Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 209 - Arkansas Agriculture Department
Division 09 - Arkansas Natural Resources Commission
Rule 209.09.20-001 - Title 14 Rules Implementing the Water Resources Conservation and Development Act

A. The State of Arkansas is blessed with abundant rainfall and other surface and underground water resources which, when managed conjunctively, can provide a continuous high-quality water supply to meet the foreseeable needs of the entire state.

B. Existing water use patterns are depleting groundwater supplies at an unacceptable rate and alternative surface water supplies are not available in sufficient quantities without developing additional water storage to alleviate this groundwater depletion problem.

C. The tax incentives provided under this program encourage water users to invest in:

D. It is of utmost importance to Arkansas that within critical groundwater areas, surface water be used when available.

A. Ark. Code Ann. § 26-51-1001 et seq., the Water Resource Conservation and Development Incentives Act.

B. Ark. Code Ann. § 15-20-201 et seq., the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.

C. Ark. Code Ann. § 25-15-201 et seq., the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act.

A. "Acre-foot" means the volumetric measure equal to forty-three thousand five hundred sixty (43,560) cubic feet or approximately three hundred twenty-five thousand nine hundred (325,900) gallons.

B. "Act" means the Water Resource Conservation and Development Incentives Act.

C. "Application" means a written request for approval for tax credits, describing the project including a water conservation plan outlining the operation of the project and any additional requirements as the Commission may adopt by rule.

D. "Approved applicant" means an individual, fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation that submits a written request for approval of a project for tax credits in compliance with this subchapter and receives a Certificate of Tax Credit Approval for that project.

E. "Chief Engineer" means the Chief Engineer of the Natural Resources Division of the Department of Agriculture.

F. "Commission" means the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, established pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 15-20-201 et seq.

G. "Critical groundwater area" means those areas that are designated by the Commission pursuant to the Arkansas Groundwater Protection and Management Act, contained in Title 15, Chapter 22, Subchapter 9 of the Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated.

H. "Department" means the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.

I. "Director" means the Director of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission who shall appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

J. "Division" or "Natural Resources Division" references the Department of Agriculture employees responsible for carrying out the functions of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.

K. "Fee" means the payment made by an applicant to the Division for processing the application pursuant to Section 1402.2 of these rules.

L. "Land-leveling" means modifying the surface relief of a field to a planned grade to provide a more suitable surface for efficiently applying irrigation water without excessive erosion, loss of water quality, or damage to land by water logging.

M. "Local district" means the conservation district in which the project is located.

N. "Project" means:

O. "Project cost" means the actual expenditure for a project less any reimbursement received by an approved applicant from cost-share programs.

P. "Transferee" means a person or corporate entity who receives some or all of an approved applicant's tax credit and is named as the successor to the credit through a certified statement executed by the approved applicant.

Q. "USDA-NRCS" means the United States Department of Agriculture National Resources Conservation Service or its successor.

A. Prior to claiming any tax credits under this program, a taxpayer must obtain a Certificate of Tax Credit Approval from the Director certifying to the Department that the taxpayer has complied with the procedure contained in Subtitle II of these rules.

B. An approved applicant shall not receive a tax credit for costs which are reimbursed from cost share or other programs.

C. Any tax credit or percentage of a tax credit issued to an approved applicant that is a partnership, a limited liability company taxed as a partnership, a subchapter S corporation, or a fiduciary shall be passed through to the partners, members, or owners, respectively, on a pro rata basis or pursuant to an executed agreement between or among the partners, members, or owners documenting an alternative method for the distribution of the credit.

A. Except as otherwise provided herein, an applicant or an approved applicant may appeal, pursuant to Title I, Subtitle V of the Commission's Rules, any decision or action of the Director.

B. All decisions related to recapture of tax credits shall be appealed in accordance with the Department's established procedures as found in Arkansas Code Annotated § 26-18-101 et seq.

A. An applicant requesting a tax credit under this program must submit a written application on a form provided by the Director and pay a required fee, if applicable, to the Division.

B. The application form shall require the following information:

A. With the exception of applications for credits for the installation of watermeasuring or metering devices, an applicant shall pay to the Division a fee in an amount equal to three percent (3%) of the total tax credit approved by the Division. The minimum fee shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) and the maximum fee shall be one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00).

B. Any fee due shall be paid to the Division when an application for tax credit approval is filed. No Certificate of Tax Credit Approval shall be issued until the applicant pays an applicable fee.

C. If the actual project cost is more than the estimated project cost contained in the application, the approved applicant must pay any difference between the original fee and the amount equivalent to three percent (3%) of actual project costs before the issuance of a Certificate of Completion. No Certificate of Completion shall be issued until the fee balance due has been paid. If an approved applicant fails to pay the fee balance, the Director will cancel the Certificate of Tax Approval, barring the approved applicant from claiming any more additional credit, and the Department may seek to recover all tax credit previously claimed.

D. All fees collected shall be deposited in the Water Development Fund.

E. Application fees are not refundable.

A. After reviewing the application, the Director, if he or she determines that the project complies with the Act and this title of the Commission's rules, shall issue a Certificate of Tax Credit Approval based on estimated project costs to any approved applicant whose project meets program requirements.

