Federal / Agency News

Over the past several days NH&RA has met with several key House and Senate staffers on the tax writing, banking/financial services and appropriations committees to discuss critical legislation impacting affordable housing, historic rehabilitation and New Markets Tax Credit development.

U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Robert Casey (D-PA) and Kay Hagan (D-NC) recently introduced a bill (S.3324) to expand and improve the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (48C) program.

HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) has posted three sets of working papers “” Economic Development and Public Finance, Housing Finance, and Program Monitoring and Research “” on HUD USER’s website. These scientific and technical papers were written by PD&R staff as a means of sharing information, eliciting feedback, and sparking further discussion.

The IRS has issued a notice that addresses the new Federal refundable tax credit subsidy option for certain qualified tax credit bonds and Build America Bonds under the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (the “HIRE Act”).

On March 24 the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $16.8 billion package of tax incentives (HR 4849) for state and local governments and small businesses, the second measure in the Democrats’ “jobs agenda” to pass the chamber this month. The measure passed on a largely partisan 246-178 vote. Key provisions include:…

House Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee are reported to be considering amending the tax extenders bill (HR 4213) to shift an extension of the Build America Bonds (BAB) program from the small business bill (HR 4849) to the tax extenders legislation. The shift is being urged because of concerns that the tight Senate calendar may not leave enough time to move other tax bills this year. HR 4213 also includes extensions of the Section 1602/Exchange Program, New Markets Tax Credit and GO Zone Historic Tax Credit and Bonus Depreciation Provisions.

The Law Firm Nixon Peabody LLP recently published a helpful update entitled “What does codification of the “Economic Substance Doctrine” mean for tax credit transactions?” After years of anticipation, the “economic substance test” is now part of the Internal Revenue Code.

U.S. Representative Phil Hare (D-IL), last week introduced the Security in Energy and Manufacturing (SEAM) Act (H.R.5041) to extend and improve the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit program.

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) last week introduced legislation (S. 3212) to provide tax incentives for the construction of “green” buildings.

Major decisions are being made in Washington that affect the future of tax credit development. But these decisions aren’t made in a vacuum – they are made after consultation with industry experts, constituents and consumers. You should be part of the conversation! Join NH&RA in Washington, DC for its 2010 Spring Policy Forum.

The National Council of Affordable Housing Market Analysts convened its 2010 Spring Underwriting Forum on April 7-8 at the Intercontinental Hotel in New Orleans. NCAHMA is pleased to announce that the PowerPoint presentations from the event are now available…

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has tax credit extender legislation that would extend a number of expired tax provisions. The legislation comes in the form of a “strike-all” amendment to H. R. 4154 (The American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010); which passed the House of Representatives on December 3 on a largely party-line vote.