State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Rhode Island Department of Revenue Division of Taxation

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Rhode Island Department of Revenue Division of Taxation State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Rhode Island Department of Revenue Division of Taxation Public Notice of Proposed Rule-Making Pursuant to the provisions of Rhode Island General Laws (RIGL) § 42-35-3, which sets forth procedures for the adoption of rules, and in accordance with the Rhode Island Administrative Procedures Act, codified at RIGL § 42-35-1 et seq., the Rhode Island Division of Taxation hereby gives notice of its intent to promulgate a regulation regarding mandatory unitary combined reporting for purposes of the business corporation tax. The purpose of this rule making is to implement RIGL § 44-11-4.1, which involves combined reporting. The proposed regulation and concise summary of non-technical requirements and proposed new rules are available for public inspection at www.tax.ri.gov. They are also available in person at the Rhode Island Division of Taxation, or may be requested from Michael F. Canole by email at: [email protected], or by phone at: (401) 574- 8729. In the development of the proposed regulation, consideration was given to: (1) alternative approaches; (2) overlap or duplication with other statutory and regulatory provisions; and (3) whether the regulation, in and of itself, would have significant economic impact on small business. No alternative approach, duplication, or overlap was identified based upon available information. All interested parties are invited to submit written or oral comments concerning the proposed regulation by December 14, 2015 to Michael F. Canole, Rhode Island Division of Taxation, One Capitol Hill, Providence, R.I. 02908 - telephone number (401) 574- 8729 or via e-mail: [email protected]. A public hearing to consider the proposed regulation will be held on December 14, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time at the Rhode Island Division of Taxation, One Capitol Hill, Providence, Rhode Island, at which time and place all persons interested therein shall be heard. The room is accessible to the disabled; interpreter services for the hearing impaired shall be provided if requested 48 hours prior to the hearing. Requests for this service can be made in writing to Michael F. Canole at the Rhode Island Division of Taxation, One Capitol Hill, Providence, R.I. 02908, or by calling (401) 574-8729. Filing Notice Date: November 13, 2015 Rhode Island Department of Revenue Division of Taxation Concise summary of all non-technical requirements pursuant to RIGL § 42-35-3(a)(1) for rules and regulation regarding mandatory unitary combined reporting applied to businesses treated as C corporations for federal income tax purposes. The purpose of this rule making is to implement RIGL § 44-11-4.1 and related provisions. This regulation provides guidance regarding the application of the mandatory unitary combined reporting regime under Rhode Island’s business corporation tax, codified at RIGL § 44-11-1 et seq. This regulation shall take effect _________,_____. 2 State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Rhode Island Division of Taxation (Department of Revenue) Corporate Income Tax: Combined Reporting Regulation CT 15-15 Preamble: Informal background and explanation of provisions…………………………………….………… 4 Table of Contents of Regulation Rule 1. Purpose .............................................................................................................. 20 Rule 2. Authority ........................................................................................................... 20 Rule 3. Application ........................................................................................................ 21 Rule 4. Severability ........................................................................................................ 21 Rule 5. Definitions ......................................................................................................... 21 Rule 6. Combined Reporting - Overview ...................................................................... 27 Rule 7. Combined Group - Composition; Water’s Edge; Tax Havens .......................... 29 Rule 8. Unitary Business - Further Defined................................................................... 37 Rule 9. Election to Use Federal Consolidated Group .................................................... 44 Rule 10. Apportionment; Single Sales Factor; Market-Based Sourcing ........................ 48 Rule 11. Combined Net Income of Group ....................................................................... 50 Rule 12. Corporate Minimum Tax ................................................................................... 53 Rule 13. Net Operating Losses ........................................................................................ 56 Rule 14. Add-Backs ........................................................................................................ 64 Rule 15. Tax Rate ............................................................................................................ 65 Rule 16. Tax Credits; Tracing; JDA; Life Sciences ....................................................... 66 Rule 17. Filing of Return ................................................................................................. 71 Rule 18. Estimated Tax .................................................................................................... 73 Rule 19. Designated Agent .............................................................................................. 74 Rule 20. Tax Administrator’s Authority .......................................................................... 