January 23, 2025
Ms. Sherrill (for herself and Mrs. Hayes) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the establishment and operation of small food retail businesses in areas with high food retail concentration and low levels of competition.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Restoring Establishment Deductions and Uplifting Competition to Ease Food Prices Act
or the REDUCE Food Prices Act
.
Sec. 2. Increased rehabilitation tax credit for qualified small food retail businesses
(a) In general
Section 47 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(e) Special rule for qualified small food retail businesses
(1) In general
In the case of a qualified rehabilitated building placed in service by a qualified small food retail business, subsection (a)(2) shall be applied by substituting
25 percentfor20 percent.(2) Qualified small food retail business defined
(A) In general
For purposes of paragraph (1), the term
qualified small food retail businessmeans a business—(i)
which is described in section 38(c)(5) (determined by applying
$200,000,000for$50,000,000in such section),(ii)
at least 70 percent of the annual average gross receipts of which are attributable to the retail sale of food or produce, and
(iii)
which is located in a low-competition area.
(B) Low-competition area
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term
low-competition areameans a county with respect to which the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index for the retail food sector, as measured by the Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, is at or above a level of 1,400.
(b) Effective date
The amendment made by this section shall apply to property placed in service after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 3. Increased work opportunity tax credit for qualified small food retail businesses
(a) In general
Section 51(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—
(1)
by striking The amount
and inserting
(A) In general
The amount, and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(B) Increased limitation for qualified small food retail businesses
In the case of wages paid by an employer that is a qualified small food retail business (as defined in section 47(e)(2)(A)), subparagraph (A) shall be applied—
(i)
by substituting
$8,000for$6,000,(ii)
by substituting
$14,000for$12,000,(iii)
by substituting
$16,000for$14,000, and(iv)
by substituting
$26,000for$24,000.
(b) Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 4. Increased bonus depreciation for qualified small food retail businesses
(a) In general
Section 168(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(10) Special rule for qualified small food retail businesses
(A) Increased applicable percentage for property placed in service by qualified small food retail businesses
In the case of property placed in service by a taxpayer that is a qualified small food retail business (as defined in section 47(e)(2)(A)), paragraph (6) shall be applied—
(i)
in subparagraph (A)—
(I)
by substituting
70 percentfor60 percenteach place it appears,(II)
by substituting
50 percentfor40 percenteach place it appears, and(III)
by substituting
30 percentfor20 percenteach place it appears, and(ii)
in subparagraph (B)—
(I)
by substituting
70 percentfor60 percenteach place it appears,(II)
by substituting
50 percentfor40 percenteach place it appears, and(III)
by substituting
30 percentfor20 percenteach place it appears.(B) Increased applicable percentage for plants bearing fruits and nuts planted or grafted by qualified small food retail businesses
In the case of plants bearing fruits and nuts planted or grafted by a taxpayer that is a qualified small food retail business (as defined in section 47(e)(2)(A)), paragraph (6)(C) shall be applied—
(i)
by substituting
70 percentfor60 percenteach place it appears,(ii)
by substituting
50 percentfor40 percenteach place it appears, and(iii)
by substituting
30 percentfor20 percenteach place it appears.
(b) Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to property placed in service, or plants planted or grafted, after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 5. Increased qualified business income deduction for qualified small food retail businesses
(a) In general
Section 199A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j) and by inserting after subsection (h) the following new subsection:
(i) Special rule for qualified small food retail businesses
In the case of a qualified small food retail business (as defined in section 47(e)(2)(A)), subsection (a)(2) shall be applied by substituting
25 percentfor20 percent.
(b) Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 6. New food retail business tax credit
(a) In general
Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
45BB. New food retail business credit
(a) In general
For purposes of section 38, in the case of a new small food retail business, the new food retail business credit under this section for the taxable year is an amount equal to 15 percent of qualified investment amounts paid or incurred during the taxable year.
(b) Definitions
For purposes of this section—
(1) New food retail business
The term
new food retail businessmeans a qualified small food retail business (as defined in section 47(e)(2)(A)) which began operations during the previous three taxable years.(2) Qualified investment amounts
The term
qualified investment amountsmeans amounts paid for capital investment in the property, facilities, or equipment of a business premises used for retail sales of the new food retail business.
(b) Credit part of general business credit
Section 38(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking plus
at the end of paragraph (40), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (41) and inserting , plus
, and by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(42)
the new food retail business credit determined under section 45BB(a).
(c) Clerical amendment
The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
(d) Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.