2015 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 12 - Taxation
Chapter 208 - Corporation Business Tax
Section 12-219 - Additional tax in the amount by which alternative computations exceed tax under section 12-214. Minimum tax. Surcharge.

(a)(1) Each company subject to the provisions of this part shall pay for the privilege of carrying on or doing business within the state, the larger of the tax, if any, imposed by section 12-214 and the tax calculated under this subsection. The tax calculated under this section shall be a tax of three and one-tenth mills per dollar for each income year of the amount derived (A) by adding (i) the average value of the issued and outstanding capital stock, including treasury stock at par or face value, fractional shares, scrip certificates convertible into shares of stock and amounts received on subscriptions to capital stock, computed on the balances at the beginning and end of the taxable year or period, the average value of surplus and undivided profit computed on the balances at the beginning and end of the taxable year or period, and (ii) the average value of all surplus reserves computed on the balances at the beginning and end of the taxable year or period, (B) by subtracting from the sum so calculated (i) the average value of any deficit carried on the balance sheet computed on the balances at the beginning and end of the taxable year or period, and (ii) the average value of any holdings of stock of private corporations including treasury stock shown on the balance sheet computed on the balances at the beginning and end of the taxable year or period, and (C) by apportioning the remainder so derived between this and other states under the provisions of section 12-219a, provided in no event shall the tax so calculated exceed one million dollars or be less than two hundred fifty dollars.

(2) For purposes of this subsection, in the case of a new domestic company, the balances at the beginning of its first fiscal year or period shall be the balances immediately after its organization or immediately after it commences business operations, whichever is earlier; and in the case of a foreign company, the balances at the beginning of its first fiscal year or period in which it becomes liable for the filing of a return in this state shall be the balances as established at the beginning of the fiscal year or period for tax purposes. In the case of a domestic company dissolving or limiting its existence, the balances at the end of the fiscal year or period shall be the balances immediately prior to the final distribution of all its assets; and in the case of a foreign company filing a certificate of withdrawal, the balances at the end of the fiscal year or period shall be the balances immediately prior to the withdrawal of all of its assets. When a taxpayer has carried on or had the right to carry on business within the state for eleven months or less of the income year, the tax calculated under this subsection shall be reduced in proportion to the fractional part of the year during which business was carried on by such taxpayer. The tax calculated under this subsection shall, in no case, be less than two hundred fifty dollars for each income year. The taxpayer shall report the items set forth in this subsection at the amounts at which such items appear upon its books; provided, when, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Revenue Services, the books of the taxpayer do not disclose a reasonable valuation of such items, the commissioner may require any additional information which may be necessary for a reasonable determination of the tax calculated under this subsection and shall, on the basis of the best information available, calculate such tax and notify the taxpayer thereof.

(3) No tax credit allowed against the tax imposed by this chapter shall reduce a company’s tax calculated under this subsection to an amount less than two hundred fifty dollars.

(b) (1) With respect to income years commencing on or after January 1, 1989, and prior to January 1, 1992, the additional tax imposed on any company and calculated in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall, for each such income year, except when the tax so calculated is equal to two hundred fifty dollars, be increased by adding thereto an amount equal to twenty per cent of the additional tax so calculated for such income year, without reduction of the additional tax so calculated by the amount of any credit against such tax. The increased amount of tax payable by any company under this section, as determined in accordance with this subsection, shall become due and be paid, collected and enforced as provided in this chapter.

(2) With respect to income years commencing on or after January 1, 1992, and prior to January 1, 1993, the additional tax imposed on any company and calculated in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall, for each such income year, except when the tax so calculated is equal to two hundred fifty dollars, be increased by adding thereto an amount equal to ten per cent of the additional tax so calculated for such income year, without reduction of the tax so calculated by the amount of any credit against such tax. The increased amount of tax payable by any company under this section, as determined in accordance with this subsection, shall become due and be paid, collected and enforced as provided in this chapter.