76 Rule 21. Special Appeals ................................................................................................. 77 Rule 22. Tax Administrator’s Report............................................................................... 78 Rule 23. Effective Date .................................................................................................... 79 Appendix I - Combined Reporting Calculation ............................................................... 80 Appendix II - Further Examples ....................................................................................... 81 Appendix III - Comprehensive Example .......................................................................... 86 3 Preamble I. Background Legislation approved by the Rhode Island General Assembly and signed into law by then-Governor Lincoln D. Chafee on June 30, 2011, directed the Rhode Island Division of Taxation to gather certain corporate income tax returns for two successive years, analyze the data, and use it to help determine the policy and fiscal ramifications of changing the business corporation tax statute from separate entity reporting to a combined 1 method of reporting. This preamble is an informal, plain- language summary of recently enacted To assist the Division of Taxation in its study, legislation regarding combined C corporations that were part of a combined reporting. This preamble is provided in group and engaged in a unitary business were accordance with Rhode Island Division of Taxation Regulation TRR 98-1, required to file pro forma Rhode Island Rhode Island Governor Gina M. combined returns -- as if combined reporting Raimondo's Executive Order 15-07, were the law. Pro forma combined reporting and the Rhode Island Office of applied to tax years 2011 and 2012. Regulatory Reform, all of which prescribe that regulatory and other tax Data from the pro forma filings for tax years information be clearly written, in plain 2011 and 2012 was used by the Division of language. This preamble is for general information purposes only; it is not a Taxation to compile a detailed study of substitute for Rhode Island General combined reporting and related issues; the Laws or for Rhode Island Division of study was presented to the chairs of the House Taxation regulations -- including the and Senate Finance Committees by the regulation on combined reporting, statutory deadline of March 15, 2014. which follows this preamble. Nothing contained in this preamble in any way Subsequently, legislation was introduced in the alters or otherwise changes any provisions of Rhode Island statutes, General Assembly to make comprehensive regulations, or formal rulings. changes to Rhode Island’s corporate tax structure. The legislation -- contained in the budget bill for the 2015 fiscal year -- was approved by the General Assembly and signed into law by then-Governor Chafee on June 19, 2014.2 As a consequence, mandatory unitary combined reporting for Rhode Island corporate income tax purposes is effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015.3 1 Rhode Island Public Law 2011, ch. 151, art. 19, § 4. 2 Rhode Island Public Law 2014, ch. 145, art. 12, § 13 et seq. 3 See, among other things, RIGL § 44-11-4.1. 4 Key regulatory carryforwards To assist C corporations and their advisers in complying with the requirements of pro forma combined reporting, the Division of Taxation in 2011 issued Regulation CT 11-15, “Combined Reporting (pro forma).”4 The Division of Taxation has carried forward a number of elements of Regulation CT 11- 15 into the following regulation involving mandatory unitary combined reporting - in keeping with provisions of Rhode Island General Laws, for the convenience of corporations and their advisers, and to help foster compliance. For example: . Definitions of certain key terms - including “combined group” and “common ownership” - remain the same or substantially the same as in the prior
Recommended publications
  • Double Taxation of Corporate Income in the United States and the OECD
    Double Taxation of Corporate Income in the United States and the OECD FISCAL Taylor LaJoie Elke Asen FACT Policy Analyst Policy Analyst No. 740 Jan. 2021 Key Findings • The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lowered the top integrated tax rate on corporate income distributed as dividends from 56.33 percent in 2017 to 47.47 percent in 2020; the OECD average is 41.6 percent. • Joe Biden’s proposal to increase the corporate income tax rate and to tax long-term capital gains and qualified dividends at ordinary income rates would increase the top integrated tax rate on distributed dividends to 62.73 percent, highest in the OECD. • Income earned in the U.S. through a pass-through business is taxed at an average top combined statutory rate of 45.9 percent. • On average, OECD countries tax corporate income distributed as dividends at 41.6 percent and capital gains derived from corporate income1 at 37.9 percent. • Double taxation of corporate income can lead to such economic distortions as reduced savings and investment, a bias towards certain business forms, and debt financing over equity financing. • Several OECD countries have integrated corporate and individual tax codes to eliminate or reduce the negative effects of double taxation on corporate The Tax Foundation is the nation’s income. leading independent tax policy research organization. Since 1937, our research, analysis, and experts have informed smarter tax policy at the federal, state, and global levels. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. ©2021 Tax Foundation Distributed under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC 4.0 Editor, Rachel Shuster Designer, Dan Carvajal Tax Foundation 1325 G Street, NW, Suite 950 Washington, DC 20005 202.464.6200 1 In some countries, the capital gains tax rate varies by type of asset sold.
