Help with pass-through entity elective tax Frequently asked questions

A qualified entity must make the election on its original, timely filed return.

For more information, visit PTE election.

Yes, as long as the general partnership also meets the qualifications for the PTE election. For more information, refer to qualified entities.

Yes, an entity can be a "qualified entity" even if it has a disregarded entity as a partner, member, or shareholder. The entity must still meet all of the requirements for the PTE election, but having a disregarded entity as a partner, member, or shareholder will not prevent the entity from being a "qualified entity".

For more information, refer to Rev. Rul. 2004-77 and FTB Legal Ruling 2019-02.

A disregarded entity alone cannot be a qualified entity because it is not taxed as a partnership or S corporation.

Generally, no, a disregarded business entity and its owners cannot receive the PTE credit because it is not considered a qualified taxpayer. However, a disregarded single member LLC that is owned by an individual, fiduciary, estate, or trust subject to California personal income tax and that is a partner, shareholder, or member of an electing qualified entity can receive the credit.

Yes, a trust that is included in the definition of “taxpayer” under Revenue and Taxation Code section 17004 is a qualified taxpayer and is eligible for the PTE credit.

Yes.

Yes, but the SMLLC is not a qualified taxpayer because it is not owned by an individual, fiduciary, estate, or trust.

Qualified net income is the sum of the pro rata share or distributive share of income and guaranteed payments subject to California personal income tax of each consenting partner, member, or shareholder.

A qualified entity's election to pay the PTE elective tax is binding on all of its partners, members, or shareholders.

No, a qualified entity's qualified net income does not include the non-consenting partners', members', or shareholders' pro rata or distributive shares or guaranteed payments.

Qualified net income for purposes of the PTE elective tax would only include the consenting partners’, members’, or shareholders’ pro rata or distributive share of income and guaranteed payments subject to the California personal income tax, which would be determined through application of any applicable sourcing rules.

• R&TC 19900(a)(2)
• R&TC 25101

For an S Corporation, the qualified net income for a qualified taxpayer can generally be computed by taking the sum of Schedule K-1 (100S) lines 1-10 minus lines 11 and 12. For a partnership, the qualified net income for a qualified taxpayer can generally be computed by taking the sum of Schedule K-1 (565/568) lines 1, 2, 3, and 4c through 11 minus lines 12 and 13.

The net negative number is not included in determining the amount of tax to be paid or computing any credit.

For the PTE credit, the credit amount is based on the taxpayer's pro rata or distributive share of income subject to tax under Part 10 that is subject to the qualified entity's election.

Yes, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2021, the PTE credit may reduce the amount of tax due below the tentative minimum tax.

Generally, estates or trusts are able to pass credits through to beneficiaries.

The partnership can file a group return, but the PTE elective tax credit cannot be claimed on a group return because it is not a flow-through item from the entity. The PTE elective tax credit is available only on the individual return of the qualified taxpayer.

Yes, a grantor trust may consent to having its pro rata or distributive share of income subject to tax under Part 10 included in the qualified entity’s qualified net income. The grantor may generally claim the credit received from the trust on their return.

No, gain or loss on the disposition of the qualified entity (i.e. sale of partnership or LLC membership interest or S Corporation stock) is owner level income that is not included in the pro rata or distributive share. Therefore, it is not included in the qualified entity's qualified net income.

Yes, the elective tax is imposed on the qualified net income of the PTE. Gain from the PTE’s sale of an entity level asset is included in the pro rata or distributive share of a partner, member, or shareholder.

Yes.

The PTE elective tax liability is not included when computing the qualified entity’s estimated taxes due under Revenue and Taxation Code (RTC) section 19136.

However, the PTE elective tax credit does reduce the computation of estimated payments for qualified taxpayers.

The qualified entities’ election does not affect the 7% withholding requirement.

FTB will offer penalty relief on a case by case basis for the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) penalties assessed due to the Pass-Through Entity Elective Tax that was paid by check.

For the penalty to be abated, FTB needs to determine that reasonable cause exists. If the taxpayer experienced difficulties with Web Pay and was instructed by FTB to pay via check, include that information in the taxpayer’s abatement request. For all other scenarios, include all relevant facts and circumstances in the taxpayer’s abatement request.

Business Entity EFT Penalty abatement requests can be submitted in writing. Requests can be faxed to 916-855-5556. Include corporation ID number, amount of payment, tax year, and reason for request. For additional BE EFT penalty questions, contact 916-845-4025.

A qualified entity is required to make 2 timely payments.

Business entities must make all PTE elective tax payments either by using the free Web Pay application accessed through FTB’s website or by using the Pass-Through Elective Tax Payment Voucher (FTB 3893). This includes elective tax payments made with the entity’s return. The elective tax payment cannot be combined with the entity’s other tax payments. To pay by voucher, print the FTB 3893 Voucher from FTB's website and mail it to the FTB, along with the payment, to “Franchise Tax Board, P.O. Box 942857, Sacramento, CA 94257-0531.” Once made, the payments will remain as PTE elective tax payments on the entity’s account.

The tax is based on the qualified net income of the qualified entity, and the correct amount of tax must be paid by the due date of the original return. Applicable penalties and interest will apply to underpaid amounts.

If the entity overpaid the tax, the overpayment will be applied to other liabilities or refunded to the entity after a tax return is filed.

No entities are able to carry forward an overpayment and designate it specifically or solely to the June 15 prepayment or PTE elective tax for future years. PTE elective tax paid can be carried forward and applied to other tax liabilities, with the excess refunded to the taxpayer. The 565 partnership return does not allow an overpayment to be applied to the following taxable year because these entities’ liability is typically limited to the $800 minimum tax, and these entities do not have other liabilities to apply overpayments to. For these entities, overpayments of PTE elective tax will be refunded to the entity.

For all entities, if the entity overpaid the PTE elective tax, the overpayment will be applied to other liabilities (if any) or refunded to the entity after a tax return is filed.

Revenue and Taxation Code (RTC) section 17039 sets out the order of credit application. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2022, the PTE credit falls under RTC section 17039(a)(5)(A) because it is a credit that can reduce the amount of tax due below the tentative minimum tax. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, the PTE credit falls under RTC section 17039(a)(7) and must be applied after the other state tax credit.

For more information, visit June 2022 Tax News article Senate Bill (SB) 113 credit ordering rules

For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, and before January 1, 2026, to calculate the OSTC, qualified taxpayers must increase the “net tax payable” by the amount of PTE elective tax credit that reduced net tax, before application of the OSTC, in the same taxable year.