(a) There shall be allowed as a credit against the “tax” (as defined by Section 23036) an amount equal to 10 percent of the amount of wages paid to each employee who is certified by the Employment Development Department to meet the requirements of Section 328 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.

The credit under this section shall not apply to an individual unless, on or before the day on which that individual begins work for the employer, the employer:

(1) Has received a certification from the Employment Development Department, or

(2) Has requested in writing that certification from the Employment Development Department.

For purposes of this subdivision, if on or before the day on which the individual begins work for the employer, the individual has received from the Employment Development Department a written preliminary determination that he or she is a member of a targeted group, then the requirement of paragraph (1) or (2) shall be applicable on or before the fifth day on which the individual begins work for the employer.

(b) The credit under this section shall not apply to wages paid in excess of three thousand dollars ($3,000) during an taxable year by a taxpayer to the same individual. With respect to each qualified employee, the aggregate credit under this section shall not exceed six hundred dollars ($600).

(c) The credit under this section shall not apply to wages paid to an individual:

(1) Who is a dependent, as described in paragraphs (1) to (8), inclusive, of Section 152(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, of an individual who owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50 percent in value of the outstanding stock of the taxpayer (determined with the application of Section 267(c) of the Internal Revenue Code); or

(2) Who is a dependent (as described in paragraph (9) of Section 152(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) of an individual described in paragraph (1).

(d) The credit under this section shall not apply to wages paid to an individual if, prior to the hiring date of that individual, that individual had been employed by the employer at any time during which he or she was not certified by the Employment Development Department to meet the requirements of Section 328 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.

(e) If the certification of an employee has been revoked pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 328 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, the credit under this section shall not apply to wages paid by the employer after the date on which notice of revocation is received by the employer.

(f) The credit under this section shall be in addition to any deduction under this part to which the taxpayer may be entitled, if any.

(g) The credit provided by this section shall be applied to wages paid to each qualifying employee during the 24-month period beginning on the date the employee begins working for the taxpayer.

(h) (1) A taxpayer may elect to have this section not apply for any taxable year.

(2) An election under paragraph (1) for any taxable year may be made (or revoked) at any time before the expiration of the four-year period beginning on the last date prescribed by law for filing the return for that taxable year (determined without regard to extensions).

(3) An election under paragraph (1) (or revocation thereof) shall be made in any manner which the Franchise Tax Board may prescribe.

(i) (1) In the case of a successor employer referred to in Section 3306(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, the determination of the amount of the credit under this section with respect to wages paid by that successor employer shall be made in the same manner as if those wages were paid by the predecessor employer referred to in that section.

(2) No credit shall be determined under this section with respect to remuneration paid by an employer to an employee for services performed by that employee for another person unless the amount reasonably expected to be received by the employer for those services from that other person exceeds the remuneration paid by the employer to that employee for those services.

(j) The term “wages” shall not include either of the following:

(1) Payments defined in Section 51(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to payments for services during labor disputes.

(2) Any amounts paid or incurred to an individual who begins work for an employer after December 31, 1993.

(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 862, Sec. 77. Effective January 1, 2001.)