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Washington B&O Tax Alert – Annual B&O Tax Apportionment Reconciliation Due October 31st
Posted on Sep 12, 2018
For business and occupation (“B&O”) tax purposes, taxpayers earning apportionable revenue calculate their taxable Washington revenue by applying a “receipts factor” apportionment methodology. Taxpayers computing B&O tax in this manner are required to complete and file an Annual Reconciliation of Apportionable Income form with the Department of Revenue.
When is the Annual Reconciliation of Apportionable Income Form Due?
The form must be submitted to the Department of Revenue by October 31st of each year. Failure to timely file the reconciliation form may result in penalties.
Who Must File?
In-state taxpayers that earn income from apportionable business activities performed for customers located inside and outside of Washington may apportion such revenue to Washington for B&O tax purposes. Out-of-state taxpayers earning apportionable income attributable to Washington are required to apportion their revenue and report to Washington when the taxpayer exceeds either the receipts, payroll, or property thresholds described below. Taxpayers that are required to apportion income, or that take an apportionment deduction for B&O tax purposes, must file an annual reconciliation form.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of apportionable activities:
Service & other activities
Royalties
Travel agents & tour operators
Public & nonprofit hospitals
Real estate brokers
International investment management services
Aerospace product development
What is This Filing?
The Department of Revenue allows taxpayers to use the prior year’s apportionment factor for reporting current year liabilities. This simplifies the taxpayer’s reporting method but then requires the business to do a true-up at the end of the year to determine the current year’s factor based on actual data.
The purpose of the annual reconciliation is to correct apportionable receipts reported to the Department using the previous year’s factor or incomplete year-to-date data. If additional B&O tax is due because of the reconciliation, late payment penalties are automatically waived provided the form is filed by the October 31 deadline. The form is required to be filed even if the true-up results in no additional tax liability.
How is the Single-Factor Apportionment Formula Applied?
The numerator of the factor is the apportionable revenue attributable to Washington State. The denominator of the apportionment factor is the apportionable revenue attributable to those states (including Washington) in which the business files business tax returns or is deemed to have created nexus under Washington’s economic nexus standards. The business’ gross apportionable income from apportionable activities is multiplied by the apportionment factor to determine the amount of receipts that are subject to B&O tax.
A business is considered to have substantial nexus in Washington if the business:
is organized or commercially domiciled in this state;
exceeded $267,000 in receipts sourced to this state;
exceeded $53,000 in payroll in this state;
exceeded $53,000 in property in this state; or
had at least 25% of its total receipts, payroll, or property in this state.
Where do I File?
The form is available on the Department of Revenue’s website. The filing can also be completed using the Department’s MyDOR online system.
This article or blog contains general information only and should not be construed as accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should engage a qualified professional advisor.
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