(a) There shall be allowed as a credit against the “tax,” as defined in Section 23036, an amount equal to 55 percent of the fair market value of any qualified contribution made on or after January 1, 2000, and not later than June 30, 2008, and on or after January 1, 2010, and not later than June 30, 2020, by the taxpayer during the taxable year to the state, any local government, or any designated nonprofit organization, pursuant to Division 28 (commencing with Section 37000) of the Public Resources Code.

(b) For purposes of this section, “qualified contribution” means a contribution of property, as defined in Section 37002 of the Public Resources Code, that has been approved for acceptance by the Wildlife Conservation Board pursuant to Division 28 (commencing with Section 37000) of the Public Resources Code.

(c) In the case of any pass-thru entity, the fair market value of any qualified contribution approved for acceptance under Division 28 (commencing with Section 37000) of the Public Resources Code shall be passed through to the partners or shareholders of the pass-thru entity in accordance with their interest in the pass-thru entity as of the date of the qualified contribution. For purposes of this subdivision, the term “pass-thru entity” means any partnership or “S” corporation.

(d) (1) For a qualified contribution made on or after January 1, 2000, and before January 1, 2015, if the credit allowed by this section exceeds the “tax,” the excess may be carried over to reduce the “tax” in the following year, and the succeeding seven years if necessary, until the credit is exhausted.

(2) For a qualified contribution made on or after January 1, 2015, if the credit allowed by this section exceeds the “tax,” the excess may be carried over to reduce the “tax” in the following year, and the succeeding 14 years if necessary, until the credit is exhausted.

(e) This credit shall be in lieu of any other credit or deduction that the taxpayer may otherwise claim pursuant to this part with respect to the property or any interest therein that is contributed.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 620, Sec. 2. (SB 355) Effective September 26, 2014.)