in subsection (13)(a).

     (3)  A shareholder of a DISC that is exempt from the corporate income tax under 15-31-102(1)(l) shall include in the shareholder's adjusted gross income the earnings and profits of the DISC in the same manner as provided by section 995 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 995, for all periods for which the DISC election is effective.

     (4)  A taxpayer who, in determining federal adjusted gross income, has reduced the taxpayer's business deductions by an amount for wages and salaries for which a federal tax credit was elected under sections 38 and 51(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 38 and 51(a), is allowed to deduct the amount of the wages and salaries paid regardless of the credit taken. The deduction must be made in the year that the wages and salaries were used to compute the credit. In the case of a partnership or small business corporation, the deduction must be made to determine the amount of income or loss of the partnership or small business corporation.

     (5)  Married taxpayers filing a joint federal return who are required to include part of their social security benefits or part of their tier 1 railroad retirement benefits in federal adjusted gross income may split the federal base used in calculation of federal taxable social security benefits or federal taxable tier 1 railroad retirement benefits when they file separate Montana income tax returns. The federal base must be split equally on the Montana return.

     (6)  Married taxpayers filing a joint federal return who are allowed a capital loss deduction under section 1211 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 1211, and who file separate Montana income tax returns may claim the same amount of the capital loss deduction that is allowed on the federal return. If the allowable capital loss is clearly attributable to one spouse, the loss must be shown on that spouse's return; otherwise, the loss must be split equally on each return.

     (7)  In the case of passive and rental income losses, married taxpayers filing a joint federal return and who file separate Montana income tax returns are not required to recompute allowable passive losses according to the federal passive activity rules for married taxpayers filing separately under section 469 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 469. If the allowable passive loss is clearly attributable to one spouse, the loss must be shown on that spouse's return; otherwise, the loss must be split equally on each return.

     (8)  Married taxpayers filing a joint federal return in which one or both of the taxpayers are allowed a deduction for an individual retirement contribution under section 219 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 219, and who file separate Montana income tax returns may claim the same amount of the deduction that is allowed on the federal return. The deduction must be attributed to the spouse who made the contribution.

     (9)  (a) Married taxpayers filing a joint federal return who are allowed a deduction for interest paid for a qualified education loan under section 221 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 221, and who file separate Montana income tax returns may claim the same amount of the deduction that is allowed on the federal return. The deduction may be split equally on each return or in proportion to each taxpayer's share of federal adjusted gross income.

     (b)  Married taxpayers filing a joint federal return who are allowed a deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses under section 222 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 222, and who file separate Montana income tax returns may claim the same amount of the deduction that is allowed on the federal return. The deduction may be split equally on each return or in proportion to each taxpayer's share of federal adjusted gross income.

     (10) A taxpayer receiving retirement disability benefits who has not attained 65 years of age by the end of the tax year and who has retired as permanently and totally disabled may exclude from adjusted gross income up to $100 a week received as wages or payments in lieu of wages for a period during which the employee is absent from work due to the disability. If the adjusted gross income before this exclusion exceeds $15,000, the excess reduces the exclusion by an equal amount. This limitation affects the amount of exclusion, but not the taxpayer's eligibility for the exclusion. If eligible, married individuals shall apply the exclusion separately, but the limitation for income exceeding $15,000 is determined with respect to the spouses on their combined adjusted gross income. For the purpose of this subsection, "permanently and totally disabled" means unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determined physical or mental impairment lasting or expected to last at least 12 months.

     (11) (a) An individual who contributes to one or more accounts established under the Montana family education savings program or to a qualified tuition program established and maintained by another state as provided by section 529(b)(1)(A)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 529(b)(1)(A)(ii), may reduce adjusted gross income by the lesser of $3,000 or the amount of the contribution. In the case of married taxpayers, each spouse is entitled to a reduction, not in excess of $3,000, for the spouses' contributions to the accounts. Spouses may jointly elect to treat half of the total contributions made by the spouses as being made by each spouse. The reduction in adjusted gross income under this subsection applies only with respect to contributions to an account of which the account owner is the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or the taxpayer's child or stepchild if the taxpayer's child or stepchild is a Montana resident. The provisions of subsection (1)(e) do not apply with respect to withdrawals of contributions that reduced adjusted gross income.

     (b)  Contributions made pursuant to this subsection (11) are subject to the recapture tax provided in 15-62-208.

