California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 2625


Introduced by Assembly Member Lopez

February 19, 2016


An act to amend Sections 17935, 17941, 17948, and 23153 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, relating to taxation, to take effect immediately, tax levy.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2625, as introduced, Lopez. Corporation taxes: minimum franchise tax: annual tax: microbusiness.

Existing law imposes an annual minimum franchise tax, except as provided, on every corporation incorporated in this state, qualified to transact intrastate business in this state, or doing business in this state. Existing law exempts a corporation that incorporates or qualifies to do business in this state from the payment of the minimum franchise tax in its first taxable year.

Existing law imposes an annual tax in an amount equal to the minimum franchise tax on every limited partnership, limited liability company, and limited liability partnership that is doing business in this state or that has filed or registered with the Secretary of State.

The minimum franchise tax imposed on a corporation, and the annual tax imposed on a limited liability company, must be paid by the 15th day of the 4th month of the taxable year. The annual tax imposed on a limited partnership or on a limited liability partnership, must be paid by the original due date of the partnership return.

This bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, would reduce that minimum franchise tax to specified amounts, in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th taxable years, for a corporation that is a new microbusiness, or that annual tax, in the first 5 taxable years, for a limited liability company, limited partnership, or limited liability partnership that is a new microbusiness, as defined.

This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P2    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 17935 of the Revenue and Taxation Code
2 is amended to read:

3

17935.  

(a) For each taxable year beginning on or after January
41, 1997, every limited partnership doing business in thisbegin delete state (asend delete
5begin insert state, asend insert defined by Sectionbegin delete 23101)end deletebegin insert 23101,end insert and required to file a
6return under Section 18633 shall pay annually to this state a tax
7for the privilege of doing business in this state in an amount equal
8to the applicable amount specified inbegin insert paragraph (1) of subdivision
9(d) ofend insert
Section 23153.

10(b) (1) In addition to any limited partnership that is doing
11business in this state and therefore is subject to the tax imposed
12by subdivision (a), for each taxable year beginning on or after
13January 1, 1997, every limited partnership that has executed,
14acknowledged, and filed a certificate of limited partnership with
15the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 15621 or 15902.01 of
16the Corporations Code, and every foreign limited partnership that
17has registered with the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 15692
18or 15909.01 of the Corporations Code, shall pay annually the tax
19prescribed in subdivision (a). The tax shall be paid for each taxable
20year, or part thereof, until a certificate of cancellation is filed on
21behalf of the limited partnership with the office of the Secretary
22of State pursuant to Section begin delete 15623, 15696, 15902.03,end delete begin insert 15902.03end insert or
2315909.07 of the Corporations Code.

24(2) If a taxpayer files a return with the Franchise Tax Board that
25is designated its final return, that board shall notify the taxpayer
26that the tax imposed by this chapter is due annually until a
27certificate of cancellation is filed with the Secretary of State
28pursuant to Sectionbegin delete 15623, 15696, 15902.03,end deletebegin insert 15902.03end insert or 15909.07
29of the Corporations Code.

P3    1(c) The tax imposed by this chapter shall be due and payable
2on the date the return is required to be filed under former Section
318432 or 18633.

4(d) For purposes of this section, “limited partnership” means
5any partnership formed by two or more persons under the laws of
6this state or any other jurisdiction and having one or more general
7partners and one or more limited partners.

8(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), any limited partnership
9that ceased doing business prior to January 1, 1997, filed a final
10return with the Franchise Tax Board for a taxable year ending
11before January 1, 1997, and filed a certificate of dissolution with
12the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 15623 of the
13Corporations Code prior to January 1, 1997, shall not be subject
14to the tax imposed by this chapter for any period following the
15date the certificate of dissolution was filed with the Secretary of
16State, but only if the limited partnership files a certificate of
17cancellation with the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 15623
18of the Corporations Code. In the case where a notice of proposed
19deficiency assessment of tax or a notice of tax due (whichever is
20applicable) is mailed after January 1, 2001, the first sentence of
21this subdivision shall not apply unless the certificate of cancellation
22is filed with the Secretary of State not later than 60 days after the
23date of the mailing of the notice.

