17053.84.
(a) For each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2023, and before January 1, 2028, there shall be allowed a credit against the “net tax,” as defined in Section 17039, in an amount equal to the amount determined in subdivision (b).(b) (1) The amount of the credit allowed by this section shall be 25 percent of the costs paid or incurred by a taxpayer for contributions to qualified care.
(2) The amount of the credit allowed by this section shall be 30 percent of the cost paid or incurred by a small employer taxpayer for contributions to qualified care.
(3) The amount of the credit allowed by this section in any taxable year for a taxpayer or a small employer taxpayer shall not exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000).
(c) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Backup care” means care provided to a qualified dependent when a qualified employee’s regular qualified care cannot be utilized. A taxpayer may provide backup care in any of the following ways:
(A) By contracting with a qualified care provider or a backup care benefit provider and providing direct payments to the qualified care provider or making payments to a backup care benefit provider for backup care services.
(B) By directly paying or arranging for payment of backup care annually to a qualified care provider or a backup care benefits provider upon receipt of an invoice detailing the number of backup care hours used by a qualified employee.
(C) By reimbursing a qualified employee directly or through a backup care benefit provider for backup care paid directly by the employee.
(2) “Backup care benefit provider” means a third-party vendor that offers services to provide employees options for locating or arranging for the provision of backup care, either through various backup care benefit providers or through a reimbursement program for care paid directly by the employee.
(3) “Contributions” include direct payments for qualified care. “Contributions” do not include amounts contributed for qualified care pursuant to a salary reduction agreement to provide benefits under a dependent care assistance program within the meaning of Section 129 of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable, for purposes of Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) and this part.
(4) “Employee” includes an individual who is an employee within the meaning of Section 401(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to self-employed individuals.
(5) “Qualified care” includes, but is not limited to, onsite service, center-based service, in-home care or home-provider care, or backup care, provided to a qualified dependent.
(6) (A) “Qualified dependent” means a dependent of a qualified employee who is under the age of 14 years.
(B) “Qualified dependent” does not include a dependent of a qualified employee or that employee’s spouse if the dependent qualifies as a dependent under subdivision (d) of Section 17054.
(7) “Qualified employee” means an employee of the taxpayer or the small employer taxpayer who is performing services for the taxpayer or the small employer taxpayer in this state, within the meaning of Section 25133, during the period in which the qualified care is performed.
(8) “Small employer taxpayer” means, with respect to any taxable year, any taxpayer if both of the following apply:
(A) The average number of employees of the taxpayer on business days during the taxable year does not exceed 75.
(B) The gross receipts of the taxpayer during the taxable year do not exceed twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000).
(d) If the credit is claimed by a taxpayer for contributions to qualified care that is used at a facility owned by the taxpayer, the basis of that facility shall be reduced by the amount of the credit. The basis adjustment shall be made for the taxable year for which the credit is allowed.
(e) In order to be allowed the credit authorized under this section, the taxpayer shall indicate, in the form and manner prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board, the number of qualified dependents provided qualified care.
(f) No deduction shall be allowed as otherwise provided in this part for that portion of expenses paid or incurred for the taxable year that is equal to the amount of the credit allowed under this section.
(g) If the credit allowed by this section exceeds the “net tax,” the excess may be carried over to reduce the “net tax” in the following year, and succeeding years if necessary until the credit has been exhausted.
(h) This section shall remain in effect only until December 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.