     (12) (a) An individual who contributes to one or more accounts established under the Montana achieving a better life experience program or to a qualified program established and maintained by another state as provided by section 529A(e)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 529A(e)(7), may reduce adjusted gross income by the lesser of $3,000 or the amount of the contribution. In the case of married taxpayers, each spouse is entitled to a reduction, not to exceed $3,000, for the spouses' contributions to the accounts. Spouses may jointly elect to treat one-half of the total contributions made by the spouses as being made by each spouse. The reduction in adjusted gross income under this subsection (12)(a) applies only with respect to contributions to an account for which the account owner is the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or the taxpayer's child or stepchild if the taxpayer's child or stepchild is a Montana resident. The provisions of subsection (1)(e) do not apply with respect to withdrawals of contributions that reduced adjusted gross income.

     (b)  Contributions made pursuant to this subsection (12) are subject to the recapture tax provided in 53-25-118.

     (13) (a) A Except as provided in subsection (2)(u), a taxpayer may exclude the amount of the loan payment received pursuant to subsection (13)(a)(iv), not to exceed $5,000, from the taxpayer's adjusted gross income if the taxpayer:

     (i)  is a health care professional licensed in Montana as provided in Title 37;

     (ii) is serving a significant portion of a designated geographic area, special population, or facility population in a federally designated health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area or population, or a federal nursing shortage county as determined by the secretary of health and human services or by the governor;

     (iii) has had a student loan incurred as a result of health-related education; and

     (iv) has received a loan payment during the tax year made on the taxpayer's behalf by a loan repayment program described in subsection (13)(b) as an incentive to practice in Montana.

     (b)  For the purposes of subsection (13)(a), a loan repayment program includes a federal, state, or qualified private program. A qualified private loan repayment program includes a licensed health care facility, as defined in 50-5-101, that makes student loan payments on behalf of the person who is employed by the facility as a licensed health care professional.

     (14) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), adjusted gross income does not include 40% of capital gains on the sale or exchange of capital assets before December 31, 1986, as capital gains are determined under subchapter P. of Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code as it read on December 31, 1986.

     (15) An employer may exclude up to $3,600 for student loan reimbursements made to an employee. The deduction must be administered as provided in [section 1].

     (16) A refund received of federal income tax referred to in subsection (1)(b) must be allocated in the following order as applicable:

     (a)  to federal income tax in a prior tax year that was not deducted on the state tax return in that prior tax year;

     (b)  to federal income tax in a prior tax year that was deducted on the state tax return in that prior tax year but did not result in a reduction in state income tax liability in that prior tax year; and

     (c)  to federal income tax in a prior tax year that was deducted on the state tax return in that prior tax year and that reduced the taxpayer's state income tax liability in that prior tax year.

     (16)(17) By November 1 of each year, the department shall multiply the amount of pension and annuity income contained in subsection (2)(c)(i) and the federal adjusted gross income amounts in subsection (2)(c)(ii) by the inflation factor for the following tax year, rounded to the nearest $10. The resulting amounts are effective for that following tax year and must be used as the basis for the exemption determined under subsection (2)(c). (Subsection (2)(f) terminates on occurrence of contingency--sec. 3, Ch. 634, L. 1983; subsection (2)(o) terminates on occurrence of contingency--sec. 9, Ch. 262, L. 2001; subsection (2)(t) terminates December 31, 2023--sec. 33, Ch. 457, L. 2015.)"

 

     Section 3.  Section 39-51-201, MCA, is amended to read:

     "39-51-201.  General definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following definitions apply:

     (1)  "Annual payroll" means the total amount of wages paid by an employer, regardless of the time of payment, for employment during a calendar year.

     (2)  "Base period" means:

     (a)  the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of an individual's benefit year;

     (b)  if the individual does not have sufficient wages to qualify for benefits under subsection (2)(a), the 4 most recently completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of the individual's benefit year;

     (c)  in the case of a combined-wage claim pursuant to the arrangement approved by the secretary of labor of the United States, the period applicable under the unemployment law of the paying state; or

     (d)  for an individual who fails to meet the qualifications of 39-51-2105 or a similar statute of another state because of a temporary total disability, as defined in 39-71-116, or a similar statute of another state or the United States, the first 4 quarters of the last 5 completed calendar quarters preceding the disability if a claim for unemployment benefits is filed within 24 months of the date on which the individual's disability was incurred.

     (3)  "Benefit year" means the 52-consecutive-week period beginning with the first day of the calendar week in which an individual files a valid claim for benefits, except that the benefit year is 53 weeks if filing a new valid claim would result in overlapping any quarter of the base period of a previously filed new claim. A subsequent benefit year may not be established in Montana until the expiration of the current benefit year. However, in the case of a combined-wage claim pursuant to the arrangement approved by the secretary of labor of the United States, the benefit year is the period applicable under the unemployment law of the paying state.