begin insert

24(f) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) or (b), for taxable years
25beginning on or after January 1, 2016, every limited partnership
26that is a new microbusiness shall, for its first five taxable years,
27pay to the state an annual tax of:

end insert
begin insert

28(A) Two hundred dollars ($200) for a new microbusiness that
29has gross receipts, less returns and allowances, reportable to this
30state for the taxable year of one hundred thousand dollars
31($100,000) or less.

end insert
begin insert

32(B) Four hundred dollars ($400) for a new microbusiness that
33has gross receipts, less returns and allowances, reportable to this
34state for the taxable year of two hundred thousand dollars
35($200,000) or less, but more than one hundred thousand dollars
36($100,000).

end insert
begin insert

37(C) Six hundred dollars ($600) for a new microbusiness that
38has gross receipts, less returns and allowances, reportable to this
39state for the taxable year of three hundred thousand dollars
P4    1($300,000) or less, but more than two hundred thousand dollars
2($200,000).

end insert
begin insert

3(2) For purposes of this subdivision, the following definitions
4shall apply:

end insert
begin insert

5(A) “Gross receipts, less returns and allowances reportable to
6this state,” means the sum of the gross receipts from the production
7of business income, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 25120,
8and the gross receipts from the production of nonbusiness income,
9as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 25120.

end insert
begin insert

10(B) “New microbusiness” means a limited partnership that on
11or after January 1, 2016, is organized under the laws of this state
12or has qualified to transact intrastate business in this state that
13begins business operations at or after the time of its organization.
14“New microbusiness” does not include any limited partnership
15that began business operations as, or acquired its business
16operations from, a sole proprietorship, a limited liability company,
17a general partnership, a corporation, or any other form of business
18entity prior to its organization or that acquired its business
19operations from a partnership.

end insert
begin insert

20(3) This subdivision shall not apply to a new microbusiness that
21is owned directly or indirectly by a limited partnership, limited
22liability company, limited liability partnership, or corporation
23subject to this part or Part 11 (commencing with Section 23101).

end insert
begin insert

24(4) This subdivision shall not apply to any limited partnership
25that reorganizes solely for the purpose of reducing its annual tax.

end insert
26

SEC. 2.  

Section 17941 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is
27amended to read:

28

17941.  

(a) For each taxable year beginning on or after January
291, 1997, a limited liability company doing business in thisbegin delete state
30(asend delete
begin insert state, asend insert defined in Sectionbegin delete 23101)end deletebegin insert 23101,end insert shall pay annually
31to this state a tax for the privilege of doing business in this state
32in an amount equal to the applicable amount specified inbegin insert paragraph
33(1) ofend insert
subdivision (d) of Section 23153 for the taxable year.

34(b) (1) In addition to any limited liability company that is doing
35business in this state and is therefore subject to the tax imposed
36by subdivision (a), for each taxable year beginning on or after
37January 1, 1997, a limited liability company shall pay annually
38the tax prescribed in subdivision (a) if articles of organization have
39been accepted, or a certificate of registration has been issued, by
40the office of the Secretary of State. The tax shall be paid for each
P5    1taxable year, or part thereof, until a certificate of cancellation of
2registration or of articles of organization is filed on behalf of the
3limited liability company with the office of the Secretary of State.

4(2) If a taxpayer files a return with the Franchise Tax Board that
5is designated as its final return, the Franchise Tax Board shall
6notify the taxpayer that the annual tax shall continue to be due
7annually until a certificate of dissolution is filed with the Secretary
8of State pursuant to Section 17707.08 of the Corporations Code
9or a certificate of cancellation is filed with the Secretary of State
10pursuant to Section 17708.06 of the Corporations Code.

11(c) The tax assessed under this section shall be due and payable
12on or before the 15th day of the fourth month of the taxable year.

13(d) For purposes of this section, “limited liability company”
14means an organization, other than a limited liability company that
15is exempt from the tax and fees imposed under this chapter
16pursuant to Section 23701h orbegin delete Sectionend delete 23701x, that is formed by
17one or more persons under the law of this state, any other country,
18or any other state, as a “limited liability company” and that is not
19taxable as a corporation for California tax purposes.

20(e) Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, if
21the office of the Secretary of State files a certificate of cancellation
22pursuant to Section 17707.02 of the Corporations Code for any
23limited liability company, then paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) of
24Section 23153 shall apply to that limited liability company as if
25the limited liability company were properly treated as a corporation
26for that limited purpose only, and paragraph (2) of subdivision (f)
27of Section 23153 shall not apply. Nothing in this subdivision
28entitles a limited liability company to receive a reimbursement for
29any annual taxes or fees already paid.

