ORS 315.204: Dependent care assistance; rules.

(1) A credit against the taxes otherwise due under ORS chapter 316 (or, if the taxpayer is a corporation, under ORS chapter 317 or 318) shall be allowed to a resident employer or to a corporation that is an employer for amounts paid or incurred during the taxable year by the employer for dependent care assistance actually provided to an employee if the assistance is furnished pursuant to a program which meets the requirements of section 129(d) of the Internal Revenue Code and if the employer has received a certificate as provided in subsection (2) of this section. (2)(a) Each employer that elects to receive a credit allowed under subsection (1) of this section must submit an application to the Department of Early Learning and Care each year the employer wishes to receive the credit. The Early Learning Council shall prescribe by rule the form of the application and the information required to be given on the application. (b) The Department of Early Learning and Care shall issue a certificate to each employer that submits an application under this subsection. (3) The amount of the credit allowed under subsection (1) of this section shall be 50 percent of the amount so paid or incurred by the employer during the taxable year but shall not exceed $2,500 of dependent care assistance actually provided to the employee. (4)(a) A credit against the taxes otherwise due under ORS chapter 316 (or, if the taxpayer is a corporation, under ORS chapter 317 or 318) shall be allowed to a resident employer, or to a corporation that is an employer, based upon amounts paid or incurred by the employer during the taxable year to provide information and referral services to assist employees of the employer employed within this state to obtain dependent care. (b) The amount of the credit allowed under this subsection shall be 50 percent of the amounts paid or incurred during the taxable year. (5) No amount paid or incurred during the taxable year of an employer in providing dependent care assistance to any employee shall qualify for the credit allowed under subsection (1) of this section if the amount was paid or incurred to an individual described in section 129(c)(1) or (2) of the Internal Revenue Code. (6) No amount paid or incurred by an employer to provide dependent care assistance to an employee shall qualify for the credit allowed under subsection (1) of this section if the amount paid or incurred is paid or incurred pursuant to a salary reduction plan or is not paid or incurred for services performed within this state. (7) If the credit allowed under subsection (1) or (4) of this section is claimed, the amount of any deduction allowed or allowable under ORS chapter 316, 317 or 318 for the amount that qualifies for the credit (or upon which the credit is based) shall be reduced by the dollar amount of the credit allowed. The election to claim a credit allowed under this section shall be made at the time of filing the tax return in accordance with any rules adopted by the Department of Revenue. (8) The amount upon which the credit allowed under subsection (1) of this section is based shall not be included in the gross income of the employee to whom the dependent care assistance is provided. However, the amount excluded from the income of an employee under this section shall not exceed the limitations provided in section 129(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. For purposes of ORS 316.162, with respect to an employee to whom dependent care assistance is provided, “wages” does not include any amount excluded under this subsection. Amounts excluded under this subsection shall not qualify as expenses for which a credit is allowed to the employee under ORS 316.078. (9) A nonresident shall be allowed the credit allowed under subsection (1) or (4) of this section. The credit shall be computed in the same manner and be subject to the same limitations as the credit granted to a resident. (10) If a change in the taxable year of the taxpayer occurs as described in ORS 314.085, or if the department terminates the taxpayer’s taxable year under ORS 314.440, the credit allowed by this section shall be prorated or computed in a manner consistent with ORS 314.085. (11) If a change in the status of a taxpayer from resident to nonresident or from nonresident to resident occurs, the credit allowed by this section shall be determined in a manner consistent with ORS 316.117. (12) Any tax credit otherwise allowable under this section which is not used by the taxpayer in a particular year may be carried forward and offset against the taxpayer’s tax liability for the next succeeding tax year. Any credit remaining unused in such next succeeding tax year may be carried forward and used in the second succeeding tax year, and likewise any credit not used in that second succeeding tax year may be carried forward and used in the third succeeding tax year, and any credit not used in that third succeeding tax year may be carried forward and used in the fourth succeeding tax year, and any credit not used in that fourth succeeding tax year may be carried forward and used in the fifth succeeding tax year, but may not be carried forward for any tax year thereafter. (13) For purposes of the credit allowed under subsection (1) or (4) of this section: (a) The definitions and special rules contained in section 129(e) of the Internal Revenue Code shall apply to the extent applicable. (b) “Employer” means an employer carrying on a business, trade, occupation or profession in this state. (14) In the case of an on-site facility, in accordance with any rules adopted by the Department of Revenue, the amount upon which the credit allowed under subsection (1) of this section is based, with respect to any dependent, shall be based upon utilization and the value of the services provided. [1993 c.730 §22 (enacted in lieu of 316.134, 317.135 and 318.175); 1995 c.79 §163; 1997 c.839 §65; 2001 c.674 §14; 2013 c.624 §77; 2023 c.554 §47] Sec. 10. Except as provided in ORS 315.204 (12), ORS 315.204 applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 1988, and before January 1, 2016. [1987 c.682 §10; 1991 c.929 §3; 2001 c.674 §1; 2005 c.485 §1; 2009 c.913 §46]