New Tax Credit Strategies Possible

WASHINGTON, DC-For the last nine months or more the use of tax credits to help finance development, namely New Markets Tax Credits and Low Income Housing Tax Credits, have been characterized by the following: The capital markets crunch has prompted more developers to look anew at these tools as good alternatives to bridging gaps in financing for projects. At the same time, the recession has significantly narrowed the option, by killing the demand for such credits. After all, banks have little need for tax credits when they are not making a profit against which to offset them.

There are signs, though, that this situation is about to change thanks to government measures, starting with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that passed in February. Included in that legislation was a clause that allows states to use these funds to cash in unused Low Income Housing Tax Credits.

Developers then will receive grants in lieu of, or in addition, to the tax credit program. As states receive stimulus funds, many housing agencies are now putting in place new tax credit programs based around grants instead of LIHTCs.