     (4)  "Benefits" means the money payments payable to an individual, as provided in this chapter, with respect to the individual's unemployment.

     (5)  "Board" means the unemployment insurance appeals board provided for in Title 2, chapter 15, part 17.

     (6)  "Calendar quarter" means the period of 3 consecutive calendar months ending on March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31.

     (7)  "Contributions" means the money payments to the state unemployment insurance fund required by this chapter but does not include assessments under 39-51-404.

     (8)  "Department" means the department of labor and industry provided for in Title 2, chapter 15, part 17.

     (9)  (a) "Domestic or household service" means employment of persons other than members of the household for the purpose of tending to the aid and comfort of the employer or members of the employer's family, including but not limited to housecleaning and yard work.

     (b)  The term does not include employment beyond the scope of normal household or domestic duties, such as home health care or domiciliary care.

     (10) "Employing unit" means any individual or organization, including the state government and any of its political subdivisions or instrumentalities or an Indian tribe or tribal unit, partnership, association, trust, estate, joint-stock company, insurance company, limited liability company or limited liability partnership that has filed with the secretary of state, or corporation, whether domestic or foreign, or the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, trustee or the trustee's successor, or legal representative of a deceased person in whose employ one or more individuals perform or performed services within this state, except as provided under 39-51-204(1)(a) and (1)(j). All individuals performing services within this state for any employing unit that maintains two or more separate establishments within this state are considered to be employed by a single employing unit for all the purposes of this chapter. Each individual employed to perform or assist in performing the work of any agent or employee of an employing unit is considered to be employed by the employing unit for the purposes of this chapter, whether the individual was hired or paid directly by the employing unit or by the agent or employee, provided that the employing unit has actual or constructive knowledge of the work.

     (11) "Employment office" means a free public employment office or branch of an office operated by this state or maintained as a part of a state-controlled system of public employment offices or other free public employment offices operated and maintained by the United States government or its instrumentalities as the department may approve.

     (12) "Fund" means the unemployment insurance fund established by this chapter to which all contributions and payments in lieu of contributions must be paid and from which all benefits provided under this chapter must be paid.

     (13) "Gross misconduct" means a criminal act, other than a violation of a motor vehicle traffic law, for which an individual has been convicted in a criminal court or has admitted or conduct that demonstrates a flagrant and wanton disregard of and for the rights, title, or interest of a fellow employee or the employer.

     (14) "Hospital" means an institution that has been licensed, certified, or approved by the state as a hospital.

     (15) "Independent contractor" means an individual working under an independent contractor exemption certificate provided for in 39-71-417.

     (16) "Indian tribe" means an Indian tribe as defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, 25 U.S.C. 450b(e).

     (17) (a) "Institution of higher education", for the purposes of this part, means an educational institution that:

     (i)  admits as regular students only individuals having a certificate of graduation from a high school or the recognized equivalent of a certificate;

     (ii) is legally authorized in this state to provide a program of education beyond high school;

     (iii) provides an educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor's or higher degree or provides a program that is acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor's or higher degree, a program of postgraduate or postdoctoral studies, or a program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation; and

     (iv) is a public or other nonprofit institution.

     (b)  All universities in this state are institutions of higher education for purposes of this part.

     (18) "Licensed and practicing health care provider" means a health care provider who is primarily responsible for the treatment of a person seeking unemployment insurance benefits and who is:

     (a)  licensed to practice in this state as:

     (i)  a physician under Title 37, chapter 3;

     (ii) a dentist under Title 37, chapter 4;

     (iii) an advanced practice registered nurse under Title 37, chapter 8, and recognized as a nurse practitioner or certified nurse specialist by the board of nursing, established in 2-15-1734;

     (iv) a physical therapist under Title 37, chapter 11;

     (v)  a chiropractor under Title 37, chapter 12;

     (vi) a clinical psychologist under Title 37, chapter 17; or

     (vii) a physician assistant under Title 37, chapter 20; or

     (b)  with respect to a person seeking unemployment insurance benefits who resides outside of this state, a health care provider licensed or certified as a member of one of the professions listed in subsection (18)(a) in the jurisdiction where the person seeking the benefit lives.

