3. a. Gas, electric, gas and electric and telecommunications public utilities that were subject to a public utility tax either pursuant to P.L.1940, c.4 (C. 54:30A-16 et seq.) or P.L.1940, c.5 (C. 54:30A-49 et seq.) as of December 31, 1996, shall be required to file and remit installment payments of estimated corporation business tax pursuant to the provisions of subsection (f) of section 15 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C. 54:10A-15) during the calendar year in which those taxpayers first become subject to the corporation business tax, provided however, that the provisions of subsection d. of section 5 of P.L.1981, c.184 (C. 54:10A-15.4) shall not apply to those taxpayers during that year.

b. A telecommunications public utility that makes an advance payment of its applicable gross receipts and franchise tax to the State in the final year of the existence of such tax and treated such advance payment as an asset on its books and records for that year shall be entitled to a credit against its corporation business tax liability equal to the amount of such advance payment. Any unused portion of the credit may be carried forward in full to future privilege periods, provided however, that in any one privilege period the total amount of such credit which the taxpayer may utilize to pay its corporation business tax liability shall not exceed $5,000,000. Any gas, electric, or gas and electric public utility taxpayer that has made any advance credit payment pursuant to P.L.1940, c.5 (C. 54:30A-49 et seq.), shall not be eligible for a credit for such amount or any part thereof to offset any liability under P.L.1945, c.162. Under no circumstances may any portion of an unused $5,000,000 per year credit be subject to refund.

c. All amounts remitted under P.L.1945, c.162 by any gas, electric, gas and electric or telecommunication public utility shall be separately accounted for by the State Treasurer.

d. A public utility, with gas, electric or telecommunications operations or any of them shall file with the Board of Public Utilities amendments to its existing tariffs, contracts or schedules of service designating the appropriate apportionment of its corporation business tax liability in these tariffs, contracts or schedules so that rates will not be increased for any class of ratepayer as a result of the transition to this tax. The board may permit gas, electric, gas and electric or telecommunications public utilities to establish new tariffs, contracts or schedules, or to amend existing tariffs, contracts or schedules, as necessary to comply with the provisions of this act.

e. A qualified taxpayer may claim a corporation business tax credit in accordance with the provisions of section 53 of P.L.1997, c.162 (C. 54:30A-117) and for local energy utility franchise taxes paid and subject to the limitations of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subsection (k) of section 4 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C. 54:10A-4).

f. A municipal electric corporation or utility that is not exempt from the corporation business tax pursuant to subsection j. of section 3 of P.L.1945, c.162 (C. 54:10A-3), that is required to file a corporation business tax return but that is not required to file a federal corporation tax return, shall file with the director a pro-forma federal corporation tax return at the same time it files its corporation business tax return. The director may promulgate rules and regulations and issue guidance with respect to all issues related to the pro-forma federal corporation tax return.

L.1997,c.162,s.3; amended 1998, c.114, s.3.