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2004 SESSION


CHAPTER 716
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 58.1-2628 and 58.1-2674.1 of the Code of Virginia, and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 58.1-400.3, relating to a minimum tax on certain electric suppliers.
[S 681]
Approved April 12, 2004

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 58.1-2628 and 58.1-2674.1 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted, and the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 58.1-400.3 as follows:

§ 58.1-400.3. Minimum tax on certain electric suppliers.

A. 1. An electric supplier, except for those organized as cooperatives and exempt from federal taxation under § 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be subject to a minimum tax imposed by this section, instead of the corporate income tax imposed by § 58.1-400 if applicable, net of any income tax credits that may be used to offset such tax, if the tax imposed by § 58.1-400 is less than the minimum tax imposed by this subsection.

2. The minimum tax imposed by this subsection shall be equal to 1.45 percent of such electric supplier's gross receipts for the calendar year that ends during the taxable year minus the state's portion of the electric utility consumption tax billed to consumers.

B. 1. An electric supplier that is organized as a cooperative and exempt from federal taxation under § 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be subject to a minimum tax, instead of the tax on modified net income imposed by § 58.1-400.2, if the tax imposed by § 58.1-400.2, net of any credits that may be used to offset such tax, is less than the minimum tax imposed by this subsection.

2. The minimum tax imposed by this subsection shall be equal to 1.45 percent of such electric supplier's gross receipts from sales to nonmembers for the calendar year that ends during the taxable year minus the consumption tax collected from nonmembers.

C. In the case of an income tax return for a period of less than 12 months, the minimum tax shall be based on the gross receipts for the calendar year that ends during the taxable period or, if none, the most recent calendar year that ended before the taxable period. The minimum tax shall be prorated by the number of months in the taxable period.

D. The State Corporation Commission shall calculate and certify to the Department for each tax year as defined in § 58.1-2600 the name, address, and minimum tax for each electric supplier. The Commission shall mail or otherwise deliver a copy of the certification to each affected electric supplier.

E. When an electric supplier subject to the tax imposed by this section is one of several affiliated corporations that file a consolidated or combined income tax return, the portion of the affiliated corporations' tax liability that is attributable to the electric supplier shall be computed as follows:

1. Each corporation included in the consolidated or combined return shall recompute its corporate income tax liability, net of any income tax credits, as if it were filing a separate return. The separate income tax liability of the electric supplier shall then be compared to the affiliated corporations' tax liability, net of any income tax credits, indicated on the consolidated or combined return. For purposes of this section, the lesser amount shall be deemed to be the corporate income tax imposed by § 58.1-400 and attributable to the electric supplier.

2. a. If such corporate income tax amount is less than the minimum tax of the electric supplier as calculated pursuant to subsection A, the electric supplier shall be subject to the minimum tax in lieu of the corporate income tax imposed by § 58.1-400.

b. If such corporate income tax amount exceeds the minimum tax of the electric supplier as calculated pursuant to subsection A, the electric supplier shall not owe the minimum tax.

F. The requirements imposed under Article 20 (§ 58.1-500 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of this title regarding the filing of a declaration of estimated income taxes and the payment of such estimated taxes, shall be applicable to electric suppliers regardless of whether such taxpayer expects to be subject to the minimum tax imposed herein or to the corporate income tax imposed by § 58.1-400.

For purposes of determining the applicability of the exceptions under which the addition to the tax for the underpayment of any installment of estimated taxes shall not be imposed, it shall be irrelevant whether the tax shown on the return for the preceding taxable year is the corporate income tax or the minimum tax.

G. To the extent that a taxpayer is subject to the minimum tax imposed under this section, there shall be allowed a credit against the separate, combined, or consolidated corporate income tax for the total amount of minimum tax paid by the electric supplier in all previous years that is in excess of the tax imposed by § 58.1-400 on the electric supplier for such years.

H. 1. To the extent an electric supplier or its parent company has remitted estimated income tax payments in excess of its corporate income tax liability for the taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2001, but before January 1, 2004, such overpayments shall only be utilized to offset any corporate income tax liabilities incurred pursuant to § 58.1-400 for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2004, and shall not be claimed as a refund of overpaid taxes, except as provided in subdivision 2 of this subsection. For the purposes of this subsection, estimated income tax payments shall include any overpayments from a prior taxable year carried forward as an estimated payment to be credited towards a future tax liability.

2. If an electric supplier has had a corporate income tax liability of greater than $0 for each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2001, but before January 1, 2003, then such electric supplier may claim a refund of any estimated income tax payments in excess of their taxable year 2003 corporate income tax liability.

I. Every electric supplier which owes the minimum tax imposed by this section shall remit such tax payment to the Department of Taxation.

J. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions, an electric supplier may not adjust capped rates pursuant to § 56-582 of the Code of Virginia on any portion of the minimum tax due to the Commonwealth.

K. The following words and terms, for purposes of this section, shall have the following meanings:

"Consumption tax" means the state's portion of the electric utility consumption tax billed pursuant to Chapter 29 (§ 58.1-2900 et seq.) of this title, for which the electric supplier is defined as the "service provider" pursuant to § 58.1-2901 less any amounts billed on behalf of utilities owned and operated by municipalities.

"Electric supplier" means an incumbent electric utility in the Commonwealth that, prior to July 1, 1999, supplied electric energy to retail customers located in an exclusive service territory established by the State Corporation Commission.

"Gross receipts" has the same meaning as defined in § 58.1-2600 less receipts from sales to federal, state and local governments for their own use.

"Nonmember" has the same meaning as defined in § 58.1-400.2.

§ 58.1-2628. Annual report.

A. Each telegraph company and telephone company shall report annually, on April 15, to the Commission all real and tangible personal property of every description in the Commonwealth, owned, operated or used by it, except leased automobiles, leased trucks or leased real estate, as of January 1 preceding, showing particularly the county, city, town or magisterial district wherein such property is located.

The report shall also show the total gross receipts for the twelve 12 months ending December 31 next preceding and the interstate revenue, if any, attributable to the Commonwealth. Such revenue shall include all interstate revenue from business originating and terminating within the Commonwealth and a proportion of interstate revenue from all interstate business passing through, into or out of the Commonwealth.

B. Every corporation doing in the Commonwealth the business of furnishing water, heat, light and power, whether by means of gas or steam, except (i) pipeline transmission companies taxed pursuant to § 58.1-2627.1 or (ii) an electric supplier as defined in § 58.1-400.2, shall report annually, on April 15, to the Commission all real and tangible personal property of every description in the Commonwealth, belonging to it as of January 1 preceding, showing particularly, as to property owned by it, the county, city, town or magisterial district wherein such property is located. The report shall also show the total gross receipts for the twelve 12 months ending December 31 next preceding.

C. Every corporation in the Commonwealth in the business of furnishing heat, light and power by means of electricity shall report annually, on April 15, to the Commission all real and tangible personal property of every description in the Commonwealth, belonging to such corporation, leased by such corporation for a term greater than one year, or operated by such corporation as of the preceding January 1, showing particularly the county, city, town or magisterial district in which such property is located, unless owned and reported to the Commission by another corporation or electric supplier in the Commonwealth in the business of furnishing heat, light and power by means of electricity. The report shall also show the total gross receipts less sales to federal, state and local governments for their own use. Electric suppliers organized as cooperatives shall report annually their gross receipts received from nonmembers.

D. Every electric supplier as defined in § 58.1-2600 shall report annually, on April 15, to the Commission all real and tangible personal property owned by such electric supplier, leased by such electric supplier for a term greater than one year, or operated by such electric supplier in the Commonwealth and used directly for the generation, transmission or distribution of electricity for sale as of the preceding January 1, showing particularly the county, city, town or magisterial district in which such property is located, unless owned and reported to the Commission by another corporation or electric supplier in the Commonwealth in the business of furnishing heat, light and power by means of electricity. The report shall also show the total gross receipts less sales to federal, state and local governments for their own use. Electric suppliers organized as cooperatives shall report annually their gross receipts received from nonmembers.

E. Every pipeline transmission company shall report annually, on April 15, to the Department all of its real and tangible personal property of every description as of the beginning of January 1 preceding, showing particularly in what city, town or county and magisterial district therein the property is located.

F. The report required by subsections A through E shall be completed on forms prepared and furnished by the Commission. The Commission shall include on such forms such information as the Commission deems necessary for the proper administration of this chapter.

G. The report required by this section shall be certified by the oath of the president or other designated official of the corporation or person.

§ 58.1-2674.1. Application for correction of certification to Department of Taxation.

Any telecommunications company or electric supplier aggrieved by any action of the Commission in the certification of gross receipts to the Department of Taxation as required by § 58.1-400.1 or § 58.1-400.3 may apply to the Commission for review and correction of any specified item or items of a certification. Such application shall be in a form prescribed by the Commission and shall be filed within eighteen 18 months of the date of the certification to the Department of Taxation after which date the Commission shall have no authority under this section or any other provision of law to receive any application or complaint concerning the certification. The Commission shall provide for notice to the Department of Taxation of any application. If, from the evidence introduced at any hearing on the application or its own investigation, the Commission finds that the certification is incorrect, it shall correct the certification to the Department of Taxation.

2. That the provisions of this act shall be effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2004.

3. That an emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.