     (19) (a) "Misconduct" includes but is not limited to the following conduct by an employee:

     (i)  willful or wanton disregard of the rights, title, and interests of a fellow employee or the employer, including:

     (A)  insubordination showing a deliberate, willful, or purposeful refusal to follow the reasonable directions, processes, or instructions of the employer;

     (B)  repeated inexcusable tardiness following warnings by the employer;

     (C)  dishonesty related to employment, including but not limited to deliberate falsification of company records, theft, deliberate deception, or lying;

     (D)  false statements made as part of a job application process, including but not limited to deliberate falsification of the individual's criminal history, work record, or educational or licensure achievements;

     (E)  repeated and inexcusable absences, including absences for which the employee was able to give advance notice and failed to do so;

     (F)  deliberate acts that are illegal, provoke violence or violation of the law, or violate a collective bargaining agreement by which the employee is covered. However, an employee who engages in lawful union activity may not be disqualified because of misconduct under this subsection (19)(a)(i)(F).

     (G)  violations of a company rule if the rule is reasonable and if the claimant knew or should have known of the existence of the rule; or

     (H)  actions by the claimant who, while acting within the scope of employment, commits violations of law that significantly affect the claimant's job performance or that significantly harm the employer's ability to do business;

     (ii) deliberate violations or disregard of established employer standards or of standards of behavior that the employer has the right to expect of an employee;

     (iii) carelessness or negligence that causes or is likely to cause serious bodily harm to the employer or a fellow employee; or

     (iv) carelessness or negligence of a degree or that reoccurs to a degree to show an intentional or substantial disregard of the employer's interest.

     (b)  The term does not include:

     (i)  inefficiency, unsatisfactory conduct, or failure to perform well as the result of inability or incapacity;

     (ii) inadvertent or ordinary negligence in isolated instances; or

     (iii) good faith errors in judgment or discretion.

     (20) "No-additional-cost service" has the meaning provided in section 132 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 132.

     (21) "State" includes, in addition to the states of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Canada.

     (22) "Taxes" means contributions and assessments required under this chapter but does not include penalties or interest for past-due or unpaid contributions or assessments.

     (23) "Tribal unit" means an Indian tribe and any tribal subdivision or subsidiary or any business enterprise that is wholly owned by that tribe.

     (24) "Unemployment insurance administration fund" means the unemployment insurance administration fund established by this chapter from which administrative expenses under this chapter must be paid.

     (25) (a) "Wages", unless specifically exempted under subsection (25)(b), means all remuneration payable for personal services, including the cash value of all remuneration paid in any medium other than cash. The reasonable cash value of remuneration payable in any medium other than cash must be estimated and determined pursuant to rules prescribed by the department. The term includes but is not limited to:

     (i)  commissions, bonuses, and remuneration paid for overtime work, holidays, vacations, and sickness periods;

     (ii) severance or continuation pay, backpay, and any similar pay made for or in regard to previous service by the employee for the employer, other than retirement or pension benefits from a qualified plan; and

     (iii) tips or other gratuities received by the employee, to the extent that the tips or gratuities are documented by the employee to the employer for tax purposes.

     (b)  The term does not include:

     (i)  the amount of any payment made by the employer for employees, if the payment was made for:

     (A)  retirement or pension pursuant to a qualified plan as defined under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code;

     (B)  sickness or accident disability under a workers' compensation policy;

     (C)  medical or hospitalization expenses in connection with sickness or accident disability, including health insurance for the employee or the employee's immediate family; or

     (D)  death, including life insurance for the employee or the employee's immediate family;

     (ii) employee expense reimbursements or allowances for meals, lodging, travel, subsistence, or other expenses, as set forth in department rules;

     (iii) a no-additional-cost service;

     (iv) wage subsidies received pursuant to the alternative trade adjustment assistance for older workers program, 19 U.S.C. 2318; or

     (v)  the amount paid as a salary, draw, or profit distribution to a sole proprietor, a working member of a partnership, or a member of a limited liability company that is treated as a partnership or sole proprietorship pursuant to 39-51-207 or to a partner in a limited partnership that has filed with the secretary of state when the salary, draw, or profit distribution is paid directly by the enterprise in which the payee has an ownership interest; or

     (vi) expenses paid or incurred by an employer for student loan reimbursements to an employee as provided for in 15-30-2110(15) or [section 1].

     (26) "Week" means a period of 7 consecutive calendar days ending at midnight on Saturday.

     (27) "Weekly benefit amount" means the amount of benefits that an individual would be entitled to receive for 1 week of total unemployment."

 

     NEW SECTION.  Section 4.  Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 15, chapter 31, part 1, and the provisions of Title 15, chapter 31, part 1, apply to [section 1].

 

     NEW SECTION.  Section 5.  Applicability. [This act] applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2017.

- END -

 


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