Virginia Law

Article 9. Taxation of Partnerships.

Repealed by Acts 2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3, effective September 1, 2004.

The following words and terms, when used in this article, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Eligible owner" means a direct owner of a pass-through entity who is a natural person subject to the tax imposed by Article 2 (§ 58.1-320 et seq.) or an estate or trust subject to the tax imposed by Article 6 (§ 58.1-360 et seq.).

"Owner" means any individual or entity who is treated as a partner, member, or shareholder of a pass-through entity for federal income tax purposes.

"Pass-through entity" means any entity, including a limited partnership, a limited liability partnership, a general partnership, a limited liability company, a professional limited liability company, a business trust, or a Subchapter S corporation, that is recognized as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes, in which the partners, members, or shareholders report their share of the income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits from the entity on their federal income tax returns or make the election and pay the tax levied pursuant to § 58.1-390.3.

2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3; 2022, cc. 689, 690; 2023, cc. 686, 687.

Except as provided for in this article, owners of pass-through entities shall be liable for tax under this chapter only in their separate or individual capacities on income passed through to the owners of pass-through entities. Any taxes imposed on the pass-through entity itself, including the tax levied pursuant to § 58.1-390.3, sales and use taxes, withholding taxes with respect to employees or nonresident owners, and minimum taxes in lieu of income taxes, shall be paid by the pass-through entity.

2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3; 2009, cc. 37, 152; 2022, cc. 689, 690.

A. 1. For taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2021, but before January 1, 2022, a pass-through entity may make an election, in a format and according to such requirements and procedures to be established by the Department, to pay the tax levied by this section at the entity level for the taxable year. Such election shall be made on or before a date to be determined by the Department, which shall be set no earlier than one year after the extended due date for filing the applicable return. Notwithstanding §§ 58.1-1812 and 58.1-1833, no interest shall accrue on underpayments or overpayments solely attributable to such election.

2. For taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2022, but before January 1, 2026, a pass-through entity may make an annual election, on its timely filed return pursuant to § 58.1-392, to pay the tax levied by this section at the entity level for the taxable period covered by such return. Such election shall be made on or before the due date for filing the applicable return, including any extensions that have been granted.

B. A tax at the rate of 5.75 percent is hereby annually imposed on the Virginia taxable income, as calculated pursuant to § 58.1-391 but taking into account only the pro rata or distributive share of each item of income, gain, loss, or deduction attributable to eligible owners, for each taxable year of every pass-through entity that makes the election provided under subsection A.

C. In computing the tax imposed by this section, the pro rata or distributive share of the Virginia taxable income of each nonresident eligible owner shall be limited to income that is attributable to Virginia sources and shall be subject to the modifications to income as described in §§ 58.1-322.01 through 58.1-322.04.

D. A pass-through entity that elects to pay the tax levied by subsection B shall be eligible for all credits, deductions, or other adjustments to taxable income under § 58.1-391, provided that a pass-through entity's taxable income shall be adjusted to eliminate any federal deduction for state and local income taxes.

E. Any person that is subject to the tax imposed under § 58.1-320 or 58.1-360 and is an eligible owner of a pass-through entity making the election pursuant to this section shall be entitled to a credit against the tax imposed, provided that taxable income has been adjusted to add back any deduction for state and local income taxes paid by the pass-through entity. Such credit shall be in an amount equal to such person's pro rata share of the tax paid under this section by any pass-through entity of which such person is an owner. If the amount of the credit allowed pursuant to this subsection exceeds such person's tax liability for the tax imposed under § 58.1-320 or 58.1-360, as applicable, such excess shall be treated as an overpayment and refundable pursuant to § 58.1-499.

F. If any pass-through entity makes an election pursuant to this section, the Department shall assess and collect tax, interest, and penalties as if such tax is a corporate income tax imposed pursuant to the provisions of Article 10 (§ 58.1-400 et seq.).

G. The Department shall develop and make publicly available guidelines implementing the provisions of this section and the credit authorized by subdivision C 2 of § 58.1-332.

2022, cc. 689, 690; 2023, cc. 686, 687.

A. In determining Virginia taxable income of an owner, any modification described in §§ 58.1-322.01, 58.1-322.02, 58.1-322.03, and 58.1-322.04 that relates to an item of pass-through entity income, gain, loss or deduction shall be made in accordance with the owner's distributive share, for federal income tax purposes, of the item to which the modification relates. Where an owner's distributive share of any such item is not included in any category of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be taken into account separately for federal income tax purposes, the owner's distributive share of such item shall be determined in accordance with his distributive share, for federal income tax purposes, of pass-through entity taxable income or loss.

B. Each item of pass-through entity income, gain, loss or deduction shall have the same character for an owner under this chapter as for federal income tax purposes. Where an item is not characterized for federal income tax purposes, it shall have the same character for an owner as if realized directly from the source from which realized by the pass-through entity or incurred in the same manner by the pass-through entity.

C. Where an owner's distributive shares of an item of pass-through entity income, gain, loss or deduction is determined for federal income tax purposes by special provision in the pass-through entity agreement with respect to such item, and where the principal purpose of such provision is the avoidance or evasion of tax under this chapter, the owner's distributive share of such item, and any modification required with respect thereto, shall be determined as if the pass-through entity agreement made no special provision with respect to such item.

Code 1950, § 58-151.014; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 171; 1984, c. 675; 2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3; 2017, c. 444.

A. Every pass-through entity doing business in Virginia, or having income from Virginia sources, shall make a return to the Department of Taxation on or before the fifteenth day of the fourth month following the close of its taxable year. Such returns shall be made and filed in the manner prescribed by the Department.