    [Show full text]
  • Tax Strategies for Selling Your Company by David Boatwright and Agnes Gesiko Latham & Watkins LLP
    Tax Strategies For Selling Your Company By David Boatwright and Agnes Gesiko Latham & Watkins LLP The tax consequences of an asset sale by an entity can be very different than the consequences of a sale of the outstanding equity interests in the entity, and the use of buyer equity interests as acquisition currency may produce very different tax consequences than the use of cash or other property. This article explores certain of those differences and sets forth related strategies for maximizing the seller’s after-tax cash flow from a sale transaction. Taxes on the Sale of a Business The tax law presumes that gain or loss results upon the sale or exchange of property. This gain or loss must be reported on a tax return, unless a specific exception set forth in the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) or the Treasury Department’s income tax regulations provide otherwise. When a transaction is taxable under applicable principles of income tax law, the seller’s taxable gain is determined by the following formula: the “amount realized” over the “adjusted tax basis” of the assets sold equals “taxable gain.” If the adjusted tax basis exceeds the amount realized, the seller has a “tax loss.” The amount realized is the amount paid by the buyer, including any debt assumed by the buyer. The adjusted tax basis of each asset sold is generally the amount originally paid for the asset, plus amounts expended to improve the asset (which were not deducted when paid), less depreciation or amortization deductions (if any) previously allowable with respect to the asset.
    [Show full text]
  • October 2015 INDICTMENT and INFORMATION FORMS
    INDICTMENT AND INFORMATION FORMS (REVISED) 26 U.S.C. § 7201 ............................................................................................................................ 1 Individual Taxes – Evasion (Assessment) – False Return as Only Affirmative Act .................. 1 Joint Taxes – Evasion (Assessment) – False Return as Only Affirmative Act .......................... 2 Individual Taxes – Evasion (Assessment) – False Return and Other Affirmative Acts ............. 3 Joint Taxes – Evasion (Assessment) – False Return and Other Affirmative Acts ..................... 4 Individual Taxes – Evasion (Assessment) – Spies Evasion........................................................ 5 Individual Taxes – Evasion (Payment) ....................................................................................... 7 Corporation Taxes – Evasion (Assessment) – False Return as Only Affirmative Act ............... 8 Corporation Taxes – Evasion (Assessment) – False Return and Other Affirmative Acts .......... 9 Corporation Taxes – Evasion (Assessment) – Spies Evasion ................................................... 10 Corporation Taxes – Evasion (Payment) .................................................................................. 12 Last Updated: October 2015 26 U.S.C. § 7201 Form 1 Individual Taxes – Evasion (Assessment) – False Return as Only Affirmative Act THE [GRAND JURY/UNITED STATES ATTORNEY] CHARGES: From in or about [Month Year] through in or about [Month Year], in the [_____________] District of [_____________] and elsewhere,
    [Show full text]
  • Overview of the Tax Treatment of Corporate Debt and Equity
    OVERVIEW OF THE TAX TREATMENT OF CORPORATE DEBT AND EQUITY Scheduled for a Public Hearing Before the SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE on May 24, 2016 Prepared by the Staff of the JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION May 20, 2016 JCX-45-16 CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY ........................................................................................... 1 I. PRESENT LAW ....................................................................................................................... 4 A. General Rules ...................................................................................................................... 4 1. Issuer treatment of debt and equity ............................................................................... 