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TITLE 34PUBLIC FINANCE
PART 1COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
CHAPTER 3TAX ADMINISTRATION
SUBCHAPTER VFRANCHISE TAX
RULE §3.584Margin: Reports and Payments

      (i) a tax rate of 1.0% of taxable margin applies to most taxable entities; and

      (ii) a tax rate of 0.5% of taxable margin applies to taxable entities primarily engaged in retail or wholesale trade.

    (B) For reports originally due on or after January 1, 2014, but before January 1, 2015:

      (i) a tax rate of 0.975% of taxable margin applies to most taxable entities; and

      (ii) a tax rate of 0.4875% of taxable margin applies to taxable entities primarily engaged in retail or wholesale trade.

    (C) For reports originally due on or after January 1, 2015, but before January 1, 2016:

      (i) a tax rate of 0.95% of taxable margin applies to most taxable entities; and

      (ii) a tax rate of 0.475% of taxable margin applies to taxable entities primarily engaged in retail or wholesale trade.

    (D) For reports originally due on or after January 1, 2016:

      (i) a tax rate of 0.75% of taxable margin applies to most taxable entities; and

      (ii) a tax rate of 0.375% of taxable margin applies to taxable entities primarily engaged in retail or wholesale trade.

  (3) Annualized Total Revenue. When the accounting period on which a report is based is more or less than 12 months, a taxable entity must annualize its total revenue to determine its eligibility for the no tax due threshold, discounts, and E-Z Computation. The amount of total revenue used in the actual tax calculations will not change as a result of annualizing revenue. To annualize total revenue, an entity will divide total revenue by the number of days in the period upon which the report is based, and then multiply the result by 365. Examples are as follows:

    (A) a taxable entity's 2010 franchise tax report is based on the period September 15, 2009 through December 31, 2009 (108 days), and its total revenue for the period is $375,000. The taxable entity's annualized total revenue is $1,267,361 ($375,000 divided by 108 days multiplied by 365 days). Based on its annualized total revenue, the taxable entity does not qualify for the $1,000,000 no tax due threshold but is eligible to file using the E-Z computation. The discounts do not apply in years when the no tax due threshold is $1,000,000;

    (B) a taxable entity's 2010 franchise tax report is based on the period March 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009 (671 days), and its total revenue for the period is $1,375,000. The taxable entity's annualized total revenue is $747,951 ($1,375,000 divided by 671 days multiplied by 365 days). Based on its annualized total revenue, the taxable entity qualifies for the $1,000,000 no tax due threshold and is eligible to file using the No Tax Due Information Report.

  (4) No tax due. Effective September 1, 2015, No Tax Due Reports are required to be filed electronically. See §3.587(c)(8)(C) of this title (relating to Margin: Total Revenue) for the tiered partnership exception to filing No Tax Due Reports.

    (A) A taxable entity owes no tax and may file a No Tax Due Report if its annualized total revenue is:

      (i) for reports originally due on or after January 1, 2008, but before January 1, 2010, $300,000 or less;

      (ii) for reports originally due on or after January 1, 2010, but before January 1, 2012, $1 million or less;

      (iii) for reports originally due on or after January 1, 2012, but before January 1, 2014, $1,030,000 or less;

      (iv) for reports originally due on or after January 1, 2014, but before January 1, 2016, $1,080,000 or less;

      (v) for reports originally due on or after January 1, 2016, but before January 1, 2018, $1,110,000 or less; and

      (vi) for reports originally due on or after January 1, 2018, the amount determined under Tax Code, §171.006 (Adjustment of Eligibility for No Tax Due, Discounts, and Compensation Deduction).

    (B) A taxable entity that has zero Texas receipts owes no tax and may file a No Tax Due Report.

    (C) A taxable entity that has tax due of less than $1,000 owes no tax; however, the entity cannot file a No Tax Due Report and must file a regular annual report or, if qualified, the E-Z Computation Report.

