New Markets Tax Credit: Background, Considerations & Issues

The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) is a non-refundable tax credit intended to encourage private capital investment in eligible, impoverished, low-income communities. NMTCs are allocated by the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI), a bureau within the United States Department of the Treasury, under a competitive application process. Investors who make qualified equity investments reduce their federal income tax liability by claiming the credit. This book describes the New Markets Tax Credit Program and the major considerations banks may need to address when using the tax credits to support community and economic development activities. The book examines the primary opportunities and risks associated with the use of NMTCs and discusses the methods used by national banks and federal savings associations (collectively, banks) to structure transactions and use the credits effectively.