The Florida corporate income/franchise tax is imposed on all corporations for the privilege of conducting business, deriving income, or existing within Florida.
Corporations, including entities that are taxed federally as corporations, are subject to the tax.
A corporation’s federal income, as adjusted by Florida additions, subtractions, and adjustments, is apportioned to Florida based on the corporation’s activities in Florida
compared to its activities everywhere. In most cases, this comparison includes the corporation’s property, payroll and sales.
Who Must File?
-
All corporations (including tax-exempt organizations) doing business, earning income, or existing in Florida.
-
Every bank and savings association doing business, earning income, or existing in Florida.
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All associations or artificial entities doing business, earning income, or existing in Florida.
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Foreign (out-of-state) corporations that are partners or members in a Florida partnership or joint venture. A "Florida partnership" is a partnership
doing business, earning income, or existing in Florida.
-
A limited liability company (LLC) classified as a corporation for Florida and federal income tax purposes is subject to the Florida Income Tax Code and must
file a Florida corporate income/franchise tax return.
-
An LLC classified as a partnership for Florida and federal income tax purposes must file a
Florida Partnership Information Return
(Form F-1065
) if one or more of its owners is a corporation. In addition, the corporate owner of an LLC
classified as a partnership for Florida and federal income tax purposes must file a Florida corporate income/franchise tax return.
-
A single member LLC disregarded for federal and Florida income tax purposes is not required to file a separate Florida corporate income tax return.
The income must be reported on the owner’s return if the single member LLC is owned, directly or indirectly, by a corporation. The corporation must file a Florida
corporate income/franchise tax return, reporting its own income and the income of the single member LLC, even if the only activity of the corporation is ownership of
the single member LLC.
-
Homeowner and condominium associations that file the U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return (Federal Form 1120)
must file Florida Corporate Income/Franchise Tax Return (Form F-1120
) or the
Florida Corporate Short Form Income Tax Return
(Form
F-1120A) regardless of whether any tax may be due. If you file the U.S. Income Tax Return for Homeowners Associations
(Federal Form 1120-H), you are not required to file a Florida return.
-
Political organizations that file Federal Form 1120-POL.
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S corporations that pay federal income tax on Line 22c of Federal Form 1120S.
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Tax-exempt organizations that have "unrelated trade or business income" for federal income tax purposes are subject to Florida corporate income tax
and must file either Form F-1120
or Form F-1120A.
Tax Base and Rate
Florida corporate income/franchise tax is computed using federal taxable income, modified by certain Florida adjustments, additions, and subtractions, to determine
adjusted federal income.
- A corporation doing business outside Florida may apportion its total income. Adjusted federal income is usually apportioned to Florida using a three-factor
formula. The formula is a weighted average, designating 25% each to factors for property and payroll, and 50% to sales.
- You should add non-business income allocated to Florida to the Florida portion of adjusted federal income.
- You should then subtract an exemption ($50,000 as of December 31, 2015) to arrive at Florida net income.
- Finally, you should compute tax by multiplying Florida net income by 5.5%.
Tax Incentives
There are several credits available against the corporate income tax. These include credits for paying salaries in Florida, credits for paying other taxes
or assessments, and credits for making certain types of investments in Florida. See the
Corporate Income Tax Incentives page for a comprehensive list. The Florida Corporate Income/Franchise Tax
Return (Form F-1120
) and the instructions
(Form F-1120N
) also provide a list and explanation of available credits each year.
Due Date
Corporate income tax is reported using a Florida Corporate Income/Franchise Tax Return
(Florida Form
F-1120
). Corporations must file Florida Form F-1120 each year, even
if no tax is due. The due date is based on the corporation’s tax year.
Generally, Florida Form F-1120 is due the later of:
1. |
a. |
For tax years ending June 30, the due date is on or before the 1st day of the 4th month following
the close of the tax year; or |
|
|
b. |
For all other tax year endings, the due date is on or before the 1st day of the 5th month following
the close of the tax year (e.g., Florida Form F-1120 is due on May 1, 2017, for a taxpayer with a taxable year end date of December
31, 2016). |
|
2. |
The 15th day following the due date, without extension, for the filing of the related federal return for the taxable year. |
If you file your return or pay tax late, a penalty of 10% of any unpaid tax for each 30 days or fraction thereof, not to exceed a
total penalty of 50% of unpaid tax, is charged. If no tax is due, the penalty for a late filed return is $50 per month or fraction
thereof, not to exceed $300. A floating rate of interest applies to underpayments and late payments of tax. Interest rates can be found
on the Department's Tax and
Interest Rates web page.
Find due
dates for the current year.
The Florida Partnership Information Return
(Form
F-1065
) is due on or before the 1st day of the 4th month following
the close of the tax year.
Estimated Tax
If the corporation owes more than $2,500 in Florida corporate income tax annually, estimated tax payments must be made on a
Declaration/Installment of Florida Estimated Income/Franchise Tax
(Florida Form F-1120ES
). Form F-1120ES may be filed electronically.