30(f) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the
31contrary, a limited liability company that is a small business solely
32owned by a deployed member of the United States Armed Forces
33shall not be subject to the tax imposed under this section for any
34taxable year the owner is deployed and the limited liability
35company operates at a loss or ceases operation.

36(2) The Franchise Tax Board may promulgate regulations as
37necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this
38subdivision, including a definition for “ceases operation.”

39(3) For the purposes of this subdivision, all of the following
40definitions apply:

P6    1(A) “Deployed” means being called to active duty or active
2service during a period when a Presidential Executive order
3specifies that the United States is engaged in combat or homeland
4defense. “Deployed” does not include either of the following:

5(i) Temporary duty for the sole purpose of training or processing.

6(ii) A permanent change of station.

7(B) “Operates at a loss” means a limited liability company’s
8expenses exceed its receipts.

9(C) “Small business” means a limited liability company with
10total income from all sources derived from, or attributable, to the
11state of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) or less.

12(4) This subdivision shall become inoperative for taxable years
13beginning on or after January 1, 2018.

begin insert

14(g) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the
15contrary, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2016,
16every limited liability company that is a new microbusiness shall,
17for its first five taxable years, pay to the state an annual tax of:

end insert
begin insert

18(A) Two hundred dollars ($200) for a new microbusiness that
19will have gross receipts, less returns and allowances, reportable
20to this state for the taxable year of one hundred thousand dollars
21($100,000) or less.

end insert
begin insert

22(B) Four hundred dollars ($400) for a new microbusiness that
23will have gross receipts, less returns and allowances, reportable
24to this state for the taxable year of two hundred thousand dollars
25($200,000) or less, but more than one hundred thousand dollars
26($100,000).

end insert
begin insert

27(C) Six hundred dollars ($600) for a new microbusiness that
28will have gross receipts, less returns and allowances, reportable
29to this state for the taxable year of three hundred thousand dollars
30($300,000) or less, but more than two hundred thousand dollars
31($200,000).

end insert
begin insert

32(2) For purposes of this subdivision, the following definitions
33shall apply:

end insert
begin insert

34(A) “Gross receipts, less returns and allowances reportable to
35this state,” means the sum of the gross receipts from the production
36of business income, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 25120,
37and the gross receipts from the production of nonbusiness income,
38as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 25120.

end insert
begin insert

39(B) “New microbusiness” means a limited liability company
40that on or after January 1, 2016, is organized under the laws of
P7    1this state or has qualified to transact intrastate business in this
2state that begins business operations at or after the time of its
3organization. “New microbusiness” does not include any limited
4liability company that began business operations as, or acquired
5its business operations from, a sole proprietorship, a partnership,
6a limited liability company, a corporation, or any other form of
7business entity prior to its organization or that acquired its
8business operations from a limited liability corporation.

end insert
begin insert

9(3) This subdivision shall not apply to a new microbusiness that
10is owned directly or indirectly by a limited liability company,
11limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or corporation
12subject to this part or Part 11 (commencing with Section 23101).

end insert
begin insert

13(4) This subdivision shall not apply to any limited liability
14company that reorganizes solely for the purpose of reducing its
15annual tax.

end insert
16

SEC. 3.  

Section 17948 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is
17amended to read:

18

17948.  

(a) For each taxable year beginning on or after January
191, 1997, every limited liability partnership doing business in this
20begin delete state (asend deletebegin insert state, asend insert defined in Sectionbegin delete 23101)end deletebegin insert 23101,end insert and required
21to file a return under Section 18633 shall pay annually to the
22Franchise Tax Board a tax for the privilege of doing business in
23this state in an amount equal to the applicable amount specified
24in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 23153 for the taxable
25year.

26(b) In addition to any limited liability partnership that is doing
27business in this state and therefore is subject to the tax imposed
28by subdivision (a), for each taxable year beginning on or after
29January 1, 1997, every registered limited liability partnership that
30has registered with the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 16953
31of the Corporations Code and every foreign limited liability
32partnership that has registered with the Secretary of State pursuant
33to Section 16959 of the Corporations Code shall pay annually the
34tax prescribed in subdivision (a). The tax shall be paid for each
35taxable year, or part thereof, until any of the following occurs:

36(1) A notice of cessation is filed with the Secretary of State
37pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 16954 or 16960 of the
38Corporations Code.

