§ 474. Application and approval process. 1. A business entity must submit a complete application as prescribed by the commissioner for the restaurant return-to-work credit and the additional restaurant return-to-work credit.

2. The commissioner shall establish procedures and a timeframe for business entities to submit applications. As part of the application, each business entity must:

(a) provide evidence in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner of their business eligibility;

(b) agree to allow the department of taxation and finance to share the business entity's tax information with the department. However, any information shared as a result of this program shall not be available for disclosure or inspection under the state freedom of information law;

(c) agree to allow the department of labor to share its tax and employer information with the department. However, any information shared as a result of this program shall not be available for disclosure or inspection under the state freedom of information law;

(d) allow the department and its agents access to any and all books and records the department may require to monitor compliance;

(e) certify, under penalty of perjury, that it is in substantial compliance with all emergency orders or public health regulations currently required of such entity, and local, and state tax laws; and

(f) agree to provide any additional information required by the department relevant to this article.

3. The application for the tax credit allowed under section four hundred seventy-five of this article must be submitted by May first, two thousand twenty-two. After reviewing a business entity's completed final application for the restaurant return-to-work credit and determining that the business entity meets the eligibility criteria as set forth in this article, the department may issue to that business entity a certificate of tax credit. A business entity may claim the tax credit in the taxable year that includes December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-one.

4. The application for the tax credit allowed under section four hundred seventy-five-a of this article must be submitted by July first, two thousand twenty-two. After reviewing a business entity's completed final application for the additional restaurant return-to-work credit and determining that the business entity meets the eligibility criteria as set forth in this article, the department may issue to that business entity a certificate of additional tax credit. A business entity may claim the tax credit in the taxable year that includes December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-two.