20 ILCS 3805/7.28

(20 ILCS 3805/7.28)

Sec. 7.28. Tax credit for donation to sponsors. The Authority may administer and adopt rules for an affordable housing tax donation credit program to provide tax credits for donations as set forth in this Section.

(a) In this Section:

"Administrative housing agency" means either the Authority or an agency of the City of Chicago.

"Affordable housing project" means either:

(1) a rental project in which at least 25% of the units have rents (including tenant-paid heat) that do not exceed, on a monthly basis, maximum gross rent figures, as published by the Authority, that are:

(i) based on data published annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development;

(ii) based on the annual income of households earning 60% of the area median income;

(iii) computed using a 30% of gross monthly income standard; and

(iv) adjusted for unit size and at least 25% of the units are occupied by persons and families whose incomes do not exceed 60% of the median family income for the geographic area in which the residential unit is located; or

(2) a unit for sale to homebuyers whose gross household income is at or below (A) 60% of the area median income (for taxable years beginning prior to January 1, 2022) or (B) 120% of the area median income (for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022) and who pay no more than 30% of their gross household income for mortgage principal, interest, property taxes, and property insurance (PITI).

"Donation" means money, securities, or real or personal property that is donated to a not-for-profit sponsor that is used solely for costs associated with either (i) purchasing, constructing, or rehabilitating an affordable housing project in this State, (ii) an employer-assisted housing project in this State, (iii) general operating support, or (iv) technical assistance as defined by this Section.

"Employer-assisted housing project" means either down-payment assistance, reduced-interest mortgages, mortgage guarantee programs, rental subsidies, or individual development account savings plans that are provided by employers to employees to assist in securing affordable housing near the workplace, that are restricted to housing near the workplace, and that are restricted to employees whose gross household income is at or below 120% of the area median income.

"General operating support" means any cost incurred by a sponsor that is a part of its general program costs and is not limited to costs directly incurred by the affordable housing project.

"Geographical area" means the metropolitan area or county designated as an area by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, for purposes of determining fair market rental rates.

"Median income" means the incomes that are determined by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines and adjusted for family size.

"Project" means an affordable housing project, an employer-assisted housing project, general operating support, or technical assistance.

"Sponsor" means a not-for-profit organization that (i) is organized as a not-for-profit organization under the laws of this State or another state and (1) for an affordable housing project, has as one of its purposes the development of affordable housing; (2) for an employer-assisted housing project, has as one of its purposes home ownership education; and (3) for a technical assistance project, has as one of its purposes either the development of affordable housing or home ownership education; (ii) is organized for the purpose of constructing or rehabilitating affordable housing units and has been issued a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury that the organization is exempt from income taxation under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code; or (iii) is an organization designated as a community development corporation by the United States government under Title VII of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.

"Tax credit" means a tax credit allowed under Section 214 of the Illinois Income Tax Act.

"Technical assistance" means any cost incurred by a sponsor for project planning, assistance with applying for financing, or counseling services provided to prospective homebuyers.

(b) A sponsor must apply to an administrative housing agency for approval of the project. The administrative housing agency must reserve a specific amount of tax credits for each approved project. Tax credits for general operating support can only be reserved as part of a reservation of tax credits for an affordable housing project, an employer-assisted housing project, or technical assistance. No tax credits shall be allowed for a project without a reservation of such tax credits by an administrative housing agency for that project.

(c) The Authority must adopt rules establishing criteria for eligible costs and donations, issuing and verifying tax credits, and selecting projects that are eligible for a tax credit.

(d) Tax credits for employer-assisted housing projects are limited to that pool of tax credits that have been set aside for employer-assisted housing. Tax credits for general operating support are limited to 10% of the total tax credit reservation for the related project (other than general operating support) and are also limited to that pool of tax credits that have been set aside for general operating support. Tax credits for technical assistance are limited to that pool of tax credits that have been set aside for technical assistance.

(e) The amount of tax credits reserved by the administrative housing agency for an approved project is limited to $32,850,352 in State fiscal years 2022 and 2023 and shall increase by 5% each fiscal year thereafter. The City of Chicago shall receive 24.5% of total tax credits authorized for each fiscal year. The Authority shall receive the balance of the tax credits authorized for each fiscal year. The tax credits may be used anywhere in this State. The tax credits have the following set-asides:

(1) for employer-assisted housing projects, $2 million; and

(2) for general operating support and technical assistance, $1 million.

The balance of the funds must be used for affordable housing projects. During the first 9 months of a fiscal year, if an administrative housing agency is unable to reserve the tax credits set aside for the purposes described in subsection (e), the administrative housing agency may reserve the tax credits for any approved projects.

(f) The administrative housing agency that reserves tax credits for an affordable housing project must record against the land upon which the affordable housing project is located an instrument to assure that the property maintains its affordable housing compliance for a minimum of 10 years. The Authority has flexibility to assure that the instrument does not cause undue hardship on homeowners.

(Source: P.A. 102-175, eff. 7-29-21.)