(3) With respect to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2003, and prior to January 1, 2004, the additional tax imposed on any company and calculated in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall, for each such income year, be increased by adding thereto an amount equal to twenty per cent of the additional tax so calculated for such income year, without reduction of the tax so calculated by the amount of any credit against such tax. The increased amount of tax payable by any company under this section, as determined in accordance with this subsection, shall become due and be paid, collected and enforced as provided in this chapter.

(4) With respect to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2004, and prior to January 1, 2005, the additional tax imposed on any company and calculated in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall, for each such income year, be increased by adding thereto an amount equal to twenty-five per cent of the additional tax so calculated for such income year, without reduction of the tax so calculated by the amount of any credit against such tax, except that any company that pays the minimum tax of two hundred fifty dollars under this section or section 12-223c for such income year shall not be subject to such additional tax. The increased amount of tax payable by any company under this subdivision, as determined in accordance with this subsection, shall become due and be paid, collected and enforced as provided in this chapter.

(5) With respect to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2006, and prior to January 1, 2007, the additional tax imposed on any company and calculated in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall, for each such income year, except when the tax so calculated is equal to two hundred fifty dollars, be increased by adding thereto an amount equal to twenty per cent of the additional tax so calculated for such income year, without reduction of the tax so calculated by the amount of any credit against such tax. The increased amount of tax payable by any company under this section, as determined in accordance with this subsection, shall become due and be paid, collected and enforced as provided in this chapter.

(6) (A) With respect to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2009, and prior to January 1, 2012, the additional tax imposed on any company and calculated in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall, for each such income year, except when the tax so calculated is equal to two hundred fifty dollars, be increased by adding thereto an amount equal to ten per cent of the additional tax so calculated for such income year, without reduction of the tax so calculated by the amount of any credit against such tax. The increased amount of tax payable by any company under this section, as determined in accordance with this subsection, shall become due and be paid, collected and enforced as provided in this chapter.

(B) Any company whose gross income for the income year was less than one hundred million dollars shall not be subject to the additional tax imposed under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. This exception shall not apply to companies filing a combined return for the income year under section 12-223a or a unitary return under subsection (d) of section 12-218d.

(7) (A) With respect to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2012, and prior to January 1, 2018, the additional tax imposed on any company and calculated in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall, for each such income year, except when the tax so calculated is equal to two hundred fifty dollars, be increased by adding thereto an amount equal to twenty per cent of the additional tax so calculated for such income year, without reduction of the tax so calculated by the amount of any credit against such tax. The increased amount of tax payable by any company under this section, as determined in accordance with this subsection, shall become due and be paid, collected and enforced as provided in this chapter.

(B) Any company whose gross income for the income year was less than one hundred million dollars shall not be subject to the additional tax imposed under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. With respect to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2012, and prior to January 1, 2016, this exception shall not apply to companies filing a combined return for the income year under section 12-223a or a unitary return under subsection (d) of section 12-218d. With respect to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2016, and prior to January 1, 2018, this exception shall not apply to taxable members of a combined group that files a combined unitary tax return.

(8) (A) With respect to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2018, and prior to January 1, 2019, the additional tax imposed on any company and calculated in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall, for such income year, except when the tax so calculated is equal to two hundred fifty dollars, be increased by adding thereto an amount equal to ten per cent of the additional tax so calculated for such income year, without reduction of the tax so calculated by the amount of any credit against such tax. The increased amount of tax payable by any company under this section, as determined in accordance with this subsection, shall become due and be paid, collected and enforced as provided in this chapter.

(B) Any company whose gross income for the income year was less than one hundred million dollars shall not be subject to the additional tax imposed under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. This exception shall not apply to taxable members of a combined group that files a combined unitary tax return.

(c) The tax imposed by this section shall be assessed and collected and be first applicable at the time or times herein provided for the tax measured by net income. This section shall not apply to insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, interlocal risk management agencies formed pursuant to chapter 113a or, except as otherwise provided by subsection (d) of this section, financial service companies, as defined in section 12-218b.

