SENATE AMENDED

 

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 784, 2590

PRINTER'S NO.  3345

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

761

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY CUTLER, MIRABITO, BAKER, BOYD, CLYMER, COX, DENLINGER, FLECK, FREEMAN, GILLEN, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GRELL, HARHART, HENNESSEY, HICKERNELL, HUTCHINSON, KAUFFMAN, KORTZ, LAWRENCE, LONGIETTI, MARSHALL, METZGAR, MILLER, MOUL, PICKETT, PYLE, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROSS, STERN, SWANGER, TOEPEL, VULAKOVICH, WATSON, QUINN, FARRY, BEAR, ROCK, CALTAGIRONE, SAINATO AND MILLARD, FEBRUARY 23, 2011

  

  

SENATOR BRUBAKER, FINANCE, IN SENATE, AS AMENDED, APRIL 3, 2012   

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

1

Amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), entitled "An

2

act relating to tax reform and State taxation by codifying

3

and enumerating certain subjects of taxation and imposing

4

taxes thereon; providing procedures for the payment,

5

collection, administration and enforcement thereof; providing

6

for tax credits in certain cases; conferring powers and

7

imposing duties upon the Department of Revenue, certain

8

employers, fiduciaries, individuals, persons, corporations

9

and other entities; prescribing crimes, offenses and

10

penalties," in realty transfer tax, further providing for

11

definitions, for excluded transactions and for acquired

<--

12

company, for documents relating to associations or

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13

corporations and members, partners, stockholders or

14

shareholders thereof and for acquired company; and, in

15

inheritance tax, further providing for transfers not subject

16

to tax.

17

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

18

hereby enacts as follows:

19

Section 1.  The definitions of "association," "corporation,"

<--

20

"family farm corporation" and "family farm partnership" in

21

section 1101-C of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known

22

as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, amended July 2, 1986 (P.L.318,

 


1

No.77) and April 23, 1998 (P.L.239, No.45), are amended to read:

2

Section 1101-C.  Definitions.--The following words when used

3

in this article shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this

4

section:

5

"Association."  A partnership, limited partnership, limited

6

liability partnership or any other form of unincorporated

7

enterprise, owned or conducted by two or more persons other than

8

a private trust or decedent's estate.

9

"Corporation."  A corporation, limited liability company, 

10

joint-stock association, business trust or banking institution

11

which is organized under the laws of this Commonwealth, the

12

United States, or any other state, territory, or foreign

13

country, or dependency.

14

* * *

15

"Family farm [corporation.] business."  A corporation or

16

association of which at least seventy-five per cent of its

17

assets are devoted to the business of agriculture and at least

18

seventy-five per cent of each class of stock of the corporation 

19

or interest in the association is continuously owned by members

20

of the same family.  The business of agriculture shall include

21

the leasing to members of the same family or the leasing to a

22

corporation or association owned by members of the same family 

23

of property which is directly and principally used for

24

agricultural purposes. The business of agriculture shall not be

25

deemed to include:

26

(1)  Recreational activities such as, but not limited to,

27

hunting, fishing, camping, skiing, show competition or racing;

28

(2)  The raising, breeding or training of game animals or

29

game birds, fish, cats, dogs or pets or animals intended for use

30

in sporting or recreational activities;

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1

(3)  Fur farming;

2

(4)  Stockyard and slaughterhouse operations; or

3

(5)  Manufacturing or processing operations of any kind.

4

["Family farm partnership."  A  partnership of which at least

5

seventy-five per cent of its assets are devoted to the business

6

of agriculture and at least seventy-five per cent of the

7

interests in the  partnership are continuously owned by members

8

of the same family. The business of agriculture shall include

9

the leasing to members of the same family of property which is

10

directly and principally used for agricultural purposes. The

11

business of agriculture shall not be deemed to include:

12

(1)  recreational activities such as, but not limited to,

13

hunting, fishing, camping, skiing, show competition or racing;

14

(2)  the raising, breeding or training of game animals or

15

game birds, fish, cats, dogs or pets or animals intended for use

16

in sporting or recreational activities;

17

(3)  fur farming;

18

(4)  stockyard and slaughterhouse operations; or

19

(5)  manufacturing or processing operations of any kind.]

20

* * *

21

Section 2.   sections 1102-C.3(19), (19.1) and (20) and 1102-

22

c.5 of the act, amended or added July 2, 1986 (P.L.318, No.77)

23

and June 16, 1994 (P.L.279, No.48), are amended to read:

24

Section 1102-C.3.  Excluded Transactions.--The tax imposed by

25

section 1102-C shall not be imposed upon:

26

* * *

27

(19)  A transfer of real estate devoted to the business of

28

agriculture to a family farm [corporation] business by a member

29

of the same family which directly owns at least seventy-five per

30

cent of each class of the stock thereof or interest therein.

