
Colorado's Urban and Rural Enterprise Zone Act of 1986 established a program for the designation of state enterprise zones. The Enterprise Zone program provides state tax credits for companies located in economically distressed areas of the state.
Investment Tax Credits (ITC) - Businesses making investments in tangible personal property, used exclusvely in an enterprise zone for at least one year, may claim a credit against their Colorado income taxes equal to 3% of the investment amount (section 38 property as defined by the IRS). Only equipment purchases qualify for the investment tax credit. Investments in land or structures, or expanding inventory do not qualify.
The credit, which can be taken in any year, is limited and cannot exceed 100% of your state income tax liability up to $5,000, and 50% of your state tax liability above $5,000.
Job Training Credits - A 10% income tax credit against expenses for qualified job training programs. Qualified job training program means a structured training or basic education program conducted on-site or off-site by the taxpayer or another entity to improve the job skills of employees who are employed by the taxpayer. These employees must be working predominatnly within an Enterprise Zone. On-the-job training is not a qualified job training program.
Research & Development (R&D) - TAxpayers located in an Enterprise Zone that makes expenditures on research and development (R&D) and experimental activities within the zone qualify for income tax credits. The credit is 3% of the increase in qualified expenses during the year above the average of the prior two years. The total amount of the credit must be taken over a 4-year period. The taxpayer may claim 25% of the credit in the year the expenditure is made and 25% in each of the following three years. Qualified research must satisfy the following criteria: It must be technological in nature; be useful in the development of a new or improved product or component of the business; and utilize the process of experimentation.