(d) Each financial service company, as defined in section 12-218b, shall pay for the privilege of carrying on or doing business within the state, the larger of the tax, if any, imposed by section 12-214 and the tax calculated under this subsection. For each such financial service company, the tax calculated under this subsection shall be two hundred fifty dollars for each income year. No tax credit allowed against the tax imposed by this chapter shall reduce a financial service company’s tax calculated under this subsection to an amount less than two hundred fifty dollars.

(e) The additional tax base of taxable and nontaxable members of a combined group required to file a combined unitary tax return pursuant to section 12-222 shall be calculated as provided in subsection (f) of section 12-218e.

(1949 Rev., S. 1900; 1951, 1953, June, 1955, S. 1096d; 1957, P.A. 560, S. 2; 649, S. 2; 1959, P.A. 394, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 428, S. 3; 604, S. 3; 1963, P.A. 141; February, 1965, P.A. 461, S. 8; June, 1969, P.A. 1, S. 15; 1971, P.A. 683, S. 2; June, 1971, P.A. 5, S. 112; 1972, P.A. 126, S. 1; 285, S. 7; P.A. 73-350, S. 11, 27; P.A. 75-213, S. 2, 53; P.A. 77-614, S. 139, 610; P.A. 78-121, S. 106, 113; P.A. 80-483, S. 56, 186; P.A. 81-66, S. 2, 5; 81-255, S. 22, 37; 81-411, S. 8, 42; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4, S. 30, 32; P.A. 82-325, S. 3, 7; P.A. 84-546, S. 32, 33, 173; P.A. 85-159, S. 2, 19; 85-469, S. 4, 6; P.A. 86-124, S. 1, 2; 86-132; 86-403, S. 131, 132; P.A. 89-16, S. 2, 31; 89-251, S. 21, 203; P.A. 90-174, S. 1, 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-3, S. 101, 168; P.A. 93-74, S. 8, 59, 67; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-4, S. 7, 85; P.A. 95-160, S. 64, 69; P.A. 96-197, S. 6, 11; P.A. 98-110, S. 19, 27; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 57; P.A. 03-2, S. 34; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-1, S. 88; P.A. 05-251, S. 63; P.A. 06-186, S. 67; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 102; P.A. 11-6, S. 79; P.A. 13-184, S. 74; P.A. 15-244, S. 84, 153; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 139, 141.)

