Louisiana House Bill HB775

Louisiana 2015 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/3/15
• Refer: 4/3/15
• Refer: 4/13/15
• Report Pass: 4/28/15

Caption

Provides for methods of determining income subject to the corporation income tax (EG INCREASE GF RV See Note)

Impact

If enacted, HB 775 would significantly impact how corporations compute their taxable income in Louisiana, particularly those engaged in a unitary business. The provisions of the bill necessitate a comprehensive reporting mechanism that captures the financial activities of the combined group. This change is expected to prevent tax base erosion and enhance state revenues by closing loopholes that large corporations historically exploited to minimize their tax burdens. The legislature anticipates that this reform will lead to a more equitable distribution of tax responsibilities among corporations operating within the state.

Summary

House Bill 775 focuses on establishing methods to determine income subject to the corporation income tax within Louisiana. This includes adopting the unitary business principle, which allows corporations with interconnected operations to report their collective taxable income. The bill introduces a combined reporting requirement, ensuring that all members of a unitary group report their income as a single entity, thus creating a clearer picture of the tax liabilities among interrelated corporations. This change aims to enhance tax fairness and address issues related to tax avoidance practices by large multinational corporations operating in the state.

Sentiment

The general sentiment surrounding HB 775 appears to be cautiously optimistic among proponents who believe that the bill addresses critical issues of tax equity and ensures that corporations contribute their fair share. Business groups, however, have raised concerns about the potential administrative burdens and complexities that a combined reporting requirement could impose. Critics warn that while the intention is to create equity, the new regulations could result in unintended consequences, making tax compliance more challenging for some businesses.

Contention

Notable points of contention include the implications of defining what constitutes a unitary business and the potential threshold for determining income apportionment for corporations. Concerns have also been raised about the classification of certain jurisdictions as tax havens, which might affect the financial processing of companies operating in those areas. There is a palpable fear among some sectors that the extended reporting and compliance demands may disproportionately burden small to mid-sized businesses compared to larger corporations more capable of absorbing these costs.