(a) A credit against the taxes otherwise due under the Kansas income tax act shall be allowed to an employer for amounts paid during the taxable year for purposes of this act on behalf of an eligible employee as defined in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 40-2239, and amendments thereto, to provide health insurance or care and amounts contributed to health savings accounts of eligible covered employees, except that for taxable years commencing after December 31, 2013, no credit shall be allowed pursuant to this section for that portion of any amounts paid by an employer for healthcare expenditures, a health benefit plan, as defined in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-6731, and amendments thereto, or amounts contributed to health savings accounts for the purchase of an optional rider for coverage of abortion in accordance with Kan. Stat. Ann. § 40-2,190, and amendments thereto.

(b) (1) For employers that have established a small employer health benefit plan after December 31, 1999, but prior to January 1, 2005, the amount of the credit allowed by subsection (a) shall be $35 per month per eligible covered employee or 50% of the total amount paid by the employer during the taxable year, whichever is less, for the first two years of participation. In the third year, the credit shall be equal to 75% of the lesser of $35 per month per employee or 50% of the total amount paid by the employer during the taxable year. In the fourth year, the credit shall be equal to 50% of the lesser of $35 per month per employee or 50% of the total amount paid by the employer during the taxable year. In the fifth year, the credit shall be equal to 25% of the lesser of $35 per month per employee or 50% of the total amount paid by the employer during the taxable year. For the sixth and subsequent years, no credit shall be allowed.

(2) For employers that have established a small employer health benefit plan or made contributions to a health savings account of an eligible covered employee after December 31, 2004, the amount of credit allowed by subsection (a) shall be $70 per month per eligible covered employee for the first 12 months of participation, $50 per month per eligible covered employee for the next 12 months of participation and $35 per eligible covered employee for the next 12 months of participation. After 36 months of participation, no credit shall be allowed.

(c) If the credit allowed by this section is claimed, the amount of any deduction allowable under the Kansas income tax act for expenses described in this section shall be reduced by the dollar amount of the credit. The election to claim the credit shall be made at the time of filing the tax return in accordance with law. If the credit allowed by this section exceeds the taxes imposed under the Kansas income tax act for the taxable year, that portion of the credit which exceeds those taxes shall be refunded to the taxpayer.

(d) Any amount of expenses paid by an employer under this act shall not be included as income to the employee for purposes of the Kansas income tax act. If such expenses have been included in federal taxable income of the employee, the amount included shall be subtracted in arriving at state taxable income under the Kansas income tax act.

(e) The secretary of revenue shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.

(f) This section shall apply to all taxable years commencing after December 31, 1999.

(g) For tax year 2013 and all tax years thereafter, the income tax credit provided by this section shall only be available to taxpayers subject to the income tax on corporations imposed pursuant to subsection (c) of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 79-32,110, and amendments thereto, and shall be applied only against such taxpayer’s corporate income tax liability.