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1

[(19.1)  A transfer of real estate devoted to the business of

2

agriculture to a family farm partnership by a member of the same

3

family, which family directly owns at least seventy-five per

4

cent of the interests in the partnership.]

5

(20)  A transfer between members of the same family of an

6

ownership interest in a real estate company[,] or family farm

7

[corporation or family farm partnership which] business that 

8

owns real estate.

9

* * *

10

Section 1102-C.5.  Acquired Company.--(a)  A real estate

11

company is an acquired company upon a change in the ownership

12

interest in the company, however effected, if the change:

13

(1)  does not affect the continuity of the company; and

14

(2)  of itself or together with prior changes has the effect

15

of transferring, directly or indirectly, ninety per cent or more

16

of the total ownership interest in the company within a period

17

of three years.

18

(b)  [With respect to real estate acquired after February 16,

19

1986, a family farm corporation is an acquired company when,

20

because of voluntary or involuntary dissolution, it ceases to be

21

a family farm corporation or when, because of issuance or

22

transfer of stock or because of acquisition or transfer of

23

assets that are devoted to the business of agriculture, it fails

24

to meet the minimum requirements of a family farm corporation

25

under this act.

26

(b.1)  A family farm partnership  is an acquired company

27

when, because of voluntary or involuntary dissolution, it ceases

28

to be a family farm partnership  or when, because of transfer of

29

partnership  interests or because of acquisition or transfer of

30

assets that are devoted to the business of agriculture, it fails

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1

to meet the minimum requirements of a family farm partnership

2

 under this act.] A family farm business is an acquired

3

company when, because of voluntary or involuntary dissolution,

4

it ceases to be a family farm business, or when, because of the

5

issuance or transfer of stock in the corporation or transfer of

6

interests in the association or because of an acquisition or

7

transfer of assets that are devoted to the business of

8

agriculture, it fails to meet the minimum requirements of a

9

family farm business under this act.

10

(c)  Within thirty days after becoming an acquired company,

11

the company shall present a declaration of acquisition with the

12

recorder of each county in which it holds real estate for the

13

affixation of documentary stamps and recording. Such declaration

14

shall set forth the value of real estate holdings of the

15

acquired company in such county.

16

Section  3.  This act shall apply retroactively to

17

transactions occurring after December 31, 2008.

18

Section  4.  The provisions of 61 Pa. Code 91.222 (relating

19

to family farm corporation) are abrogated.

20

Section  5.  This act shall take effect immediately.

21

Section 1.  The definitions of "association," "family farm

<--

22

corporation" and "family farm partnership" in section 1101-C of

23

the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform

24

Code of 1971, amended July 2, 1986 (P.L.318, No.77) and April

25

23, 1998 (P.L.239, No.45), are amended and the section is

26

amended by adding a definition to read:

27

Section 1101-C.  Definitions.--The following words when used

28

in this article shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this

29

section:

30

"Association."  A general partnership, limited partnership,

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1

limited liability partnership or any other form of

2

unincorporated enterprise, owned or conducted by two or more

3

persons other than a private trust or decedent's estate.

4

* * *

5

["Family farm corporation."  A corporation of which at least

6

seventy-five per cent of its assets are devoted to the business

7

of agriculture and at least seventy-five per cent of each class

8

of stock of the corporation is continuously owned by members of

9

the same family. The business of agriculture shall include the

10

leasing to members of the same family of property which is

11

directly and principally used for agricultural purposes. The

12

business of agriculture shall not be deemed to include:

13

(1)  Recreational activities such as, but not limited to,

14

hunting, fishing, camping, skiing, show competition or racing;

15

(2)  The raising, breeding or training of game animals or

16

game birds, fish, cats, dogs or pets or animals intended for use

17

in sporting or recreational activities;

18

(3)  Fur farming;

19

(4)  Stockyard and slaughterhouse operations; or

20

(5)  Manufacturing or processing operations of any kind.

