84R954 TJB-D
 
  By: Huberty H.B. No. 552
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the phaseout and repeal of the franchise tax; lowering
  the rates of the tax.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  (a)  Effective January 1, 2016, Sections
  171.002(a) and (b), Tax Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Subject to Sections 171.003 and 171.1016 and except as
  provided by Subsection (b), the rate of the franchise tax is 0.8
  [one] percent of taxable margin.
         (b)  Subject to Sections 171.003 and 171.1016, the rate of
  the franchise tax is 0.4 [0.5] percent of taxable margin for those
  taxable entities primarily engaged in retail or wholesale trade.
         (b)  This section applies only to a report originally due on
  or after January 1, 2016.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  Effective January 1, 2017, Sections
  171.002(a) and (b), Tax Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Subject to Sections 171.003 and 171.1016 and except as
  provided by Subsection (b), the rate of the franchise tax is 0.56
  [one] percent of taxable margin.
         (b)  Subject to Sections 171.003 and 171.1016, the rate of
  the franchise tax is 0.28 [0.5] percent of taxable margin for those
  taxable entities primarily engaged in retail or wholesale trade.
         (b)  This section applies only to a report originally due on
  or after January 1, 2017.
         SECTION 3.  (a)  Effective January 1, 2018, Sections
  171.002(a) and (b), Tax Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Subject to Sections 171.003 and 171.1016 and except as
  provided by Subsection (b), the rate of the franchise tax is 0.336
  [one] percent of taxable margin.
         (b)  Subject to Sections 171.003 and 171.1016, the rate of
  the franchise tax is 0.168 [0.5] percent of taxable margin for those
  taxable entities primarily engaged in retail or wholesale trade.
         (b)  This section applies only to a report originally due on
  or after January 1, 2018.
         SECTION 4.  (a)  Effective January 1, 2019, Sections
  171.002(a) and (b), Tax Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Subject to Sections 171.003 and 171.1016 and except as
  provided by Subsection (b), the rate of the franchise tax is 0.168
  [one] percent of taxable margin.
         (b)  Subject to Sections 171.003 and 171.1016, the rate of
  the franchise tax is 0.084 [0.5] percent of taxable margin for those
  taxable entities primarily engaged in retail or wholesale trade.
         (b)  This section applies only to a report originally due on
  or after January 1, 2019.
         SECTION 5.  (a)  Effective January 1, 2016, Section
  171.1016(b), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The amount of the tax for which a taxable entity that
  elects to pay the tax as provided by this section is liable is
  computed by:
               (1)  determining the taxable entity's total revenue
  from its entire business, as determined under Section 171.1011;
               (2)  apportioning the amount computed under
  Subdivision (1) to this state, as provided by Section 171.106, to
  determine the taxable entity's apportioned total revenue; and
               (3)  multiplying the amount computed under Subdivision
  (2) by the rate of 0.46 [0.575] percent.
         (b)  This section applies only to a report originally due on
  or after January 1, 2016.
         SECTION 6.  (a)  Effective January 1, 2017, Section
  171.1016(b), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The amount of the tax for which a taxable entity that
  elects to pay the tax as provided by this section is liable is
  computed by:
               (1)  determining the taxable entity's total revenue
  from its entire business, as determined under Section 171.1011;
               (2)  apportioning the amount computed under
  Subdivision (1) to this state, as provided by Section 171.106, to
  determine the taxable entity's apportioned total revenue; and
               (3)  multiplying the amount computed under Subdivision
  (2) by the rate of 0.322 [0.575] percent.
         (b)  This section applies only to a report originally due on
  or after January 1, 2017.
         SECTION 7.  (a)  Effective January 1, 2018, Section
  171.1016(b), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The amount of the tax for which a taxable entity that
  elects to pay the tax as provided by this section is liable is
  computed by:
               (1)  determining the taxable entity's total revenue
  from its entire business, as determined under Section 171.1011;
               (2)  apportioning the amount computed under
  Subdivision (1) to this state, as provided by Section 171.106, to
  determine the taxable entity's apportioned total revenue; and
               (3)  multiplying the amount computed under Subdivision
  (2) by the rate of 0.193 [0.575] percent.
         (b)  This section applies only to a report originally due on
  or after January 1, 2018.
         SECTION 8.  (a)  Effective January 1, 2019, Section
  171.1016(b), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The amount of the tax for which a taxable entity that
  elects to pay the tax as provided by this section is liable is
  computed by:
               (1)  determining the taxable entity's total revenue
  from its entire business, as determined under Section 171.1011;
               (2)  apportioning the amount computed under
  Subdivision (1) to this state, as provided by Section 171.106, to
  determine the taxable entity's apportioned total revenue; and
               (3)  multiplying the amount computed under Subdivision
  (2) by the rate of 0.097 [0.575] percent.
         (b)  This section applies only to a report originally due on
  or after January 1, 2019.
         SECTION 9.  (a)  Chapter 171, Tax Code, is repealed.
         (b)  A taxable entity that is subject to the franchise tax
  imposed under Chapter 171, Tax Code, on December 31, 2019, shall
  file a final franchise tax report and pay a transitional tax as
  required by this subsection on or before May 15, 2020. The
  transitional tax is equal to the tax the taxable entity would have
  paid in 2020 under Chapter 171, Tax Code, if Chapter 171, Tax Code,
  had not been repealed.  The provisions of Chapter 171, Tax Code,
  relating to the computation and payment of the franchise tax remain
  in effect after the repeal of Chapter 171, Tax Code, by this section
  for the purposes of computing and paying the transitional tax
  required by this subsection.
         (c)  Chapter 171, Tax Code, and Subtitle B, Title 2, Tax
  Code, continue to apply to audits, deficiencies, redeterminations,
  and refunds of any tax due or collected under Chapter 171, including
  the tax due as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, until
  barred by limitations.
         (d)  The repeal of Chapter 171, Tax Code, does not affect:
               (1)  the status of a taxable entity that has had its
  corporate privileges, certificate of authority, certificate of
  organization, certificate of limited partnership, corporate
  charter, or registration revoked, suit filed against it, or a
  receiver appointed under Subchapter F, G, or H of that chapter;
               (2)  the ability of the comptroller of public accounts,
  secretary of state, or attorney general to take action against a
  taxable entity under Subchapter F, G, or H of that chapter for
  actions that took place before the repeal; or
               (3)  the right of a taxable entity to contest a
  forfeiture, revocation, lawsuit, or appointment of a receiver under
  Subchapter F, G, or H of that chapter.
         (e)  This section takes effect January 1, 2020.
         SECTION 10.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this
  Act applies only to a report originally due on or after the
  effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 11.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this
  Act takes effect January 1, 2016.