EXAMPLE 1: Telecommunications Company (TC) is a calendar year filer for federal income tax purposes. For calendar year 1990, it has $200,000 in gross receipts and Virginia taxable income equal to $35,000. TC's minimum tax liability is $2,400 ($200,000 X 1.2%) and its Virginia income tax is $2,100 ($35,000 X 6.0%). Because TC's minimum tax liability exceeds its income tax liability, it is subject to the minimum tax and must pay $2,400 in tax.
EXAMPLE 2: Same facts as in Example 1. In 1993 the Internal Revenue Service audits TC for calendar year 1990 and determines that the company overreported its wage expense by $6,000; thus TC's federal taxable income for calendar year 1990 was underreported by $6,000. TC subsequently amends its Virginia income tax return for calendar year 1990 to report the additional $6,000 in taxable income. The amended return still shows a minimum tax liability of $2,400 (no charge in gross receipts) and an income tax liability of $2,460, 6.0% of ($35,000 + 6,000). Since TC's income tax liability is now higher than its minimum tax liability, it is now subject to the income tax. TC owes the department $60 ($2,460 - $2,400).
23 Va. Admin. Code § 10-120-82
Statutory Authority
§§ 58.1-203 and 58.1-400.1 of the Code of Virginia.