21

"Family farm partnership."  A partnership of which at least

22

seventy-five per cent of its assets are devoted to the business

23

of agriculture and at least seventy-five per cent of the

24

interests in the partnership are continuously owned by members

25

of the same family. The business of agriculture shall include

26

the leasing to members of the same family of property which is

27

directly and principally used for agricultural purposes. The

28

business of agriculture shall not be deemed to include:

29

(1)  recreational activities such as, but not limited to,

30

hunting, fishing, camping, skiing, show competition or racing;

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1

(2)  the raising, breeding or training of game animals or

2

game birds, fish, cats, dogs or pets or animals intended for use

3

in sporting or recreational activities;

4

(3)  fur farming;

5

(4)  stockyard and slaughterhouse operations; or

6

(5)  manufacturing or processing operations of any kind.]

7

"Family farm business."  A corporation or association of

8

which at least seventy-five per cent of its assets are devoted

9

to the business of agriculture and at least seventy-five per

10

cent of each class of stock of the corporation or the interests

11

in the association is continuously owned by members of the same

12

family. The business of agriculture shall include the leasing to

13

members of the same family or the leasing to a corporation or

14

association owned by members of the same family of property

15

which is directly and principally used for agricultural

16

purposes. The business of agriculture shall not be deemed to

17

include:

18

(1)  recreational activities such as, but not limited to,

19

hunting, fishing, camping, skiing, show competition or racing;

20

(2)  the raising, breeding or training of game animals or

21

game birds, fish, cats, dogs or pets or animals intended for use

22

in sporting or recreational activities;

23

(3)  fur farming;

24

(4)  stockyard and slaughterhouse operations; or

25

(5)  manufacturing or processing operations of any kind.

26

* * *

27

Section 2.  Section 1102-C.3(19), (19.1) and (20) of the act,

28

amended or added July 2, 1986 (P.L.318, No.77) and June 16, 1994

29

(P.L.279, No.48), are amended to read:

30

Section 1102-C.3.  Excluded Transactions.--The tax imposed by

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1

section 1102-C shall not be imposed upon:

2

* * *

3

(19)  A transfer of real estate devoted to the business of

4

agriculture to a family farm [corporation] business by:

5

(i)  a member of the same family which directly owns at least

6

seventy-five per cent of [each class of the stock thereof] the

7

interests in that family farm business; or

8

(ii)  a family farm business, which family directly owns at

9

least seventy-five per cent of the interests in that family farm

10

business.

11

[(19.1)  A transfer of real estate devoted to the business of

12

agriculture to a family farm partnership by a member of the same

13

family, which family directly owns at least seventy-five per

14

cent of the interests in the partnership.]

15

(20)  A transfer between members of the same family of an

16

ownership interest in a real estate company[,] or family farm

17

[corporation or family farm partnership which] business that 

18

owns real estate.

19

* * *

20

Section 3.  Section 1102-C.4 of the act, added July 2, 1986

21

(P.L.318, No.77), is amended to read:

22

Section 1102-C.4.  Documents Relating to Associations or

23

Corporations and Members, Partners, Stockholders or Shareholders

24

Thereof.--Except as otherwise provided in [section] sections 

25

1102-C.3 and 1102-C.5, documents which make, confirm or evidence

26

any transfer or devise of title to real estate between

27

associations or corporations and the members, partners,

28

shareholders or stockholders thereof are fully taxable. For the

29

purposes of this article, corporations and associations are

30

entities separate from their members, partners, stockholders or

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1

shareholders.

2

Section 4.  Section 1102-C.5 of the act, amended or added

3

July 2, 1986 (P.L.318, No.77) and June 16, 1994 (P.L.279,

4

No.48), is amended to read:

5

Section 1102-C.5.  Acquired Company.--(a)  A real estate

6

company is an acquired company upon a change in the ownership

7

interest in the company, however effected, if the change:

8

(1)  does not affect the continuity of the company; and

9

(2)  of itself or together with prior changes has the effect

10

of transferring, directly or indirectly, ninety per cent or more

11

of the total ownership interest in the company within a period

12

of three years.

13

[(b)  With respect to real estate acquired after February 16,

14

1986, a family farm corporation is an acquired company when,

15

because of voluntary or involuntary dissolution, it ceases to be

16

a family farm corporation or when, because of issuance or

17

transfer of stock or because of acquisition or transfer of

18

assets that are devoted to the business of agriculture, it fails

19

to meet the minimum requirements of a family farm corporation

20

under this act.

21

(b.1)  A family farm partnership is an acquired company when,

22

because of voluntary or involuntary dissolution, it ceases to be

23

a family farm partnership or when, because of transfer of

24

partnership interests or because of acquisition or transfer of

25

assets that are devoted to the business of agriculture, it fails

26

to meet the minimum requirements of a family farm partnership 

27

under this act.]