P8    1(2) A foreign limited liability partnership withdraws its
2registration pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 16960 of the
3Corporations Code.

4(3) The registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited
5liability partnership has been dissolved and finally wound up.

6(c) The tax assessed under this section shall be due and payable
7on the date the return is required to be filed under Section 18633.

8(d) If a taxpayer files a return with the Franchise Tax Board that
9is designated as its final return, the Franchise Tax Board shall
10notify the taxpayer that the annual tax shall continue to be due
11annually until a certificate of cancellation is filed with the Secretary
12of State pursuant to Section 16954 or 16960 of the Corporations
13Code.

begin insert

14(e) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) or (b), for taxable years
15beginning on or after January 1, 2016, every limited liability
16partnership that is a new microbusiness shall, for its first five
17taxable years, pay annually to the state an annual tax of:

end insert
begin insert

18(A) Two hundred dollars ($200) for a new microbusiness that
19has gross receipts, less returns and allowances, reportable to this
20state for the taxable year of one hundred thousand dollars
21($100,000) or less.

end insert
begin insert

22(B) Four hundred dollars ($400) for a new microbusiness that
23has gross receipts, less returns and allowances, reportable to this
24state for the taxable year of two hundred thousand dollars
25($200,000) or less, but more than one hundred thousand dollars
26($100,000).

end insert
begin insert

27(C) Six hundred dollars ($600) for a new microbusiness that
28has gross receipts, less returns and allowances, reportable to this
29state for the taxable year of three hundred thousand dollars
30($300,000) or less, but more than two hundred thousand dollars
31($200,000).

end insert
begin insert

32(2) For purposes of this subdivision, the following definitions
33shall apply:

end insert
begin insert

34(A) “Gross receipts, less returns and allowances reportable to
35this state,” means the sum of the gross receipts from the production
36of business income, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 25120,
37and the gross receipts from the production of nonbusiness income,
38as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 25120.

end insert
begin insert

39(B) “New microbusiness” means a limited liability partnership
40that on or after January 1, 2016, is organized under the laws of
P9    1this state or has qualified to transact intrastate business in this
2state that begins business operations at or after the time of its
3organization. “New microbusiness” does not include any limited
4liability partnership that began business operations as, or acquired
5its business operations from, a sole proprietorship, a limited
6liability company, a partnership, a corporation, or any other form
7of business entity prior to its organization or that acquired its
8business operations from a limited partnership.

end insert
begin insert

9(3) This subdivision shall not apply to a new microbusiness that
10is owned directly or indirectly by a corporation subject to Part 11
11(commencing with Section 23101).

end insert
begin insert

12(4) This subdivision shall not apply to any limited liability
13partnership that reorganizes solely for the purpose of reducing its
14annual tax.

end insert
15

SEC. 4.  

Section 23153 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is
16amended to read:

17

23153.  

(a) Every corporation described in subdivision (b) shall
18be subject to the minimum franchise tax specified in subdivision
19(d) from the earlier of the date of incorporation, qualification, or
20commencing to do business within this state, until the effective
21date of dissolution or withdrawal as provided in Section 23331 or,
22if later, the date the corporation ceases to do business within the
23limits of this state.

24(b) Unless expressly exempted by this part or the California
25Constitution, subdivision (a) shall apply to each of the following:

26(1) Every corporation that is incorporated under the laws of this
27state.

28(2) Every corporation that is qualified to transact intrastate
29business in this state pursuant to Chapter 21 (commencing with
30Section 2100) of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code.

31(3) Every corporation that is doing business in this state.

32(c) The following entities are not subject to the minimum
33franchise tax specified in this section:

34(1) Credit unions.

35(2) Nonprofit cooperative associations organized pursuant to
36Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 54001) of Division 20 of the
37Food and Agricultural Code that have been issued the certificate
38of the board of supervisors prepared pursuant to Section 54042 of
39the Food and Agricultural Code. The association shall be exempt
40from the minimum franchise tax for five consecutive taxable years,
P10   1commencing with the first taxable year for which the certificate
2is issued pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 54042 of the Food
3and Agricultural Code. This paragraph only applies to nonprofit
4cooperative associations organized on or after January 1, 1994.