History: 1959 act applied tax to each income year, added reference to deferred and unrealized profits in Subdiv. (B)(a)(3) and to treasury stock in Subdiv. (B)(b)(2); 1961 acts raised alternative tax rate from 1.9 mills to 2.5 mills, added exception to minimum tax for banking and financial corporations, and changed technical language; 1963 act added exception for small business investment companies; 1965 act set deadline for 2.5 mill rate to years beginning before January 1, 1966, and raised mill rate to two and five-eighths thereafter, set same deadline for $25 minimum tax, raised to $30 thereafter and set same deadline for 2% tax re banking institutions, raised to 2.1% thereafter; 1969 act for two years, January 1, 1969, to January 1, 1971, changed rates above to four mills, $45 and 3.2% respectively; 1971 acts divided section into Subsecs. and made basis for payments, the difference between tax imposed in Sec. 12-214 and tax calculated under Subdivs. (A) and (B) and changed ending dates for temporary increases in rates from 1971 to 1973; 1972 acts included maximum tax for income years beginning on or after January 1, 1972, for “any company, except companies subject to the gross earnings taxes under chapters 211 and 212, which, in arriving at net income ... is entitled to a deduction under section 12-217 for dividends as defined in the federal corporation income tax law” and made temporary increased tax rates the permanent rates; P.A. 73-350 made provisions applicable to years beginning on or after January 1, 1973, increased mill rate from 4 to 4.25 mills and specifically excluded regulated investment companies and real estate investment trusts, deleted par or face value of indebtedness and deferred and unrealized profits from calculation of taxable amount and set maximum and minimum charges of $100,000 and $50, respectively, and changed provisions formerly applicable to companies, “except companies subject to the gross earnings taxes under chapters 211 and 212” applicable to regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts, set forth process for deriving amount subject to tax and established $50 minimum tax for such companies, increased figures in Subsec. (2)(B) from $45 to $50, changed rate for computation of interest and dividends from 2% to one-eighth of 1% and excluded insurance companies from provisions of section; P.A. 75-213 changed mill rate for companies other than regulated investment companies and real estate investment trusts from 0.25 mill to 0.31 mill and for regulated investment companies and real estate investment trusts from 0.4 to 0.5 mill, effective July 1, 1975, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 1975; P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner of revenue services for tax commissioner, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-121 deleted reference to private banks in Subsec. (1)(A); P.A. 80-483 deleted reference to building and loan associations in Subsec. (1)(A) and (2)(B); P.A. 81-66 raised mill rate in (1)(A) from 0.31 mill to 3.1 mills per dollar and increased minimum tax from $50 to $100, effective May 4, 1981, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 1981; P.A. 81-255 added the alternative computation of tax under Subdiv. (B) and increased the minimum tax to $250, effective July 1, 1981, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 1981; P.A. 81-411 added consideration of a loss for the income year in the alternative tax base under Subdiv. (B), and deleted provisions allowing deductions for contributions to retirement plan in determining salaries and other compensation, effective June 18, 1981, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 1981; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4 deleted Subsec. (1)(B) re alternative tax (if higher than that in Subdiv. (a)) consisting of 50% of corporation’s net income or loss plus salaries and other compensation paid to elected or appointed corporation officers or to shareholders owning more than 1% of stock at rate of 5%, amending section accordingly, effective January 27, 1982, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 1983; P.A. 82-325 changed effective date of Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4, but without affecting this section; P.A. 84-546 made technical change, substituting “scrip” for “script” in Subsec. (1); P.A. 85-159 reduced minimum tax to $100 for income years of corporations commencing on or after January 1, 1985; P.A. 85-469 revised effective date of P.A. 85-159 but without affecting this section; P.A. 86-124 revised section to conform to the style of the general statutes and amended Subsec. (a)(1)(C) to increase the maximum tax from $100,000 to $500,000, effective May 8, 1986, and applicable to income years of corporations commencing on or after January 1, 1986; P.A. 86-132 deleted provision limiting the types of regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts to which the provisions concerning those types of companies and trusts applied; P.A. 86-403 changed effective date of P.A. 86-132 from October 1, 1986, to May 23, 1986 and applicable to income years of corporations commencing on or after January 1, 1986; P.A. 89-16 increased the minimum tax from $100 to $250 in Subsecs. (a) and (b), and amended Subsec. (c) to impose an additional tax as a percentage of the tax calculated under Subsec. (a) or Subsec. (b), effective March 23, 1989, and applicable to income years of corporations commencing on or after January 1, 1989; P.A. 89-251 increased the tax imposed under Subsec. (c), as amended by P.A. 89-16, as a percentage of the additional tax calculated under Subsec. (a) or Subsec. (b) from 15% to 20% of the additional tax, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 1989; P.A. 90-174 amended Subsec. (a)(2) to