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Incentive Certification Forms

Primary Sector Certification

Most of the state's economic development tools and incentives are targeted toward primary sector businesses. In fact, legislation for several of these incentives specifies that a business must be 'certified' as a primary sector business by the director of the Economic Development & Finance Division of the N.D. Department of Commerce. Certification does not guarantee receipt of any incentive, but being certified as a primary sector business can be an important first step in the process.

Programs and incentives that may require certification include:

New Jobs Training
Research and Development Company Certification to Sell, Transfer or Assign Unused Tax Credit
Sales Tax Exemption on Computer and Telecommunications Equipment
Seed Capital Investment Tax Credit

Application for Primary-Sector Certification (document)
File Size: 152.36 kb

"Primary sector business" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or association which through the employment of knowledge or labor adds value to a product, process, or service that results in the creation of new wealth. The term includes tourism but does not include production agriculture.

Microbusiness Certification

Application for Microbusiness Certification (document)
File Size: 124.95 kb

A "microbusiness" is a company with five or fewer employees, located in an economically viable small community. Additional qualifications and definitions are noted on the application form.

Research & Development Company Certification

Application for Research and Development Company Certification (document)
File Size: 98.58 kb

A business must be certified as a "qualified research and development company" before a taxpayer can elect to sell, transfer, or assign all or part of its unused Research and Experimental Expenditure Tax Credit.

Seed Capital Investment Tax Credit

Seed Capital Investment Tax Credit Certification (document)
File Size: 153.44 kb

A taxpayer is entitled to a credit against state income tax liability if they make a qualified investment in a "qualified business" for the Seed Capital Tax Credit.

Agricultural Business Investment Tax Credit

Agricultural Business Investment Tax Credit Certification (document)
File Size: 121.54 kb

A taxpayer is entitled to a credit against state income tax liability if they make a qualified investment in a "qualified business" for the Agricultural Business Tax Credit.

Angel Fund Investment Tax Credit Certification

Angel Fund Investment Tax Credit Certification (document)
File Size: 167.48 kb

To be eligible for the Angel Fund Investment Tax Credit, an angel fund must be certified by the North Dakota Department of Commerce. Criteria for certification can be found in the certification form, as well as in the N.D.C.C. 57-38-01.26.

Investments in Angel Funds made during the 2009 calendar year may be accepted for the Angel Fund Investment Tax Credit, provided the Angel Fund is eligible for certification before December 31, 2009.

Entrepreneurial Center Certification

Entrepreneurial Center Certification (document)
File Size: 131.66 kb

Certification as an entrepreneurial center provides access to the New Venture Capital Program, administered by the North Dakota Development Fund, as well as providing the center's clients with access to the funding resources. Certification as an entrepreneurial center does not guarantee funding.

Safe-Harbor Application for a Life Science Animal-Use Certified Company

Safe-Harbor Application for a Life Science Animal-Use Certified Company in the State of North Dakota (document)
File Size: 143.22 kb

Use this form only for application for a life science animal-use certified company in the state of North Dakota by the North Dakota Department of Commerce Division of Economic Development and Finance as defined in N.D.C.C. 54-34.3-16.



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