New York State Enacts Pass-Through Entity Tax Election

As part of New York state’s (NYS) budget bill passed by the Assembly on April 7, a pass-through entity (PTE) tax election has been provided for partnerships, limited liability companies treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes and New York S corporations. Governor Cuomo had not signed the budget bill as of this writing; however, news outlets reported that he is expected to sign it soon.

The election is effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The new PTE election is in keeping with IRS Notice 2020-75, which permits these types of elective PTE regimes that help individuals avoid the $10,000 SALT cap on the federal deduction, as enacted under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

 

Mechanics of NYS PTE Tax Election

Generally, PTEs must make an annual, irrevocable election by the due date of the first estimated quarterly payment, which would be March 15 of each year, to opt into the PTE tax. However, for tax year 2021 only, the election must be made by October 15, 2021. 

For S corporations, the election must be made by any authorized officer, manager or shareholder.  For partnerships, the election must be made by any member, partner, owner or other individual with authority to bind the entity or sign returns.

NYS S corporation shareholders, partners and members are jointly and severally liable for unpaid NYS PTE taxes owed by electing PTEs.

 

Tax Base and Allocation of Income (Loss) to NYS

An electing PTE’s “taxable income” includes the income, gain, loss or deduction derived from or connected with New York sources to the extent included in the taxable income of a nonresident partner, resident partner or NYS S corporation shareholder subject to tax under Article 22 of the personal income tax provisions of the New York Tax Law. The allocation provisions presumably would follow the current partnership allocation formulas under current NYS rules.

 

Tax Rate

The PTE tax is imposed at a graduated rate from 6.85% on the first $2 million of a PTE’s taxable income up to a maximum of 10.9% on taxable income in excess of $25 million. 

 

Credit for PTE Taxes Paid

The direct partners, members or NYS S corporation shareholders of an electing PTE will be allowed a NYS personal income tax credit for their proportionate share of the NYS PTE tax paid by the entity. If the credit exceeds the personal income tax due for the applicable tax year, the excess will be treated as a refundable overpayment.

PTE owners also may claim multiple credits for all PTEs that have properly elected to pay the NYS PTE tax. Additionally, NYS individual residents will be allowed a credit against their NYS personal income tax due for all other “substantially similar” state PTE taxes paid to other states by the PTE on their distributive share of income included in their NYS resident return.   

Credits are not allowed if the electing PTE does not provide sufficient contact information for its owner, as required under the new bill.

 

Returns, Due Dates and Estimated Payments

The NYS PTE tax return is due on or before March 15 following the close of the taxable year. Extensions may be granted for up to six months by the NYS Commissioner of Taxation and Finance. Electing PTEs cannot file an amended return without the commissioner’s consent or authorization. 

Quarterly estimated payments are required for electing PTEs. The required annual payment amount is the lesser of 90% of actual tax owed or 100% of the electing PTE’s tax owed in the previous year. As a result, estimated payments are not required for 2021, as it is the first year eligible for PTE elections.