provide for a maximum tax under said subdivision of $50,000, effective July 1, 1990, and applicable to income years of corporations commencing on or after January 1, 1991; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-3 amended Subsec. (a)(1)(C) to increase the maximum tax from $500,000 to $1,000,000 and Subsec. (c) to provide that the 20% additional tax would be applicable with respect to income years commencing prior to January 1, 1992, and to impose a 10% additional tax applicable with respect to income years commencing on or after January 1, 1992, and prior to January 1, 1993, effective August 22, 1991, and applicable to income years of corporations commencing on or after January 1, 1991; P.A. 93-74 deleted Subsec. (a)(2) with respect to regulated investment company or real estate investment trusts, renumbering Subdiv. (3) accordingly and amended Subsec. (d) to exclude real estate investment trusts and regulated investment trusts from provisions of section, effective May 19, 1993, and applicable to taxable years commencing on and after January 1, 1993; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-4 in Subsec. (d) exempted interlocal risk management agencies formed pursuant to chapter 113a, effective June 9, 1994, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 1980; P.A. 95-160 revised effective date of May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-4 but without affecting this section; P.A. 96-197 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to clarify that out-of-state businesses carrying on or doing business in the state are subject to the tax on the capital base and made technical changes, effective June 3, 1996, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 1996; P.A. 98-110 deleted Subsec. (b) re certain banks, trusts, investment and financing entities, relettered existing Subsecs., excluded financial service companies and made technical changes, effective May 19, 1998, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 1999; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 added Subsec. (a)(3) re the effect of tax credits on the minimum tax, amended Subsec. (c) by adding “except as otherwise provided by subsection (d) of this section” and added Subsec. (d) re a minimum tax for financial services companies, effective July 1, 2002, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2002; P.A. 03-2 added Subsec. (b)(3) re a surcharge for the 2003 income year, effective February 28, 2003, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2003; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-1 amended Subsec. (b) to include in surcharge provided under Subdiv. (3) amounts calculated under Sec. 91 of P.A. 03-1 of the June 30 special session and to add Subdiv. (4) re surcharge for the 2004 income year, effective August 16, 2003, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2003; P.A. 05-251 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting references to Sec. 91 of June 30 Sp. Sess. 03-1 in Subdivs. (3) and (4) and by adding Subdivs. (5) and (7) re surcharge in income years 2006 and 2007, respectively, effective June 30, 2005, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2006; P.A. 06-186 amended Subsec. (b) to eliminate former Subdiv. (6) re surcharge in income year commencing on or after January 1, 2007, and prior to January 1, 2008, effective July 1, 2006, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2006; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (6) re surcharge of 10% for income years on or after January 1, 2009, and exemption for companies with gross income less than $100,000,000, effective September 9, 2009, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2009; P.A. 11-6 amended Subsec. (b) to add Subdiv. (7) re 20% surcharge for 2012 and 2013 income years and exemption for companies with gross income less than $100,000,000, effective May 4, 2011, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2011; P.A. 13-184 amended Subsec. (b)(7) to extend surcharge to income years prior to January 1, 2016, effective June 18, 2013; P.A. 15-244 amended Subsec. (b)(7)(A) to extend surcharge to income years prior to January 1, 2018, amended Subsec. (b)(7)(B) to provide that for income years commencing on or after January 1, 2015, and prior to January 1, 2018, exception shall not apply to taxable members of combined group filing a combined unitary tax return, added Subsec. (b)(8)(A) re surcharge for income year commencing on or after January 1, 2018, added Subsec. (b)(8)(B) re exemption for companies with gross income less than $100,000,000, and added Subsec. (e) re calculation of additional tax base of taxable and nontaxable members of combined group required to file combined unitary tax return, effective June 30, 2015, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2015; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 changed effective date of P.A. 15-244, S. 84 and 153, from June 30, 2015, and applicable to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2015, to January 1, 2016, and applicable to income years commencing on or after that date, effective June 30, 2015, and amended Subsec. (b)(7)(B) to provide that exception not apply to companies filing combined return or unitary return with respect to income years commencing prior to January 1, 2016, rather than January 1, 2015, and exception not apply to taxable members of a combined group that files a combined unitary tax return with respect to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2016, rather than January 1, 2015, and amended Subsec. (b)(8)(A) to provide that additional tax apply to income years commencing on or after January 1, 2018, and prior to January 1, 2019, effective January 1, 2016, and applicable to income years commencing on or after that date.