B. The approved applicant must file the Certificate of Tax Credit Approval or both the Certificate of Tax Credit Approval and Certificate of Completion with his, her, or its income tax return for the first year in which the approved applicant claims a tax credit under the program for the project for which the certificate is issued.

C. With respect to a project undertaken by a partnership, a subchapter S corporation, a limited liability company taxed as a partnership, or a fiduciary, the Certificate of Tax Credit Approval shall be issued to each individual partner, shareholder, member or owner based upon that person's percentage of ownership or pursuant to an executed agreement between or among the partners, members, or owners documenting an alternative method for the distribution of the credit.

A. Upon completion of the project, the approved applicant shall make a written request to the Director for issuance of a Certificate of Completion. As part of the request, the approved applicant shall submit the amount of tax credit requested, a summary of reasonable detail stating the total cost of the project, and any other information requested by the Director.

B. A final inspection shall be conducted by a representative of the Division or the USDA-NRCS.

C. After a satisfactory review and inspection of the project, the Director shall issue a Certificate of Completion based on the approved applicant's reported and documented cost of the project. The entire project must be completed prior to the issuance of any Certificate of Completion.

D. The approved applicant must file the Certificate of Completion with the first tax return filed after issuance of the Certificate of Completion.

A. Plans, designs or specifications must be submitted to the Division for approval and must meet the following criteria:

B. The design and construction must comply with all state or local codes, rules, regulations and laws as they may apply to construction, operation and maintenance.

C. The approved applicant shall allow representatives of the Commission and the USDA-NRCS to inspect the construction, operation or maintenance of facilities at any reasonable time.

D. All projects must be maintained for a minimum life of ten years after issuance of a Certificate of Completion.

A. With the exception of an applicant applying for tax credit for installation of a water-measuring or metering device, only project costs incurred after issuance of a Certificate of Tax Credit Approval shall be claimed for tax credit.

B. All projects must be completed within three years of the date of the Certificate of Tax Credit Approval.

C. If an approved applicant does not complete a project within the three-year period, all credits claimed must be repaid to the Department, and the project will be disallowed as a project for tax credit purposes.

A. If the approved applicant terminates the project prior to expiration of the minimum project life, the approved applicant shall provide written notification to the Director and the Department. In addition, the approved applicant shall file an amended tax return and repay the amount of tax credit claimed which was not allowable.

B. If the Director determines that the approved applicant has terminated the project, he or she shall notify the Department.

C. Upon the termination of a project, the approved applicant shall not be allowed any further tax credits provided in this Act and the Department shall recapture the prorata share of any tax credits claimed under this Act for the period of termination.

D. The pro-rata share for recapture of the disallowed tax credits shall be determined by dividing the period of time from termination of the project until the expiration of the minimum life of the project by the required minimum life of the project times the tax credit claimed.

E. Under the Act, the Department may make necessary assessments to recapture disallowed tax credits for three years from the date of expiration of the minimum life of the project.

A. An approved applicant shall be allowed an income tax credit for a project primarily for an agricultural, commercial or industrial purpose that creates water storage of twenty acre-feet or more by construction and installation or restoration of a water impoundment or water control structure.

B. An approved applicant shall be allowed a tax credit not to exceed the lesser of fifty percent (50%) of the project cost incurred or ninety thousand dollars ($90,000.00).

C. The amount of the credit that may be used by an approved applicant for a taxable year shall not exceed the lesser of the amount of individual or corporate income tax otherwise due or nine thousand dollars ($9,000.00).

D. If the approved applicant is a pass-through entity such as a partnership, a limited liability company taxed as a partnership, a subchapter S corporation, or a fiduciary, the amount of tax credit that may be used for a taxable year shall not exceed the lesser of the aggregate amount of individual or corporate income tax otherwise due by all members of the pass-through entity; or nine thousand dollars ($9,000.00).

E. Any unused credit may be carried over for a maximum of fifteen consecutive taxable years following the taxable year in which the credit originated.

A. An approved applicant shall be allowed an income tax credit for a project reducing groundwater use by substitution of surface water for industrial, commercial, agricultural or recreational purposes located outside critical groundwater areas.

B. An approved applicant shall be allowed a tax credit not to exceed the lesser of ten percent (10%) of the project cost incurred or twenty-seven thousand dollars ($27,000.00).

C. The amount of the credit that may be used by an approved applicant for a taxable year shall not exceed the lesser of the amount of individual or corporate income tax otherwise due or nine thousand dollars ($9,000.00).

D. If the approved applicant is a pass-through entity such as a partnership, a limited liability company taxed as a partnership, a subchapter S corporation, or a fiduciary, the amount of tax credit that may be used for a taxable year shall not exceed the lesser of the aggregate amount of individual or corporate income tax otherwise due by all members of the pass-through entity; or nine thousand dollars ($9,000.00).

E. Any unused tax credit may be carried over for a maximum of two consecutive taxable years following the taxable year in which the credit originated.

