Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts STAR System
200609762L
September 7, 2006
To: **************
**************
Dear **************:
Thank you for your email regarding the revised franchise tax with margin
calculation recently passed by the Texas Legislature.
The publication and calculator I mention below, as well as other related
information, can be found at http://www.window.state.tx.us/m23taxes.html.
You have asked if an entity with $301,000 in total revenues will have to
pay tax on the entire amount of revenues or just on the incremental amount
above the $300,000 limitation.
House Bill (HB) 3 was passed during the 79th 3rd Called Session of the Texas
Legislature. House Bill 3 amends Texas Tax Code Chapter 171 to revise the
existing franchise tax by changing the tax base, lowering the rate, and
extending coverage to active businesses receiving state law liability
protection. Changes made by HB3 are effective for franchise tax reports
originally due on or after January 1, 2008.
Tax Code Sec. 171.002(d) provides that a taxable entity is not required to pay
any tax if the amount of tax computed for the taxable entity is less than
$1,000 or the amount of the taxable entity’s total revenue from its entire
business is less than or equal to $300,000 for the 2008 report. The
corporation will compute its franchise tax on the entire of amount of revenues,
$301,000. There would be no exclusion for the first $300,000 of
revenues.
This agency’s publication, The Revised Franchise Tax Overview (98-806),
provides a concise summary of the revised franchise tax. The publication
briefly addresses the entities subject to the tax, the calculation of the tax
and other general information. There is also a franchise tax calculator
available on our website for you to estimate a tax liability under the new
provisions if you operate a taxable entity.
A copy of HB3 is available through the legislature's website, "Texas
Legislature Online" at www.capitol.state.tx.us.
This response is based on the facts presented and current law. If there are
different or additional facts, the response may change.
Our goal is to provide you with prompt, professional service. Please take a
moment to complete our on-line survey at:
http://aixtcp.cpa.state.tx.us/surveys/tpsurv2/index.html.
If you need any additional information, please feel free to contact me at
1.800.531.5441, extension 34629.
Sincerely,
Lowell Olsen Dunn
Tax Policy Division
ACCESSION NUMBER: 200609762L
SUPERSEDED: N
DOCUMENT TYPE: L
DATE: 09/07/2006
TAX TYPE: FRANCHISE