Full Text of SB2097

LRB104 09844 HLH 19912 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2097

Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Erica Harriss

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

35 ILCS 5/246 new

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to the foster care expenses, not to exceed $1,000 in any taxable year, paid or incurred by the taxpayer with respect to a qualified dependent child. Provides that the credit may be prorated. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning revenue.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Income Tax Act is amended by adding Section 246 as follows:

(35 ILCS 5/246 new)

Sec. 246. Foster care credit.

(a) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, there shall be allowed a credit against the tax imposed by subsections (a) and (b) of Section 201 of this Act in an amount equal to the foster care expenses paid or incurred, not to exceed $1,000 in any taxable year, for each qualifying dependent child legally cared for by the foster care parent in Illinois. The tax credit under this Section may be claimed for the taxable year in which the foster care parent becomes the legal guardian of a foster child. The taxpayer must be under contract with the Department of Children and Family Services and providing care to the qualifying dependent child for at least 6 months during the taxable year to receive the full credit. If the taxpayer is under contract with the Department of Children and Family Services and providing care to the qualifying dependent child for less than 6 months during the taxable year, then the taxpayer is entitled to a credit in an amount equal to: the lesser of (i) the foster care expenses paid or incurred by the taxpayer or (ii) $1,000; multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days during the taxable year during which the taxpayer is under contract with the Department of Children and Family Services and providing care to the qualifying dependent child and the denominator of which is 365.

(b) In no event shall a credit under this Section reduce a taxpayer's liability to less than zero. If the amount of the credit exceeds the tax liability for the year, the excess may be carried forward and applied to the tax liability for the 5 taxable years following the excess credit year. The tax credit shall be applied to the earliest year for which there is a tax liability. If there are credits for more than one year that are available to offset liability, the earlier credit shall be applied first.

(c) The Department of Children and Family Services, in collaboration with the Department of Revenue, shall adopt any necessary rules to implement this Section.

(d) As used in this Section, "qualifying dependent child" means a person who is an Illinois resident in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services who is the foster child of the taxpayer seeking a credit under this Section.

(e) This Section is exempt from the provisions of Section 250.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.