5(d) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), paragraph (1) of
6subdivision (f) of Section 23151, paragraph (1) of subdivision (f)
7of Section 23181, and paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section
823183, corporations subject to the minimum franchise tax shall
9pay annually to the state a minimum franchise tax of eight hundred
10dollars ($800).

11(2) The minimum franchise tax shall be twenty-five dollars
12($25) for each of the following:

13(A) A corporation formed under the laws of this state whose
14principal business when formed was gold mining, which is inactive
15and has not done business within the limits of the state since 1950.

16(B) A corporation formed under the laws of this state whose
17principal business when formed was quicksilver mining, which is
18inactive and has not done business within the limits of the state
19since 1971, or has been inactive for a period of 24 consecutive
20months or more.

21(3) For purposes of paragraph (2), a corporation shall not be
22considered to have done business if it engages in business other
23than mining.

24(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), for taxable years beginning
25on or after January 1, 1999, and before January 1, 2000, every
26“qualified new corporation” shall pay annually to the state a
27minimum franchise tax of five hundred dollars ($500) for the
28second taxable year. This subdivision shall apply to any corporation
29that is a qualified new corporation and is incorporated on or after
30January 1, 1999, and before January 1, 2000.

31(1) The determination of the gross receipts of a corporation, for
32purposes of this subdivision, shall be made by including the gross
33receipts of each member of the commonly controlled group, as
34defined in Section 25105, of which the corporation is a member.

35(2) “Gross receipts, less returns and allowances reportable to
36this state,” means the sum of the gross receipts from the production
37of business income, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 25120,
38and the gross receipts from the production of nonbusiness income,
39as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 25120.

P11   1(3) “Qualified new corporation” means a corporation that is
2incorporated under the laws of this state or has qualified to transact
3intrastate business in this state, that begins business operations at
4or after the time of its incorporation and that reasonably estimates
5that it will have gross receipts, less returns and allowances,
6reportable to this state for the taxable year of one million dollars
7($1,000,000) or less. “Qualified new corporation” does not include
8any corporation that began business operations as a sole
9proprietorship, a partnership, or any other form of business entity
10prior to its incorporation. This subdivision shall not apply to any
11corporation that reorganizes solely for the purpose of reducing its
12minimum franchise tax.

13(4) This subdivision shall not apply to limited partnerships, as
14defined in Section 17935, limited liability companies, as defined
15in Section 17941, limited liability partnerships, as described in
16Section 17948, charitablebegin delete organizations,end deletebegin insert corporations,end insert as described
17in Section 23703, regulated investment companies, as defined in
18Section 851 of the Internal Revenue Code, real estate investment
19trusts, as defined in Section 856 of the Internal Revenue Code,
20real estate mortgage investment conduits, as defined in Section
21860D of the Internal Revenue Code, qualified Subchapter S
22subsidiaries, as defined in Sectionbegin delete 1361(b)(3)end deletebegin insert 1361(b)(3)(B)end insert of the
23Internal Revenue Code, or to the formation of any subsidiary
24corporation, to the extent applicable.

25(5) For any taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 1999,
26and before January 1, 2000, if a corporation has qualified to pay
27five hundred dollars ($500) for the second taxable year under this
28subdivision, but in its second taxable year, the corporation’s gross
29receipts, as determined under paragraphs (1) and (2), exceed one
30million dollars ($1,000,000), an additional tax in the amount equal
31to three hundred dollars ($300) for the second taxable year shall
32be due and payable by the corporation on the due date of its return,
33without regard to extension, for that year.