28

(b.2)  A family farm business is an acquired company when,

29

because of voluntary or involuntary dissolution, it ceases to be

30

a family farm business or when, because of the issuance or

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1

transfer of stock in the corporation or transfer of interests in

2

the association or because of acquisition or transfer of assets

3

that are devoted to the business of agriculture, it fails to

4

meet the minimum requirements of a family farm business under

5

this article.

6

(b.3)  The conveyance of assets held by one family farm

7

business to another family farm business shall not be considered

8

a transfer of assets under this article if the same individuals

9

hold at least fifty per cent of the ownership interest in each

10

family farm business.

11

(c)  Within thirty days after becoming an acquired company,

12

the company shall present a declaration of acquisition with the

13

recorder of each county in which it holds real estate for the

14

affixation of documentary stamps and recording. Such declaration

15

shall set forth the value of real estate holdings of the

16

acquired company in such county.

17

Section 5.  Section 2102 of the act is amended by adding

18

definitions to read:

19

Section 2102.  Definitions.--The following words, terms and

20

phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings

21

ascribed to them in this section, except where the context

22

clearly indicates a different meaning:

23

* * *

24

"Business of agriculture."  The term shall include the

25

leasing to members of the same family or the leasing to a

26

corporation or association owned by members of the same family

27

of property which is directly and principally used for

28

agricultural purposes. The business of agriculture shall not be

29

deemed to include:

30

(1)  recreational activities such as, but not limited to,

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1

hunting, fishing, camping, skiing, show competition or racing;

2

(2)  the raising, breeding or training of game animals or

3

game birds, fish, cats, dogs or pets or animals intended for use

4

in sporting or recreational activities;

5

(3)  fur farming;

6

(4)  stockyard and slaughterhouse operations; or

7

(5)  manufacturing or processing operations of any kind.

8

* * *

9

"Members of the same family."  Any individual, such

10

individual's brothers and sisters, the brothers and sisters of

11

such individual's parents and grandparents, the ancestors and

12

lineal descendents of any of the foregoing, a spouse of any of

13

the foregoing and the estate of any of the foregoing.

14

Individuals related by the half blood or legal adoption shall be

15

treated as if they were related by the whole blood.

16

* * *

17

Section 6.  Section 2111 of the act is amended by adding a

18

subsection to read:

19

Section 2111.  Transfers Not Subject to Tax.--* * *

20

(s)  A transfer of real estate devoted to the business of

21

agriculture between members of the same family, provided that

22

after the transfer the real estate continues to be devoted to

23

the business of agriculture for a period of seven years beyond

24

the transferor's date of death and the real estate derives a

25

yearly gross income of at least two thousand dollars ($2,000),

26

provided that:

27

(1)  Any tract of land under this article which is no longer

28

devoted to the business of agriculture within seven years beyond

29

the transferor's date of death shall be subject to inheritance

30

tax due the Commonwealth under section 2107, in the amount that

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1

would have been paid or payable on the basis of valuation

2

authorized under section 2121 for nonexempt transfers of

3

property, plus interest thereon accruing as of the transferor's

4

date of death, at the rate established in section 2143.

5

(2)  Any tax imposed under section 2107 shall be a lien in

6

favor of the Commonwealth upon the property no longer being

7

devoted to agricultural use, collectible in the manner provided

8

for by law for the collection of delinquent real estate taxes,

9

as well as the personal obligation of the owner of the property

10

at the time of the change of use.

11

(3)  Every owner of real estate exempt under this subsection

12

shall certify to the department on an annual basis that the land

13

qualifies for this exemption and shall notify the department

14

within thirty days of any transaction or occurrence causing the

15

real estate to fail to qualify for the exemption. Each year the

16

department shall inform all owners of their obligation to

17

provide an annual certification under this subclause. This

18

certification and notification shall be completed in the form

19

and manner as provided by the department.

20

Section 7.  A reference in any law to the former definition

21

of "family farm corporation" or "family farm partnership" in

22

section 1101-C of the act shall be deemed to be references to a

23

"family farm business" under section 1101-C of the act.

24

Section 8.  The amendment of Article XXI of the act shall

25

apply to the estates of decedents dying after December 31, 2011.

26

Section 9.  The amendment of Article XI-C of the act shall be

27

retroactive to any document made, executed, delivered, accepted

28

or presented for recording on or after July 1, 2010.

29

Section 10.  The provisions of 61 Pa. Code § 91.222 (relating

30

to acquired family farm partnership) are abrogated.

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1

Section 11.  This act shall take effect immediately.

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