4 2. Holder treatment of debt and equity ............................................................................. 7 3. Acquisitions and dispositions ..................................................................................... 12 B. Distinguishing Between Debt and Equity ......................................................................... 13 1. In general .................................................................................................................... 13 2. Regulatory authority pursuant to section 385 ............................................................. 15 C. Rules to Address Stripping of U.S. Corporate Tax Base in the Case of Nontaxed Holders .............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of Accountancy Business Tax Quick Guide — Tax Year 2018
    Journal of Accountancy Business tax quick guide — tax year 2018 Tear out this quick guide for use during tax season, and look for our quick guide for individual taxpayers in the January 2019 issue. C CORPORATION INCOME TAX ■■■ Credit: Maximum amount of 5.4% for contributions paid to ■■■ Taxable income of a C corporation: Taxed at a flat rate of state unemployment insurance funds. 21%. ESTIMATED TAX QUALIFIED PERSONAL SERVICE CORPORATION TAX ■■■ Corporations owing $500 or more in income tax for the ■■■ Taxable income of a qualified personal service corporation tax year must make estimated tax payments equaling the is no longer subject to tax at a flat rate of 35%, but is taxed lesser of 100% of the prior-year or current-year tax liability. at the regular corporate tax rate of 21%. Large corporations must base the last three payments on the current-year tax liability. ACCUMULATED EARNINGS TAX ■■■ Due on the 15th day of the fourth, sixth, ninth, and 12th ■■■ 20% of accumulated taxable income (in addition to regular months of the corporation’s tax year (April 15, June 15, corporate income tax). Sept. 15, and Dec. 15 for calendar-year corporations). PERSONAL HOLDING COMPANY TAX CORPORATE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX (AMT) ■■■ ■■■ 20% penalty on undistributed personal holding company Starting in 2018, the AMT no longer applies to corporations. income. ■■■ No foreign tax credit allowed against personal holding company tax. NONRESIDENT AND FOREIGN CORPORATIONS ■■■ Taxed on U.S.-source investment income at 30% (or lower under treaty). SELF-EMPLOYMENT TAX ■■■ Net income effectively connected with a U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Untaxingly Yours Take Me out of the Ballgame
    Untaxingly Yours Take Me Out of the Ballgame By Brian T. Whitlock Strategies for Removing Appreciated Assets from Corporate Solution Removing appreciated assets (e.g., real estate) from corporations and personal holding companies can create three potential levels of tax: corporate (entity level) income tax, individual income tax, and transfer tax (i.e., gift/estate) tax. This column will explore some tools and techniques for removing appreciated assets from corporate solution. The tools are aimed at reducing and/or eliminating one or more of the potential taxes. Like many tax practitioners, I subscribe to multiple professional Listservs and internet discussion groups. One of the most common questions that I see involves the tax dilemmas that surround the holding of appreciated real estate inside of a subchapter C corporation. As I remind my graduate school students, there is one basic tax rule that they should always follow: Never, ever, ever put real estate inside of any corporation. When real estate is held inside of the corporation, it is exposed to trade creditors, and the operating risks that are inherent within the corporation. It happens rather innocently, a closely-held manufacturing business, operating as a corporation, seeks a loan in order to finance the acquisition of real estate for the business. The lender has an established lending relationship with the business, so the parties take the easy lending path, the loan is made directly to the business and the corporation purchases the real estate. The transaction seems harmless, but over the years, the fair market value of the real estate increases through expan- sion and appreciation.
