To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a small business start-up tax credit for veterans creating businesses in underserved communities.

Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act

This bill allows veteran-owned small businesses in underserved communities to claim a tax credit for qualified start-up expenses in the amount of 15% (up to $50,000) of such expenses. (Conditions and limitations apply.)

Under the bill, a business qualifies for the veteran small business start-up tax credit if it

• is owned and controlled by one or more veterans (or spouses of veterans);
• is located in a Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program area, empowerment zone or enterprise community, an area of low or moderate income, or county with persistent poverty; and
• has gross receipts for the prior tax year of $5 million or less (or employed 50 or fewer full-time employees in the prior tax year).

The bill generally defines qualified start-up expenses as amounts incurred or paid to

• investigate the creation or acquisition of the business,
• create the business,
• engage in activities for the production of income before the day the business opens, and
• purchase or lease real property (or purchase personal property) for use in the active conduct of a trade or business.

However, under the bill, the veteran small business start-up tax credit is allowed only in the first two tax years for which a business may claim a tax deduction for ordinary and necessary trade or business expenses.

Finally, the bill requires the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to provide an evaluation of the veteran small business start-up tax credit to Congress every four years.