The bill amends the Code of West Virginia to revise the tax credit for apprenticeship training by removing the limitation that the credit base be restricted to wages paid to apprentices specifically in the construction trades. The new language allows for a broader application of the tax credit to include wages paid to apprentices in various fields, effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. The bill also makes stylistic changes to the existing legal language for clarity.

Additionally, the bill specifies that the tax credit will be calculated at $2 per hour for the total hours worked by an apprentice, with a maximum credit of $2,000 or fifty percent of actual wages paid, whichever is less. The requirements for a qualified apprenticeship training program remain, including a minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the-job training. The bill outlines how the credit can be applied against state tax liabilities, prioritizing corporation net income taxes before personal income taxes, and clarifies that any unused credit will be forfeited without the option for carryback to prior taxable years.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 11-13W-1
Committee Substitute: 11-13W-1
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 11-13W-1