    [Show full text]
  • Colorado Enacts Several Law Changes Impacting Income and Indirect Taxes
    Deloitte Tax LLP | June 29, 2021 MULTISTATE TAX Colorado enacts several law changes impacting income and indirect taxes Tax Alert Overview On June 23, 2021, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law Colorado House Bills 21-1311 and 21-1312 (HB 1311 and HB 1312), which provide for several changes to Colorado’s corporate and individual income taxes as well as indirect taxes. This Tax Alert provides a summary of some of the more significant provisions in the bills. Summary of corporate income tax changes • HB 1311 modifies Colorado’s computation of the receipts factor for apportionment of combined corporations to require that all corporations in the combined group with any Colorado receipts must utilize the “Finnigan method” to determine the Colorado receipts in the numerator for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2022. Colorado currently uses the “Joyce method.” • HB 1311 modifies the definition of an “affiliated group” to “includable C corporations connected directly or indirectly through stock ownership.” The requirement that the common parent be an includable C corporation remains in place. • For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, HB 1311 requires that the Colorado combined group include C corporations “incorporated in a foreign jurisdiction for the purpose of tax avoidance.” The legislation includes a rebuttable presumption that a corporation is created for tax avoidance purposes if it is incorporated in one of 44 listed jurisdictions and includes information on how to calculate the taxable income of a foreign corporation that is to be included in the Colorado combined group. • HB 1311 disallows the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 78 dividend subtraction from any foreign corporations created for tax avoidance purposes that are included in a Colorado combined return.
    [Show full text]
  • C Vs. S Corporation
    C VS. S CORPORATION WHITE PAPER John Spann IV, CExP CFP® CLU® Spann Financial Group, LLC 9019 Overlook Blvd, Suite D1 Brentwood, TN 37027 Phone: (615)690-7222 www.spannfinancial.com Introduction wrong entity when you start your business can result in the payment of additional taxes during the company’s operational years, thereby “I expect to exit my business down the road, restricting the capital available for expansion. but is there anything I need to do now?” Having the wrong entity in place as you prepare Business owners often ask this question the business for sale can more than double the because they suspect that they should be doing tax bill upon that sale. something about exiting their businesses right The best entity for tax purposes during a now. These owners are on to something. business’ startup and operational years is often Someday, every owner will exit his or her a C corporation. However, the C corporation business, either by choice or against his or her is the worst entity (i.e., it causes the most tax will (e.g., death, incapacitation). Far too many problems) when it comes time to sell the owners take a reactive approach to Exit business. Conversely, the best tax entity at the Planning, beginning the process only after time of a sale—an S corporation—is often a poor something has forced them to consider their choice for tax purposes during the company’s exits. Additionally, since busy business owners operational and growth years. tend to forego the planning necessary to exit The specific planning issue that we will their businesses on their terms, only the most discuss is the careful consideration of how you motivated owners spend time or money want your business income to be taxed.
    [Show full text]
  • Sole Proprietorship Vs. C Corporation Vs. S Corporation
    Sole Proprietorship vs. C Corporation vs. S Corporation Sole Proprietorship C Corp S Corp Limited Liability (LLC) File articles of Formation Country Registration Sames as C-Corp, File articles of organization, incorporation, state Requirements, Assumed Name plus S-corp Status state specific, filling fee specific, filing free Costs Notice request to IRS required required Members are not typically held Personal Liability Unlimited liability Shareholders are not Shareholders are not liable Election of board of Election of board of Administrative Relatively few directors/officers, annual directors/officers, annual Relatively few requirements Requirements requirements meetings, and annual meetings, and annual report filing report filling Shareholders elect Shareholders elect Members can set up structure Management Full control directors who manage directors who manage as they choose business activities business activities Terminated when Perpetual: can extend Perpetual: can extend proprietor ceases Perpetual, unless state Term past death or withdrawal past death or withdrawal doing business or requires fixed amount of time of shareholders of shareholders upon death Taxed at corporate rate and possible double No tax at the entity level. No tax at the entity level. Entity not taxable Sole Taxation taxation: Dividends are Income passed through to Income passed through to proprietor pays taxes taxed at the individual the shareholders members level, if distributed Yes, taxes at corporate level and then again if Double Taxation No distributed to