  (5) Discount. A taxable entity is entitled to a discount of the tax imposed as follows.

    (A) For reports originally due on or after January 1, 2008, but before January 1, 2010, if annualized total revenue is:

      (i) greater than $300,000 and less than $400,000, the discount is 80% of tax due;

      (ii) greater than or equal to $400,000 and less than $500,000, the discount is 60% of tax due;

      (iii) greater than or equal to $500,000 and less than $700,000, the discount is 40% of tax due;

      (iv) greater than or equal to $700,000 and less than $900,000, the discount is 20% of tax due.

    (B) For reports originally due on or after January 1, 2010 there are no discounts.

  (6) E-Z Computation.

    (A) For reports originally due on or after January 1, 2008, and before January 1, 2016, a taxable entity with annualized total revenue of $10 million or less may choose to pay the franchise tax by using the E-Z Computation method. For this period, under the E-Z Computation, a taxable entity's tax liability is computed by applying a tax rate of 0.575% to apportioned total revenue and subtracting any applicable discount as provided by paragraph (5) of this subsection.

    (B) For reports originally due on or after January 1, 2016, a taxable entity with annualized total revenue of $20 million or less may choose to pay the franchise tax by using the E-Z Computation method. For this period, under the E-Z Computation, a taxable entity's tax liability is computed by applying a tax rate of 0.331% to apportioned total revenue.

    (C) No deductions to compute margin, credits, or other adjustments are allowed if a taxable entity chooses to compute its tax liability under the E-Z Computation.

  (7) Tiered partnership provision. See §3.587 of this title for information concerning the tiered partnership provision.

    (A) Eligibility for no tax due, discounts and the E-Z Computation. For eligible entities choosing to file under the tiered partnership provision, paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) of this subsection do not apply to an upper or lower tier entity if, before the attribution of total revenue by a lower tier entity to upper tier entities, the lower tier entity does not meet the criteria.

    (B) Tiered Partnership Report. The lower tier entity must submit a report to the comptroller indicating its total revenue before attribution and the amount of total revenue that each upper tier entity must include with the upper tier entity's own total revenue. Each upper tier entity must submit a report to the comptroller indicating the lower tier entity's total revenue before attribution and the amount of the lower tier entity's total revenue that was passed to the upper tier entity and is included in the total revenue of the upper tier entity.

(e) Penalty and interest on delinquent taxes.

  (1) Tax Code, §171.362 (Penalty for Failure to Pay Tax or File Report), imposes a 5.0% penalty on the amount of franchise tax due by a taxable entity that fails to report or pay the tax when due. If any part of the tax is not reported or paid within 30 days after the due date, an additional 5.0% penalty is imposed on the amount of tax unpaid. There is a minimum penalty of $1.00. Delinquent taxes accrue interest beginning 60 days after the due date. For example, if payment is made on the 61st day after the due date, one day's interest is due. The annual rate of interest on delinquent taxes is the prime rate plus one percent, as published in The Wall Street Journal on the first day of each calendar year that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.

  (2) When a taxable entity is issued an audit assessment or other underpayment notice based on a deficiency, penalties under Tax Code, §171.362, and interest are applied as of the date that the underpaid tax was originally due, including any extensions, not from the date of the deficiency determination or date the deficiency determination is final.

  (3) A deficiency determination is final 60 days after the date the notice of the determination is issued.

    (A) The amount of a determination is due and payable 10 days after it becomes final. If the amount of the determination is not paid within 10 days after the day it became final, a penalty under Tax Code, §111.0081 (When Payment is Required), of 10% of the tax assessed will be added. For example, if a deficiency determination is made in the amount of $1,000 tax (plus the initial penalty and interest), but the total amount of the deficiency is not paid until the 71st day after the deficiency notice is issued, $1,200 plus interest would be due (i.e., $1,000 tax, $100 initial penalty for not paying when originally due, $100 penalty for not paying deficiency determination within 10 days after it became final, plus interest accrued to the Cont'd...

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