OAR 150-315-0180: Oregon Tax Credit Auctions

(1) Definitions. (a) “Tax Credit” means the credit authorized by ORS 315.514 and ORS 315.643. (b) “Qualified Bid” means a bid that is eligible for consideration in the tax credit auction because it meets all applicable statutory requirements and: (A) It is submitted in a manner and time prescribed by the department’s instructions and this rule; (B) It is submitted for no less than the reserve bid announced by the department for the particular auction, the reserve bid amount shall be the minimum reserve amount established by statute; (C) An associated payment is received by the department in the time and manner prescribed in section (4). (c) “Non-qualified Bid” means a bid that is not eligible to participate in the auction because it does not meet the requirements of section (1)(b) of this rule. (d) “Invalid or Insufficient Payments” are payments that are: (A) Not received by the department by 5:00 p.m. (PT) on the date for payment set by the department; (B) In a form other than one listed in section (4) of this rule; (C) Fraudulent or otherwise not able to be immediately banked by the department; (D) Less than the full amount of the corresponding bid received by the department; or (E) Not submitted in a manner consistent with department’s instructions (including attaching the required completed forms). (e) “PT” means Pacific Time (Daylight or Standard as dictated by the time of year). (2) Auction Bidding Period. The tax credits auction bidding period is no less than three business days, not to exceed 7 business days; with specific dates as announced by the department. (3) Tax Credit Certificates. The Oregon Office of Film and Television and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission will issue tax credit certificates for the prevailing qualified bids. A taxpayer to whom a certificate is issued may claim a credit in the amount shown on the certificate against Oregon personal income or corporate income or excise tax otherwise due for that tax year. The tax credit may not exceed the liability of the taxpayer in any one year. Any credit amount unused by the taxpayer may be carried forward to offset tax liabilities in the next three succeeding tax years. No transfer of the certificate (or the credit that it represents) is allowed. (4) Determination of Qualifying Bids and Payments. (a) Bids must be submitted on-line in a manner consistent with the department’s instructions and within the bidding period as outlined in section (2). Bids received before or after the bidding period will be considered a non-qualified bid. The department will determine the order of bids received by the electronic date and time stamp. (b) A bidder may submit multiple separate bids. (c) After a bid is submitted, a bidder must send, and the department must receive, a payment for the total amount bid. Invalid or insufficient payments will be returned to the bidder and the associated bid considered non-qualified. All bid payments must be received by the department no later than 5:00 p.m. (PT) on the payment date. The department will date stamp payments when they are received. The department will not consider postmarks when determining if the payment has been timely received. It is the bidder’s responsibility to ensure that the department receives the payment by the deadline. The method of payment is limited to the following: (A) Financial institution-issued certified check; (B) Financial institution-issued cashier’s check; or (C) Money Order. (d) All payments will be held until the outcome of the auction is determined. As soon as practicable, the department will return payments to bidders that do not prevail at the auction. No interest will be paid on payments. (e) A bid, once submitted, is irrevocable and may not be changed. A payment will only be returned if a bid does not result in the issuance of a tax credit certificate. (5) Determination of the Prevailing Bid(s). After the payment deadline has passed, the department will determine the prevailing bids by placing the qualifying bids in order from highest bid amount to lowest bid amount. The department will allot tax credit certificates to the highest qualifying bids. In the event that two or more qualifying bids have identical bid amounts for the last tax credit increment (or increments) available, the prevailing qualifying bid will be the one the department received first as determined under section (4). Example: Four bidders (A, B, C and D) make qualifying bids on $10,000 worth of tax credits (sold in twenty increments of $500). Bidder A bids $475 for each of eight increments on October 24. Bidder B bids $480 for each of eight increments on October 26. Bidder C bids $485 for each of six increments and $480 for each of four increments on October 28. Bidder D bids $495 for each of ten increments on October 30. The results of the auction are as follows: 10 of the 20 increments go to D. 6 of the 20 increments go to C (for the $485 bid). 4 of the 20 increments go to B (for the $480 bid). NOTE 1: B only received four of the eight increments he bid on because no more increments were available. The department will return the payment to B and B will need to send the department a replacement payment for the amount of the four prevailing bids B received. NOTE 2: The bid C placed at $480 did not prevail because it tied with the bid B submitted. B’s bid will prevail over C’s bid in the event of a tie because it was received before C’s bid. C’s payment for the $480 bid will be returned for the four increments that did not prevail. NOTE 3: A’s bid was not high enough to prevail. A’s bid payment will be returned.