Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program (HTC)

Effective October 1, 2021

All HTC project forms must be submitted using Submittable and not FTP.

Any active projects (including projects in which the authorized credits have been issued) started outside of Submittable must use the Existing Project Request Form for any future HTC form submissions within Submittable.

Description

The Historic Tax Credit (HTC) Program helps provide an incentive for the redevelopment of commercial and residential historic buildings in Missouri.

  • Provides state tax credits equal to 25% of qualified rehabilitation expenses for approved historic structures.
  • State tax credits can be carried back as far as 3 years, and has a carry forward of 10 years.
  • This tax credit can also be applied to:
    • Chapter 143 – Income tax, excluding withholding tax
    • Chapter 148
    • Bank Tax
    • Insurance Premium Tax
    • Other Financial Institution Tax

Do I Qualify?

  • Any taxpayer is eligible to participate in this program.
  • Not-for-profit entities and government entities are ineligible.  
  • Any participation by not-for-profit entities may result in the reduction of tax credits, including but not limited to:
    • Ownership interest
    • Capital contributions
    • Distribution of tax credits
    • Incurrence or payment of rehabilitation expenses
    • Lease to a tax-exempt entity

How Do I Apply?

Preliminary Application: 
  • Applicants applying for less than $275,000 in tax credits (or less than $1.1M in qualified rehabilitation expenses) may apply at any time via Submittable.
  • Applicants applying for $275,000 or greater in tax credits (or more than $1.1M in qualified rehabilitation expenses)must apply during an open application cycle via Submittable.

The Preliminary Application process is as follows:

  1. Applicant/Project Contact submits Preliminary Application documentation via Submittable.
  2. DED reviews and sends the Preliminary Application to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
  3. SHPO notifies DED of the preliminary determination for the project.
  4. DED notifies the Applicant/Project Contact of the tax credit amount authorized for the project.
  5. DED sends the Final Application to the Applicant/Project Contact in Submittable for later use. 
  6. Once the project is complete, the Applicant/Project Contact submits the Final Application via Submittable. 
  7. DED reviews the Final Application and sends it to SHPO.
  8. SHPO notifies DED of Final Determination.
  9. DED notifies Applicant/Project Contact of the final determination.
  10. Project goes in line for a cost review.
  11. After DED does a cost review, the issuance fee invoice is sent to the Applicant/Project Contact via Submittable.
  12. Once the fee invoice is paid and an internal tax liability clearance has been performed, the tax credits may be issued.
  13. After the tax credits are issued, if there are excess credits available, the Applicant/Project Contact may apply via Submittable using the guidance above.
Amendments:
  • Applicants needing to amend their project can do so at any time via Submittable.
Final Application:
  • Applicants that have already applied (not through Submittable) can send in their final application via Submittable.
Excess Credit Application: 
  • Applicants that are eligible to receive excess tax credits may apply:
  • At any time via Submittable if the original application was allocated for less than $275,000.00 in tax credits. 
  •  During an open application cycle via Submittable if the original application was allocated for at least $275,000.00 or greater in tax credits.

Need Help?

If you have questions about the HTC Program refer to the HTC Frequently Asked Questions document.

Email htc@ded.mo.govor call 573-522-8004, if you should need further assistance.

It is also recommended that if you have questions involving the technical scope of work, please call SHPO at 573-751-7858.

Documents

HTC Program Summary
HTC - Preliminary Application Checklist
HTC Program Guidelines
Exhibit 2 - Average Wage for Estimated New Job Creation
HTC E-Verify Affidavit
HTC Developer Fee Agreement
SOI Standards
Applicant Certification
Application Scoring Guide and Scorecard
Exhibit 1
Property Lookup
HTC Final Application Checklist
QRE and NQRE List
Applicant Final Approval Certification Form
Independent Accountants' Report
Cost Certification Form
Cap Calculator
HTC Vacancy Table
Historic Tax Credit Program Improvements

Improvement Town Hall - March 8, 2023

Training Videos
  1. Creating a Submittable Account
  2. Submittable Navigation
  3. Submitting Forms and Troubleshooting
  4. Amendment Request Form
  5. General Applicant Information Amendment
  6. Scope of Work Amendment
  7. Document Request Form
  8. Existing Project Request Form
  9. Cost Certification Process
  10. Documents Needed for Cost Certification
  11. Independent Accountants' Report Walkthrough
  12. Applicant Final Approval Certification Form Walkthrough
  13. Cost Certification Form Excel Version
  14. General Contractor Breakout Sheet Walkthrough
  15. Issues to Avoid on the Cost Certification Form
Training Workshops
Workshops:

DED recently held three virtual workshops that covered how to use Submittable to submit forms during the various stages of an HTC project. Check out the list below which provides recordings of the various workshops.

Workshop Video Recordings:
Cap Increase
For FY23
  • The $90M HTC Cap was increased by $14,378,270.19 on June 29, 2022, making a total Cap for all projects of $104,378,270.19.
  • Please note that all funding for FY2022 expired at 5:00 pm on Friday, June 30, 2023.
For FY24
  • The $90M HTC Cap was increased by $14,378,270.19 on June 29, 2022, making a total Cap for all projects of $104,378,270.19.
Program Laws, Rules, & Guidelines
Authorization

Sections 253.545 to 253.559, RSMo

Rules

HTC Program Rules

Guidelines

2022 Guidelines

Prior Rules, Guidelines, and Application Cycles
Prior Rules

Click here for details on which rules apply to your project.

2014 HTC Rules

Prior Guidelines

2019 Final Guidelines

2014 Preliminary Guidelines

2009 Final Guidelines

HTC Waiver

Pursuant to Executive Order 20-04 (EO 20-04) issued by Governor Parson, the Department of Economic Development (DED) has received a waiver granting it permission in the interest of public health and safety to temporarily suspend certain statutory requirements relating to the Historic Preservation Tax Credit during the COVID-19 emergency and subsequent recovery period. 

In particular, the following deadlines from subsections of § 253.559 RSMo, have been temporarily suspended:

§ 253.559.7 RSMo - Applicants that receive preliminary approval from DED on or after July 1, 2019 shall submit evidence demonstrating the capacity to finance the expenses for rehabilitation within sixty (60) days following the date of preliminary approval letter. § 253.559.8 RSMo - Applicants that receive preliminary approval from DED shall begin physical work on their project and incur no less than ten percent (10%) of the estimated costs of rehabilitation within nine months [or two years, for projects authorized prior to August 28, 2018] of the date of DED’s issuance of the preliminary approval letter.

Under the temporary suspension, DED will suspend its determinations in the quoted statutory provisions for a period equal to the duration of the effective period of EO 20-04, including any extensions, in addition to three months. With the current extension that is in place as a result of Executive Order 21-09 signed August 27, 2021, this would result in an extension of 743 days including the three months, for impacted determinations.

Please use the 60 Day – 10% Calculator to determine the applicable due dates for your project. 

To calculate these dates: 

  • Use the dropdown selector in cell A2 to select when the Preliminary Application was received by DED. 
  • Enter the date of the DED approval letter in Cell B2.  This will auto populate a “New” due date for the 60 day financing requirement in cell D2 and one for the 10% incurrence requirement in cell F2.
  • Please contact DED at: redevelopment@ded.mo.gov or 573-522-8004 if you have a question regarding the applicable waiver for your project.
Related Program Links