Budget & Taxes (Tax Credits)

SB 637 creates a tax credit for New Hampshire grocery stores that purchase at least 10% of their products from registered local farms, requiring them to reduce prices on those items by 10%. The credit equals 10% of qualifying purchases and can offset the store’s business profits tax liability, with unused portions carryable for up to five years. Grocery stores must verify purchases from farms in a voluntary state registry and provide proof of price discounts. This policy directly affects grocery stores and supports New Hampshire farms by incentivizing local sourcing.

HB 1420 creates a temporary tax credit for businesses that advertise in qualifying local newspapers. The credit reduces a business's state tax liability based on the cost of local newspaper ads, with unused portions refundable without interest. To qualify, a newspaper must focus on local news (covering New Hampshire towns, cities, or counties), employ local journalists, and meet audience requirements - excluding political groups, large corporations, and non-local media. The credit applies to small businesses advertising in these local publications, aiming to support community journalism by lowering advertising costs for businesses.

HB 1629 repeals New Hampshire's business enterprise tax (codified as RSA 77-E) and removes all references to it from state tax laws. The bill eliminates this tax from statutes governing tax reporting requirements, penalties for late filing, tax credit calculations, and funding for the education trust fund. Businesses that previously paid the business enterprise tax will no longer be subject to this specific tax code. The legislation makes technical changes to remove outdated references without altering other tax rates or creating new obligations.

SB 404 modifies New Hampshire's economic revitalization zone tax credit program. It increases the annual credit limit from $825,000 to $1,000,000 and raises the maximum credit per business from $40,000 to $50,000. Businesses creating new jobs in designated zones qualify for tax credits: 4-5% of wages for jobs paying up to 2.5x the state minimum wage, plus 5% of facility renovation costs (capped at $20,000 per job). The bill also extends zone reevaluation from every 5 to 8 years and adjusts carry-forward rules for unused credits. These changes directly affect businesses seeking tax incentives for job creation and facility investments in revitalization zones.