2014 -- H 8088

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TAXATION - BUSINESS CORPORATION TAX

     Introduced By: Representatives McLaughlin, Hull, Trillo, and MacBeth

     Date Introduced: April 30, 2014

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 44-11-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-11 entitled "Business

Corporation Tax" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     44-11-2. Imposition of tax. -- (a) Each corporation shall annually pay to the state a tax

equal to nine percent (9%) of net income, as defined in section 44-11-11, qualified in section 44-

11-12, and apportioned to this state as provided in sections 44-11-13 -- 44-11-15, for the taxable

year.

      (b) A corporation shall pay the amount of any tax as computed in accordance with

subsection (a) of this section after deducting from "net income," as used in this section, fifty

percent (50%) of the excess of capital gains over capital losses realized during the taxable year, if

for the taxable year:

      (1) The corporation is engaged in buying, selling, dealing in, or holding securities on its

own behalf and not as a broker, underwriter, or distributor;

      (2) Its gross receipts derived from these activities during the taxable year amounted to at

least ninety percent (90%) of its total gross receipts derived from all of its activities during the

year. "Gross receipts" means all receipts, whether in the form of money, credits, or other valuable

consideration, received during the taxable year in connection with the conduct of the taxpayer's

activities.

      (c) A corporation shall not pay the amount of the tax computed on the basis of its net

income under subsection (a) of this section, but shall annually pay to the state a tax equal to ten

cents ($.10) for each one hundred dollars ($100) of gross income for the taxable year or a tax of

one hundred dollars ($100), whichever tax shall be the greater, if for the taxable year the

corporation is either a "personal holding company" registered under the federal Investment

Company Act of 1940, 15 U.S.C. section 80a-1 et seq., "regulated investment company", or a

"real estate investment trust" as defined in the federal income tax law applicable to the taxable

year. "Gross income" means gross income as defined in the federal income tax law applicable to

the taxable year, plus:

      (1) Any interest not included in the federal gross income; minus

      (2) Interest on obligations of the United States or its possessions, and other interest

exempt from taxation by this state; and minus

      (3) Fifty percent (50%) of the excess of capital gains over capital losses realized during

the taxable year.

      (d) (1) A small business corporation having an election in effect under subchapter S, 26

U.S.C. section 1361 et seq., shall not be subject to the Rhode Island income tax on corporations,

except that the corporation shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (a), to the extent of the

income that is subjected to federal tax under subchapter S.

      (2) The shareholders of the corporation who are residents of Rhode Island shall include

in their income their proportionate share of the corporation's federal taxable income.

      (3) [Deleted by P.L. 2004, ch. 595. art. 29, section 1.]

      (4) [Deleted by P.L. 2004, ch. 595, art. 29, section 1.]

      (e) Minimum tax. - The tax imposed upon any corporation under this section shall not be

less than five hundred dollars ($500) two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for the first three (3) years

the corporation files tax returns and thereafter a minimum of five hundred dollars ($500).

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TAXATION - BUSINESS CORPORATION TAX

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     This act would lower the minimum tax for corporations from five hundred dollars ($500)

to two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for the first three (3) years the corporation files tax returns and

thereafter a minimum of five hundred dollars ($500).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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