B. The return of a pass-through entity shall be signed by any one of the owners. An owner's name signed on the return shall be prima facie evidence that such owner is authorized to sign the return on behalf of the pass-through entity.

C. The Tax Commissioner may establish an income threshold for the filing of returns by pass-through entities and their owners. Pass-through entities and owners with income below this threshold shall not be required to file a return.

D. Receivers, trustees in dissolution, trustees in bankruptcy, and assignees operating the property or business of pass-through entities must make and file returns of income for such pass-through entities. If a receiver has full custody of and control over the business or property of a pass-through entity, he shall be deemed to be operating such business or property, whether he is engaged in carrying on the business for which the pass-through entity was organized or only in marshaling, selling, or disposing of its assets for purposes of liquidation.

E. Pass-through entities may be required to file the return using an electronic medium prescribed by the Tax Commissioner. The Tax Commissioner shall establish a minimum number of owners for the electronic filing requirement. Waivers shall be granted only if the Tax Commissioner finds that the requirement creates an unreasonable burden on the pass-through entity. All requests for waivers must be submitted to the Tax Commissioner in writing. A pass-through entity that has fewer than the established minimum number of owners may, at such pass-through entity's option, file such annual return on such prescribed electronic medium in lieu of filing the annual return on paper.

Code 1950, §§ 58-151.078, 58-151.084; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 171; 1972, c. 465; 1984, c. 675; 1988, c. 249; 2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3.

Repealed by Acts 1988, c. 249.

A. In accordance with procedures established by the Tax Commissioner, any pass-through entity may elect an extension of time within which to file the report or return required by this article to the date six months after such due date, or 30 days after the extended date for filing the federal report, whichever is later.

B. If the return is not filed on or before the extended due date elected under subsection A, the penalty imposed by § 58.1-394.1 shall apply as if no extension had been granted.

2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3; 2005, c. 100.

Repealed by Acts 2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3, effective September 1, 2004.

A. Any pass-through entity that fails to file a return required by this article within the time required shall be liable for a penalty of $200 if the failure is for not more than one month, with an additional $200 for each additional month or fraction thereof during which such failure to file continues, not exceeding six months in the aggregate. In no case, however, shall the penalty be less than $200.

B. If any pass-through entity's failure to file a return required by this article exceeds six months, the Department shall assess a penalty of six percent of the total amount of Virginia taxable income derived by its owners from the pass-through entity for the taxable year. The Department may determine such penalty from any information in its possession. The penalty assessed pursuant to this subsection shall be reduced by the penalty assessed pursuant to subsection A and any tax paid by the owners on their share of income from the pass-through entity for the taxable year.

C. The penalties set forth in this subsection shall be assessed and collected by the Department in the manner provided for the assessment and collection of taxes under this chapter or in a civil action, at the instance of the Department. In addition, such pass-through entity shall be compellable by mandamus to file such return.

2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3.

A. Any officer or owner of any pass-through entity who makes a fraudulent return or statement with the intent of assisting or facilitating the evasion of the payment of the taxes prescribed by this chapter by the pass-through entity or an owner shall be liable for a penalty of not more than $1,000, to be assessed and collected in the manner provided for the assessment and collection of taxes under this chapter or in a civil action, at the instance of the Department.

B. In addition to other penalties provided by law, any officer or owner of a pass-through entity who makes a fraudulent return or statement with the intent of assisting or facilitating the evasion of the payment of the taxes prescribed by this chapter by the pass-through entity or an owner, or who willfully fails or refuses to make a return required by this chapter at the time or times required by law shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. A prosecution under this section shall be commenced within five years next after the commission of the offense.

2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3.

A. The period for assessing any tax imposed by this chapter that is attributable to any pass-through entity item with respect to any owner of a pass-through entity shall not expire before the date that is three years after the later of (i) the last day for filing the pass-through entity return for the taxable year of the pass-through entity, as extended, or (ii) the date on which the pass-through entity return for such taxable year was filed.

B. The period for assessing any tax, as provided in subsection A, may be extended pursuant to agreement under § 58.1-101 or 58.1-220 between the Department and the owner who signed the pass-through entity return or any other owner or person authorized to sign the pass-through entity return.

C. The Tax Commissioner shall mail to each owner whose name and address have been provided by the pass-through entity notice of the beginning of an administrative proceeding at the pass-through entity level with respect to a pass-through entity item, and the final pass-through entity administrative adjustment resulting from any such proceeding. The Tax Commissioner shall not be required to mail notices to any owner with less than a one-percent interest in the profits of the pass-through entity if such entity has more than 100 owners.

D. In any administrative proceeding under § 58.1-1821 in which the taxation of pass-through entity items is an issue, the pass-through entity shall be permitted to participate in the proceeding. In addition, the Department may consolidate proceedings involving more than one taxpayer when the same pass-through items are in issue.

E. The provisions of this section shall apply to any tax attributable to items of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit, or other tax attribute that is recognized or reportable by the pass-through entity and that is required to be reported by the owner of the pass-through entity pursuant to § 58.1-391 or other sections of this chapter.

2008, c. 549.

Pass-through entities may make written application to the Tax Commissioner for permission to file a statement of combined pass-through entity income attributable to nonresident owners and thereby relieve nonresident owners from filing individual nonresident returns. The application must state the reasons for seeking such permission. The Tax Commissioner, in his sole discretion, may, for good cause, grant permission to file a combined nonresident return upon such terms as he may determine.

2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3.