Wisconsin's Economic Development Surcharge Publication 400 (3/24) |
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. 3 2. BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................................... 3 3. INDIVIDUALS, ESTATES, AND TRUSTS ................................................................................................................... 3 4. PARTNERSHIPS ................................................................................................................................................... 3 5. REGULAR (C) CORPORATIONS.............................................................................................................................. 3 6. TAX-OPTION (S) CORPORATIONS ......................................................................................................................... 9 7. INSURANCE COMPANIES ................................................................................................................................... 13 8. EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS ................................................................................................................................. 15 9. ALL TAXPAYERS ................................................................................................................................................. 17 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND FORMS .......................................................................................................... 20 |
Wisconsin's Economic Development Surcharge Publication 400 1. INTRODUCTION This publication provides information about Wisconsin’s economic development surcharge. It explains who is subject to the surcharge, when it is due, on what form it is reported, how it is computed, and other aspects of the economic development surcharge. 2. BACKGROUND For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2000, and before January 1, 2013, the economic development surcharge applied to businesses that had $4,000,000 or more of gross receipts. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, the economic development surcharge applies to corporations, insurers, and exempt organizations taxable as corporations that have $4,000,000 or more of gross receipts. The minimum economic development surcharge is $25 and the maximum is $9,800. Note: In the examples that follow, the amount of the economic development surcharge has been rounded to the nearest whole dollar for purposes of simplicity. The Wisconsin Statutes do not require rounding the economic development surcharge to the nearest whole dollar amount. 3. INDIVIDUALS, ESTATES, AND TRUSTS For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, individuals, estates, and trusts are not subject to the Wisconsin economic development surcharge. 4. PARTNERSHIPS For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, partnerships and limited liability companies are not subject to the Wisconsin economic development surcharge. 5. REGULAR (C) CORPORATIONS Definitions Corporation — A "corporation" includes a limited liability company (LLC) that is treated as a corporation under the Internal Revenue Code. Gross Tax Liability — For a separate corporation, "gross tax liability" is the amount from Form 4, line 18. For a corporation that is a member of a combined group, "gross tax liability" is the amount from Form 6, Part III, line 9. Gross Receipts From All Activities — For corporations other than those listed in Sections 6 and 7, "gross receipts from all activities" of corporations means the sum of the following items: • Gross receipts or sales reportable on federal Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, line 1c. • Gross dividends reportable on federal Form 1120, line 4. • Gross interest income reportable on federal Form 1120, line 5. • Gross rents reportable on federal Form 1120, line 6. • Gross royalties reportable on federal Form 1120, line 7. • The gross sales price from the disposition of capital assets and business assets includable in computing the net gain or loss on federal Form 1120, lines 8 and 9. 3 Back to Table of Contents |
Wisconsin's Economic Development Surcharge Publication 400 B. Who Is Subject to the Economic Development Surcharge? The economic development surcharge applies to every exempt organization taxable as a corporation that is required to file a Wisconsin franchise or income tax return, Form 4T, with certain exceptions that are described in Part 8. C. Example: Taxpayer A, an exempt organization taxable as a corporation, files a Wisconsin Form 4T because it has more than $1,000 of gross income (gross receipts minus the cost of goods sold) from an unrelated trade or business. It has $4,500,000 of gross receipts from all unrelated trade or business activities. It carries over a net operating loss from the previous year which reduces its net income to zero. Taxpayer A is subject to the economic development surcharge for the current taxable year because it is required to file Form 4T and has at least $4,000,000 of gross receipts from all activities. C. Who Is Not Subject to the Economic Development Surcharge? • Exempt organizations that are not required to file a Wisconsin franchise or income tax return, Form 4T. • Exempt organizations taxable as corporations that have less than $4,000,000 of gross receipts from all activities. • Exempt organizations taxable as estates or trusts. Example 1: Taxpayer A, an exempt organization taxable as a corporation, filed a prior year Wisconsin Form 4T because it had more than $1,000 of gross income (gross receipts minus the cost of goods sold) from an unrelated trade or business. On that prior year return it reported a net loss from its unrelated trade or business. For the current taxable year, Taxpayer A does not have any income from an unrelated trade or business. However, it files a current year Wisconsin Form 4T to report its net operating loss carryover. Taxpayer A is not subject to the economic development surcharge for the current taxable year because it is not required to file Wisconsin Form 4T. Example 2: Taxpayer B, an exempt organization taxable as a corporation, has $3,750,000 of gross receipts from all unrelated trade or business activities and $2,000 of gross income (gross receipts minus the cost of goods sold) from an unrelated trade or business. Since it has at least $1,000 of gross income from an unrelated trade or business, Taxpayer B must file Wisconsin Form 4T. Taxpayer B is not subject to the economic development surcharge because it has less than $4,000,000 of gross receipts from all activities. D. On What Form Is the Economic Development Surcharge Reported? Exempt organizations report the economic development surcharge on Wisconsin Form 4T, line 25. E. How Is the Economic Development Surcharge Computed? Exempt Organizations Taxable as Corporations The economic development surcharge is the greater of: • $25, or • the amount computed by multiplying the exempt corporation’s gross tax liability from Form 4T, line 11, by 3% (0.03), but not more than $9,800. 16 Back to Table of Contents |
Wisconsin's Economic Development Surcharge Publication 400 The following examples illustrate the computation of the economic development surcharge. Example 1: Corporation A, an exempt organization taxable as a corporation, has $5,000,000 of gross receipts from all unrelated trade or business activities and reports gross tax of zero on Wisconsin Form 4T, line 11. Corporation A is subject to an economic development surcharge of $25, the minimum surcharge. Example 2: Corporation B, an exempt organization taxable as a corporation, reports $4,050,000 of gross receipts from all activities and gross tax of $1,000 on Wisconsin Form 4T, line 11. Corporation B is subject to an economic development surcharge of $30 ($1,000 x .03). Example 3: Corporation C, an exempt organization taxable as a corporation, reports $24,100,000 of gross receipts from all activities and gross tax of $400,000 on Wisconsin Form 4T, line 11. Corporation C is subject to an economic development surcharge of $9,800. Although it computes an economic development surcharge of $12,000 ($400,000 x .03), the maximum surcharge of $9,800 applies. Example 4: Corporation D, an exempt organization taxable as a corporation, is engaged solely in farming. It reports $4,700,000 of gross receipts from all activities and gross tax of $2,000 on Wisconsin Form 4T, line 11. Corporation D is subject to an economic development surcharge of $60 ($2,000 x .03). 9. ALL TAXPAYERS A. Deductibility (1) Federal Income Tax Purposes For federal income tax purposes, the Internal Revenue Service has indicated that the economic development surcharge is a state tax within the meaning of sec. 164(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, it may be deducted as provided under sec. 164. (2) State Franchise or Income Tax Purposes The Wisconsin treatment of the economic development surcharge is shown in the next column. Deductibility of Economic Development Surcharge Entity Wisconsin Treatment C corporations (except RICs, Not deductible — add back to federal taxable income on Form 4, REMICs, REITs, and FASITs) Schedule 4V, or Form 6, Part II, line 2. Deductible in computing Wisconsin unrelated business taxable income Exempt corporations on Form 4T. Not deductible — add back to federal taxable income on Form 4, Insurance companies Schedule 4V, or Form 6, Part II, line 2. RICs, REMICs, REITs, and Deductible in computing Wisconsin net income. FASITs Not deductible — add back to federal income (generally on Form 5S, Tax-option (S) corporations Schedule 5K, line 1, column c) if deductible in computing federal income. 17 Back to Table of Contents |