A. An approved applicant shall be allowed an income tax credit for a project with an agricultural or recreational purpose within a critical groundwater area that reduces groundwater use by substitution of surface water.

B. For agricultural or recreational projects, an approved applicant shall be allowed a tax credit not to exceed the lesser of fifty percent (50%) of the project cost incurred or twenty-seven thousand dollars ($27,000.00).

C. The amount of tax credit allowed to each approved applicant per project that may be used for a taxable year shall not exceed the lesser of the amount of individual or corporate income tax otherwise due or nine thousand dollars ($9,000.00).

D. If the approved applicant is a pass-through entity such as a partnership, a limited liability company taxed as a partnership, a subchapter S corporation, or a fiduciary, the amount of tax credit that may be used for a taxable year shall not exceed the lesser of the aggregate amount of individual or corporate income tax otherwise due by all members of the pass-through entity or nine thousand dollars ($9,000.00).

E. Any unused tax credit may be carried over for a maximum of two consecutive taxable years following the taxable year in which the credit originated.

A. An approved applicant shall be allowed an income tax credit for a project with a commercial or industrial purpose within a critical groundwater area that reduces groundwater use by substitution of surface water.

B. For industrial or commercial projects, an approved applicant shall be allowed a tax credit not to exceed the lesser of fifty percent (50%) of the project cost incurred or one million dollars ($1,000,000.00).

C. The amount of tax credit allowed to each approved applicant per project that may be used for a taxable year shall not exceed the lesser of the amount of individual or corporate income tax otherwise due or two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00).

D. If the approved applicant is a pass-through entity such as a partnership, a limited liability company taxed as a partnership, a subchapter S corporation, or a fiduciary, the amount of tax credit that may be used for a taxable year shall not exceed the lesser of the aggregate amount of individual or corporate income tax otherwise due by all members of the pass-through entity or two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00).

E. Any unused tax credit may be carried over for a maximum of four consecutive taxable years following the taxable year in which the credit originated.

A. An approved applicant shall be allowed an income tax credit for an agricultural land-leveling project that conserves irrigation water.

B. An approved applicant shall be allowed a tax credit not to exceed the lesser of ten percent (10%) of the project cost incurred or twenty-seven thousand dollars ($27,000.00).

C. The amount of tax credit that may be used by an approved applicant for a taxable year shall not exceed the lesser of the amount of individual or corporate income tax otherwise due or nine thousand dollars ($9,000.00).

D. If the approved applicant is a pass-through entity such as a partnership, a limited liability company taxed as a partnership, a subchapter S corporation, or a fiduciary, the amount of tax credit that may be used for a taxable year shall not exceed the lesser of the aggregate amount of individual or corporate income tax otherwise due by all members of the pass-through entity; or nine thousand dollars ($9,000.00).

E. Any unused tax credit may be carried over for a maximum of two consecutive taxable years following the taxable year in which the credit originated.

A. The installation of a water-measuring or metering device entitles an applicant to an income tax credit equivalent to the credit available for conversion from ground to surface water use. If the meter is installed outside of a critical groundwater area, subsections B, C, D, and E of Section 1404.2 applies. If the meter is installed within a critical groundwater area, subsections B, C, D, and E of Section 1404.3 apply.

B. An applicant must submit an "Application for Water Meter Tax Credit" to the Division. Proof of purchase price of the device and of the installation cost, if installed by a person other than the applicant, must be included with the completed application.

C. All meters installed within the same tax year may be listed in one credit application.

D. The Division shall not collect an application fee from an applicant submitting a tax credit application for the installation of a water-measuring or metering device.

E. Credit for installation of meters does not require pre-approval by the Division or local conservation district. Upon approval of an application, a Certificate of Tax Credit Approval as well as a Certificate of Completion will be issued by the Division.

A. An approved applicant qualifying for the tax credits provided under this program is entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the project cost less the total amount of credits to which the approved applicant is entitled.

B. The deduction must be taken during the year in which the project costs were incurred.

A. An approved applicant may freely transfer ownership of a tax credit to a transferee who shall be entitled to an income tax credit only to the extent the income tax credit is still available and has not been previously used by the approved applicant.

B. A transferee under this section is subject to the carry-over provisions provided in the Act based on the taxable year in which the income tax credit originated.

C. The approved applicant shall perfect the transfer of ownership by notifying the Department in writing within thirty (30) calendar days following the effective date of the transfer and shall provide any information as may be required by the Division and the Department to ensure proper tracking of the ownership of the unused tax credit.

1. Name and address of the approved applicant and all transferees;

2. Tax identification number of all persons entitled to any portion of the original income tax credit;

3. Original date the income tax credit was approved;

4. Amount of the income tax credit associated with the transfer of the income tax credit;

5. Original amount of the income tax credit; and

6. Remaining amount of the income tax credit that is available for use by the transferee.

A. If a project is not completed or maintained for the total number of years required under § 26-51-1011, the approved applicant is responsible for refunding the income tax credit to the Department as provided in § 26-51-1011.

B. The transferee of an income tax credit under the Act is not liable for the repayment of the income tax credit allowed under the Act if the approved applicant fails to complete or maintain the project under § 26-51-1011.