By: Nelson, et al.	S.B. No. 7
	(In the Senate - Filed February 24, 2015;
	February 24, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on
	Finance; March 23, 2015, reported adversely, with favorable
	Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 13, Nays 2;
	March 23, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
	COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 7	By:  Nelson

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the computation of and to decreasing the rates of the
	franchise tax.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  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 0.85
	[one] percent of taxable margin.
	(b)  Subject to Sections 171.003 and 171.1016, the rate of
	the franchise tax is 0.425 [0.5] percent of taxable margin for those
	taxable entities primarily engaged in retail or wholesale trade.
	SECTION 2.  Sections 171.1016(a) and (b), Tax Code, are
	amended to read as follows:
	(a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a
	taxable entity whose total revenue from its entire business is not
	more than $20 [$10] million may elect to pay the tax imposed under
	this chapter in the amount computed and at the rate provided by this
	section rather than in the amount computed and at the tax rate
	provided by Section 171.002.
	(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 0.331 [0.575] percent.
	SECTION 3.  This Act applies only to a report originally due
	on or after the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2016.
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