    [Show full text]
  • Tax Management International Forum Comparative Tax Law for the International Practitioner
    Tax Management International Forum Comparative Tax Law for the International Practitioner Tax Traps for the Unwary In this issue of the International Forum, leading experts from 17 countries and the European Union provide their per- spectives on aspects of domestic tax law that can be most troublesome for foreign investors and businesses operating across borders. Although individuals and businesses operating internationally are generally prepared to comply with for- eign tax regimes, sometimes even the most astute taxpayer can be caught off guard. Such tax traps range from the treat- ment of cross-border share transfers to general anti-avoidance rules to notional interest deductions, service permanent establishments, and more. Volume 38, Issue 4 DECEMBER 2017 www.bna.com THE TAX MANAGEMENT Contents INTERNATIONAL FORUM is designed to present a comparative study of typical international tax law problems by FORUM members who are distinguished practitioners in major industrial countries. Their scholarly discussions focus on the THE FORUM operational questions posed by a fact pattern under the statutory and TOPIC and QUESTIONS decisional laws of their respective FORUM country, with practical 4 ARGENTINA recommendations whenever Guillermo O. Teijeiro and Ana Lucı´aFerreyra appropriate. 5 Teijeiro y Ballone, Buenos Aires and Pluspetrol, Montevideo, Uruguay THE TAX MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL FORUM is AUSTRALIA published quarterly by Bloomberg Elissa Romanin & Andrew Korlos BNA, 38 Threadneedle Street, 12 MinterEllison, Melbourne London, EC2R 8AY,England. Telephone: (+44) (0)20 7847 5801; BELGIUM Fax (+44) (0)20 7847 5858; Email: Howard M. Liebman and Vale´rie Oyen [email protected] 18 ௠ Copyright 2016 Tax Management Jones Day, Brussels International, a division of Bloomberg BNA, Arlington, VA.
    [Show full text]
  • United States Estate and Income Taxation of Non-Resident Aliens
    United States Estate and Income Taxation of Non-Resident Aliens Materials by Michael W. Galligan, Partner and Ira Olshin, Counsel Phillips Nizer LLP New York, New York (212) 841-0572 [email protected] March, 2017 The information in this outline is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute the rendering of tax, legal, or other advice from Phillips Nizer LLP or any of its members. The information in this outline should not be used as a substitute for obtaining competent tax or legal advice from an experienced licensed attorney with whom you have entered into an attorney- client relationship. 1200361.1 Prologue: Why Is Estate Planning For Non-U.S. Persons Important? 1. U.S. Estate Tax on Non-U.S. Estates can be very onerous: a. Current highest U.S. federal estate tax rate is 40% (essentially, a U.S. taxable estate is currently taxed at a 40% rate for every dollar that such taxable estate exceeds $5,490,000 (2017, indexed for inflation for years thereafter). b. Exemption from U.S. federal estate tax for an estate of a non-U.S. decedent is limited to $60,000. So the U.S. federal estate tax on a U.S. taxable estate of just $1,000,000 would exceed $300,000. c. No credit is allowed under U.S. federal estate tax law for estate or inheritance taxes paid to a non-U.S. jurisdiction on U.S. property unless provided for under a transfer tax treaty between the U.S. and such foreign jurisdiction. d. To obtain the marital deduction for a transfer on death to a non-U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • How the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Is Changing Tax Strategies
    How the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is changing tax strategies Lerer: The court’s decision in Wayfair overturned he changes brought by the Tax Cuts and Crain’s: Now that C corporations enjoy a tax Jobs Act and the U.S. Supreme Court’s rate that’s been reduced from 35 percent to 21 per- many years of precedent, which had held that a busi- ness must have a physical presence in a state to be re- South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc. cent, should non-C corporations consider changing decision in the form of their business entity? quired to charge, collect and remit its sales tax. Going Tare prompting businesses to reassess their forward, all that is required is that the business have Lerer: When taxpayers compare the new corporate tax strategies. “substantial nexus” with the state. The court did not rate to the new personal tax rate of 37 percent, switch- define substantial nexus, but it did find that South Da- New corporate and personal tax rates are making ing to a C corporation seems pretty compelling. In kota’s economic nexus thresholds of $100,000 or more certain legal structures look more appealing, and after many instances, this may be a mistake. First, unlike in gross sales into the state or 200 or more separate Wayfair, more businesses than ever will be required to pass-throughs, C corporations have a second layer of transactions with customers in the state during the pre- collect sales tax and possibly pay additional state and tax at the individual level when dividends are paid to its vious or current year “clearly” constituted “substantial” local taxes.
    [Show full text]