Generally, for tax years beginning prior to January 1, 2017, and for tax years ending June 30, the declaration or payment of estimated tax is due on or before the
last day of the 4th month, the last day of the 6th month, the last day of the 9th month and the last day of the tax year. For tax years beginning on or after January 1,
2017, that end other than June 30, the declaration or payment of estimated tax is due on or before the last day of the 5th month, the last day of the 6th month, the last
day of the 9th month, and the last day of the tax year.
If you underpay estimated tax, a penalty of 12% per year is charged. For more information, see Underpayment of Estimated
Tax (Florida Form F-2220
) and its instructions. A floating rate of interest applies to underpayments and late payments of
tax. Interest rates can be found on the Department's Tax and Interest Rates web page.
Extensions of Time
To receive an extension of time to file your return, you must file a Florida Tentative Income/Franchise Tax Return and Application
for Extension of Time to File Return (Form F-7004
) with your tax payment by the original due date of the Florida return.
Form F-7004 may be filed electronically.
Extensions are valid for 6 months, with the exception of June 30 tax year end extensions that are 7 months. An extension does not extend the due date for the payment. For partnerships, the extension allows 6 months from the due date of the return to file.
If you underpay tentative tax, a penalty of 12% per year during the extension period is charged on the underpaid amount. The penalty is calculated from the original
due date of the return. A floating rate of interest applies to underpayments and late payments of tax. Interest rates can be found on the Department's
Tax and Interest Rates web page.
Qualifications to File a Florida Corporate Short Form F-1120A
A corporation that has zero tax due or owes less than $2,500 in tax may file the Florida Corporate Short Form Income Tax
Return (Form F-1120A) if the corporation:
- Has Florida net income of $45,000 or less
- Conducts 100% of its business in Florida
- Does not report any additions to and/or subtractions from federal taxable income other than a net operating loss deduction and/or state income taxes, if
any
- Is not included in a Florida or federal consolidated corporate income tax return
- Claims no tax credits other than tentative tax payments or estimated tax payments
- Is not required to pay Federal Alternative Minimum Tax
Florida Form F-1120A may be filed electronically.
Account Changes
You must notify the Florida Department of Revenue, if you:
- change your business name;
- change your mailing address;
- change your location address within the same county;
- close or sell your business; or
- your business becomes active and you will sell or rent taxable property or services.
The quickest way to notify the Department is to update your account
online.
File and Pay Tax
Taxpayers are required to file Florida corporate income tax returns electronically if required to file federal income tax returns
electronically, or if $20,000 or more in Florida corporate income tax was paid during the prior state fiscal year. If filing
electronically, visit the Department's Forms and Publications web page and select the current year Florida
e-Services Calendar of Due Dates (Form DR-659) under the the e-Services section to review the payment deadlines.
Most taxpayers use the software of a Florida Department of Revenue recognized vendor to prepare and file Florida
corporate income tax returns. The vendor facilitates the filing of the Florida corporate income tax return through the Internal
Revenue Service’s Modernized e-File (MeF) Program. These vendors can help you:
- file the Florida Corporate Income/Franchise Tax Return (Form F-1120)
- file the Declaration/Installment of Florida Estimated Income/Franchise Tax (Form F-1120ES)
- file the Tentative Income/Franchise Tax Return and Application for Extension of Time to File Return (Form F-7004)
- pay the amount due on the Florida Corporate Income/Franchise Tax Return (Form F-1120)
- pay the estimated amount due on the Declaration/Installment of Florida Estimated Income/Franchise Tax (Form F-1120ES, 1st,
2nd, 3rd, and 4th installments)
- pay the tentative amount due on the Tentative Income/Franchise Tax Return and Application for Extension of Time to File
Return (Form F-7004)
For more information about MeF, visit the Internal Revenue Service, Electronic Filing Options for Businesses and Self-Employed Taxpayers web page.
You can use the Department’s website to file and pay most Florida taxes, including the corporate income tax. You will need to
enroll for e-services with the Department to use this option. Once enrolled, select "Corporate Income Tax" from the
File and Pay
web page to:
- file the Florida Corporate Short Form Income Tax Return (Form F-1120A)
- file Form F-7004
- pay the corporate income tax due on Forms F-1120 and F-1120A
- pay the tentative tax due on Form F-7004
- pay the estimated tax due on Form F-1120ES for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th installments
You also have the option to only make electronic payments. By selecting "Tax/Fee/Remittance Payment Only" on the Department’s
File and Pay
web page, you can:
- pay the corporate income tax due on Forms F-1120 and F-1120A
- pay the tentative tax due on Form F-7004
- pay the estimated tax due on Form F-1120ES for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th installments
With so many options, you can easily pay timely, even if one of the systems is unavailable.
If you are not filing electronically, you can purchase "alternative" forms software and use it to prepare and file a paper return.
A list of approved alternative forms vendors
is updated
every January. Before using software to prepare your alternative form, ask the vendor for proof that the forms in the software package
have been approved by the Florida Department of Revenue. You can also download and print all Florida corporate income tax forms from
the Department's Forms and Publications web page. Be sure to print the forms in color if you are filing them.
If you need assistance, call the Department's Taxpayer Assistance at 850-488-6800 Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.