Ley 182 del 2007
Resumen
Esta ley enmienda el Código de Rentas Internas de Puerto Rico de 1994 para otorgar un crédito contributivo de $2,000 por la compra de automóviles propulsados por energía alternativa o combinada, como vehículos híbridos, eléctricos, de hidrógeno, biodiesel, etanol, metanol, gas natural, propano y "P-Series". El crédito aplica a años contributivos a partir del 31 de diciembre de 2007 y busca incentivar la adquisición de vehículos más eficientes en consumo de combustible y con menores emisiones para proteger el medio ambiente y ofrecer un beneficio económico a los consumidores.
Contenido
(Note: The table contains the number of students who have been in school, and the number of students in the school) (Substitute to H. B. 3434) (No. 182) (Approved December 10, 2007)
AN ACT
To add a new Section 1040J to Act No. 120 of October 31, 1994, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code of 1994," to grant a tax credit for the purchase of automobiles propelled by alternative or combined fuel.
STATEMENT OF MOTIVES
Cutting edge countries around the world are taking extraordinary measures to fight against global warming and other negative consequences against the environment. Carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides $\left(\mathrm{NO}_{\mathrm{x}} ight)$ and hydrocarbons (HC) are some of the contributors to environmental pollution and in an uncontrolled or unregulated manner, they can jeopardize the health of persons and the wellbeing of plants and animals.
It is for this reason that it is necessary to take measures to promote the purchase of automobiles that can help to preserve our environment for future generations and to extend the existence of world petroleum resources. Among the automobiles that are propelled by alternative energy sources or combined with gasoline, and which help us to preserve our environment are the hybrids. A hybrid automobile combines the power of two motors: one with rechargeable energy and another that is conventional for its movement or propulsion. The configuration for the power of these two motors can be in series, parallel or combined. The hybrid automobile also has the capacity to regenerate part of its own energy at the time of
deceleration while braking to recharge the batteries. The combination of these engines makes the hybrid automobile highly efficient in consumption of fuel and significantly clean in emissions.
The awareness of our environment and concern about pollution are not the only factors to be considered, but also the raise in the cost of fuel has driven persons to ponder about the acquisition of a hybrid automobile. This consideration is due, in part, to studies that show that hybrid automobiles yield approximately between thirty-seven (37) and forty-four (44) miles per gallon, which in some cases could result in the savings of approximately nine hundred (900) dollars per year in the purchase of fuel per customer.
Therefore, through the present Act, a tax credit is granted for the purchase of automobiles propelled by alternative or combined energy, such as hybrid automobiles, among others. In this manner, a tax relief is hereby granted which results in an additional benefit for Puerto Rican consumers, and at the same time allows us to give an incentive for the protection of our environment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO:
Section 1.- A new Section 1040J is hereby added to Act No. 120 of October 31, 1994, as amended, to read as follows: "Section 1040J.- Credit for the purchase of automobiles propelled by alternative or combined energy.
(a) Definitions.- For purposes of this Section, automobiles propelled by alternative or combined energy are: (1) Hybrid automobiles - those that combine a conventional combustion engine with an electric engine with regenerable and rechargeable energy.
(2) Electric automobiles - those that are propelled by electric energy and do not produce any type of emissions to the environment. (3) Hydrogen-propelled automobiles - those that are propelled by hydrogen for combustion or by hydrogen-fed fuel cells. (4) Biodiesel propelled automobiles - those propelled by the combustion of diesel derived from vegetable oils and animal fats. (5) Ethanol propelled automobiles - those propelled by alternative energy produced from the proportional combination of alcohol originating from natural crops and gasoline. (6) Methanol propelled automobiles - those propelled by methanol produced by the combustion of wood oil or carbon. (7) Natural gas propelled automobiles - those propelled by the combustion of a mixture of hydrocarbon gases, which originate from petroleum deposits, mainly methane mixed with a variety of amounts of ethanol, propane, butane and other gases. (8) Propane propelled automobiles - those propelled by the combustion of liquefied petroleum gas. (9) "P-Series" automobiles - those propelled by the combustion of a mixture of natural gas liquids (pentanes plus), ethanol and methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF), biomass-derived co-solvent.
(b) Amount of the Credit.- For the taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007, a credit shall be granted against the tax levied by Subtitle A for the purchase of automobiles propelled by alternative or combined energy. The amount of this credit shall be two thousand (2,000) dollars for the taxable year in which the automobile is acquired.
(c) Eligibility - The Secretary of the Treasury shall determine through regulations, circular letter, informative bulletin, or any other administrative procedure to such effect, the automobiles that shall be eligible for the purposes of this Section, taking into consideration the list provided by the Federal Internal Revenue Service to certify the eligible hybrid or alternative fuel automobiles."
Section 2.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval and its provisions shall apply to the years beginning after December 31, 2007.
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 182 (Substitute to H.B. 3434) of the $4^{ ext {th }}$ Special Session of the $15^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to add a new Section 1040J to Act No. 120 of October 31, 1994, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code of 1994," to grant a tax credit for the purchase of automobiles propelled by alternative or combined fuel, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $17^{ ext {th }}$ of March of 2008.
Francisco J. Domenech Director