(a)

(1) In order to qualify for and receive the credits afforded by this subchapter, any eligible business undertaking a project shall submit a project plan to the Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the start of construction.

(2) The plan submitted to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission shall contain such information as may be required by the Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to determine eligibility.

(b)

(1) Upon determination by the Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission that the project qualifies for credit under this subchapter, the Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission shall certify to the Director of the Department of Finance and Administration that the project is qualified and transmit with his or her certification the documents upon which the certification was based or copies.

(2) Upon receipt by the Director of the Department of Finance and Administration of a certification from the Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission that an eligible business is entitled to credit under this subchapter, the Director of the Department of Finance and Administration shall provide forms to the eligible business on which to claim the credit.

(c)

(1) At the end of the calendar year in which the application was made to the Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and at the end of each calendar year thereafter until the project is completed, the eligible business shall certify on the form provided by the Director of the Department of Finance and Administration the amount of expenditures on the project during the preceding calendar year.

(2)

(A) Upon receipt of the form certifying expenditures, the Director of the Department of Finance and Administration shall determine the amount due as a credit for the preceding calendar year and issue a memorandum of credit to the eligible business in the amount of seven percent (7%) of the expenditure.

(B) (i) (a) Except as provided in § 26-51-2007, the credit shall then be applied against the eligible business' state income tax liability in the year following the year of the expenditure.

(b) However, if the credit is not used in the calendar year following the expenditure, it may be carried over to the next succeeding calendar year for a total period of six (6) years following the year in which the credit was first available for use or until the credit is exhausted, whichever occurs first.

(ii) In no event shall the credit used on any regular return be more than fifty percent (50%) of the eligible business' total state income tax liability for the reporting period.

(iii) The Director of the Department of Finance and Administration may require proof of these expenditures.

(iv) The Director of the Department of Finance and Administration may examine those records necessary and specific to the project to determine credit eligibility. Any credits disallowed shall be subject to payment in full.

(d) In order to receive credit for project costs, the costs must be incurred within five (5) years from the date of certification of the project plan by the Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.