34(f) (1) begin insert(A)end insertbegin insertend insert Notwithstanding subdivision (a), every corporation
35that incorporates or qualifies to do business in this state on or after
36January 1, 2000, shall not be subject to the minimum franchise tax
37for its first taxable year.

begin insert

38(B) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), for taxable years beginning
39on or after January 1, 2016, every corporation that is a new
40microbusiness in its first five taxable years shall annually pay to
P12   1the state a minimum franchise tax in an amount specified in clause
2(i) for its second, third, fourth, and fifth taxable years.

end insert
begin insert

3(i) (I) Two hundred dollars ($200) for a new microbusiness
4that reasonably estimates that it will have gross receipts, less
5returns and allowances, reportable to this state for the taxable
6year of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or less.

end insert
begin insert

7(II) Four hundred dollars ($400) for a new microbusiness that
8reasonably estimates that it will have gross receipts, less returns
9and allowances, reportable to this state for the taxable year of two
10hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) or less, but more than one
11hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

end insert
begin insert

12(III) Six hundred dollars ($600) for a new microbusiness that
13reasonably estimates that it will have gross receipts, less returns
14and allowances, reportable to this state for the taxable year of
15three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) or less, but more than
16two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000).

end insert
begin insert

17(ii) For purposes of this subdivision, the following definitions
18shall apply:

end insert
begin insert

19(I) “Gross receipts, less returns and allowances reportable to
20this state,” means the sum of the gross receipts from the production
21of business income, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 25120,
22and the gross receipts from the production of nonbusiness income,
23as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 25120.

end insert
begin insert

24(II) “New microbusiness” means a corporation that on or after
25January 1, 2016, is organized under the laws of this state or has
26qualified to transact intrastate business in this state that begins
27business operations at or after the time of its organization. “New
28microbusiness” does not include any corporation that began
29business operations as, or acquired its business operations from,
30a sole proprietorship, a limited liability company, a partnership,
31or any other form of business entity prior to its organization or
32that acquired its business operations from a corporation.

end insert
begin insert

33(iii) This subdivision shall not apply to a corporation that is
34owned directly or indirectly by another corporation.

end insert

35(2) begin deleteThis subdivision end deletebegin insertSubparagraph (1) of paragraph (A) end insertshall
36not apply to limited partnerships, as defined in Section 17935,
37limited liability companies, as defined in Section 17941, limited
38liability partnerships, as described in Section 17948, charitable
39begin delete organizations,end deletebegin insert corporations,end insert as described in Section 23703,
40regulated investment companies, as defined in Section 851 of the
P13   1Internal Revenue Code, real estate investment trusts, as defined
2in Section 856 of the Internal Revenue Code, real estate mortgage
3investment conduits, as defined in Section 860D of the Internal
4Revenue Code, and qualified Subchapter S subsidiaries, as defined
5in Sectionbegin delete 1361(b)(3)end deletebegin insert 1361(b)(3)(B)end insert of the Internal Revenue Code,
6to the extent applicable.

7(3) This subdivision shall not apply to any corporation that
8reorganizes solely for the purpose of avoiding payment of its
9minimum franchise tax.

10(g) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a domestic corporation, as
11defined in Section 167 of the Corporations Code, that files a
12certificate of dissolution in the office of the Secretary of State
13pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1905 of the Corporations
14Code, prior to its amendment by the act amending this subdivision,
15and that does not thereafter do business shall not be subject to the
16minimum franchise tax for taxable years beginning on or after the
17date of that filing.

18(h) The minimum franchise tax imposed by paragraph (1) of
19subdivision (d) shall not be increased by the Legislature by more
20than 10 percent during any calendar year.

21(i) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a corporation that is a
22small business solely owned by a deployed member of the United
23States Armed Forces shall not be subject to the minimum franchise
24tax for any taxable year the owner is deployed and the corporation
25operates at a loss or ceases operation.

26(2) The Franchise Tax Board may promulgate regulations as
27necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this
28subdivision, including a definition for “ceases operation.”

29(3) For the purposes of this subdivision, all of the following
30definitions apply:

31(A) “Deployed” means being called to active duty or active
32service during a period when a Presidential Executive order
33specifies that the United States is engaged in combat or homeland
34defense. “Deployed” does not include either of the following:

35(i) Temporary duty for the sole purpose of training or processing.

36(ii) A permanent change of station.

37(B) “Operates at a loss” means negative net income as defined
38in Section 24341.

P14   1(C) “Small business” means a corporation with total income
2from all sources derived from, orbegin delete attributable, toend deletebegin insert attributable to,end insert
3 the state of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) or less.

4(4) This subdivision shall become inoperative for taxable years
5beginning on or after January 1, 2018.

6

SEC. 5.  

This act provides for a tax levy within the meaning
7of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect.



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