This guide, intended to introduce practitioners to the new markets tax credit, is divided into distinct sections, starting with a general overview of the credit, its purpose and impacts.

The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program, enacted by Congress as part of the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000, is incorporated as section 45D of the Internal Revenue Code. This Code section permits individual and corporate taxpayers to receive a credit against federal income taxes for making Qualified Equity Investments (QEIs) in qualified community development entities (CDEs). These investments are expected to result in the creation of jobs and material improvement in the lives of residents of low-income communities. Examples of expected projects include financing small businesses, improving community facilities such as daycare centers, and increasing home ownership opportunities. A "low-income community" is defined as any population census tract where the poverty rate for such tract is at least 20% or in the case of a tract not located within a metropolitan area, median family income for such tract does not exceed 80 of statewide median family income, or in the case of a tract located within a metropolitan area, the median family income for such tract does not exceed 80% of the greater of statewide median family income or the metropolitan area median family income. As part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, IRC §45D(e)(2) was amended to provide that targeted populations may be treated as low-income communities. A "targeted population" means individuals, or an identifiable group of individuals, including an Indian tribe, who are low-income persons or otherwise lack adequate access to loans or equity investments. "Targeted population" also includes the Hurricane Katrina Gulf Opportunity (GO) Zone, where individuals' principal residences or principal sources of income were located in areas that were flooded, sustained heavy damage, or sustained catastrophic damage as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund awarded $26 billion in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) through 2009 for invest. in low-income communities. The NMTC allows investors to claim a tax credit totaling 39% of their invest. in Community Development Entities (CDE) over 7 years which CDEs reinvest in qualified communities. This report: (1) describes where and how CDEs are using NMTCs; (2) assesses how CDEs use NMTCs to offer favorable financing terms to low-income community bus. and describes options for simplifying the NMTC; (3) describes how NMTC invest. support low-income community development; and (4) determines how effective IRS and the CDFI Fund have been in monitoring NMTC compliance. Illustrations.

Describes the federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program and determine how the state could participate in it.

"The Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund awarded $26 billion in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) through 2009 for investment in low-income communities. The NMTC allows investors to claim a tax credit totaling 39 percent of their investment in Community Development Entities (CDE) over 7 years which CDEs reinvest in qualified communities.This mandated report (1) describes where and how CDEs are using NMTCs, (2) assesses how CDEs use NMTCs to offer favorable financing terms to low-income community businesses and describes options for simplifying the NMTC, (3) describes how, if at all, NMTC investments support low-income community development, and (4) determines how effective IRS and the CDFI Fund have been in monitoring NMTC compliance. GAO analyzed CDFI Fund and CDE data, didcase studies of CDEs, and interviewed relevant experts. "

The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) is a non-refundable tax credit intended to encourage private capital investment in eligible, impoverished, low-income communities. NMTCs are allocated by the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI), a bureau within the United States Department of the Treasury, under a competitive application process. Investors who make qualified equity investments reduce their federal income tax liability by claiming the credit. This book describes the New Markets Tax Credit Program and the major considerations banks may need to address when using the tax credits to support community and economic development activities. The book examines the primary opportunities and risks associated with the use of NMTCs and discusses the methods used by national banks and federal savings associations (collectively, banks) to structure transactions and use the credits effectively.