BEST provides statewide job tax credits and investment tax credits for businesses locating or expanding in Georgia.

• Job Tax Credit: Tax liability for any one-year may be reduced by a maximum of 100%. Eligible businesses include those involved in manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, processing, tourism and research and development. This credit may be carried forward up to 10 years. For Augusta, a $3,000 tax credit is available for the creation of 10 jobs.
• Job Tax Credit Joint Development Authorities: Legislation provides for an additional $500 job tax credit for counties that are members of a Joint Development Authority, of which Augusta is a member.
• Investment Tax Credit: Available to manufacturers or telecommunications companies having a presence in Georgia for at least 5 years. The company must spend at least $50,000 on an expansion project.
• Optional Investment Credit: Larger credits can, depending on location, offset up to 90% of a manufacturer’s increased income tax liability following a major expansion. These larger investment tax credits can be carried forward for 10 years but may not be taken in conjunction with the job or investment tax credits. For Augusta, a minimum investment of $10 million results in an 8% tax credit.
• Retraining Tax Credit: Firms providing retraining for employees may receive a tax credit of 25% of their costs, up to $500 per participant, to a maximum of 50% of state income tax liability.
• Corporate Headquarters Tax Credit: Companies establishing or relocating their headquarters to Georgia may be eligible for a tax credit if the headquarters is defined as the principal central administrative offices of a company. New jobs created at the new headquarters must be full-time and must pay above the average wage.
• Ports Job Tax Credit: Companies that increase traffic shipped through Georgia ports by 10% or more in a year may be eligible for larger job tax credits. The amount of the bonus tax credit for qualifying firms is $1,250 per job. Applicants must also be eligible for job tax credits under the B.E.S.T. legislation.
• Research and Development Tax Credit: A tax credit is allowed for expenses of research conducted within Georgia for any business or headquarters of any such business engaged in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, processing, telecommunications, tourism and research and development industries.
• Child Care Credit: Employers providing or sponsoring child care for employees are eligible for a tax credit of 75% of their costs, up to 50% of state income tax liability.
• Small Company Business Growth Tax Credit: A tax credit is granted for any business or headquarters of any such business engaged in manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution, processing, telecommunications, tourism, and research & development industries having a state net taxable income which is 20% or more above that of the preceding year if its net taxable income in each of the two preceding years was also 20% or more.
• Sales Tax Exemptions: In certain circumstances, sales tax exemptions are available for manufacturing machinery, raw materials, purchase for resale, machinery purchased new and used directly in the manufacturing process, pollution control equipment, machinery components, computer equipment, primary material handling and electricity.