tax credit; health reimbursement arrangement

HB 2694 creates a new tax credit for Arizona small businesses that provide health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) to employees. It allows businesses with 1-50 employees to claim a $400 tax credit per employee covered by an individual coverage HRA, provided they contribute at least $400 per employee annually. Unused credits can be carried forward for up to five years. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026, and is defined using federal HRA regulations. This directly affects small employers seeking to offset costs of providing employee health benefits.