HB5616 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 38799 SPS 68936 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5616

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Jenn Ladisch Douglass

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

805 ILCS 5/15.35	from Ch. 32, par. 15.35
805 ILCS 5/15.65	from Ch. 32, par. 15.65
805 ILCS 5/15.90	from Ch. 32, par. 15.90
805 ILCS 5/15.97	from Ch. 32, par. 15.97

Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. Provides that, in the case of a domestic or foreign corporation, no payment is required for a franchise tax that would have been due and payable on or after January 1, 2025. Provides that all amounts remaining in the Corporate Franchise Tax Refund Fund shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund no later than December 31, 2025. Makes changes in provisions concerning the statute of limitations. Repeals provisions concerning franchise taxes payable by domestic and foreign corporations on January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning business.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Business Corporation Act of 1983 is amended by changing Sections 15.35, 15.65, 15.90, and 15.97 as follows:

(805 ILCS 5/15.35) (from Ch. 32, par. 15.35)

(Text of Section from P.A. 102-16 and 103-8)

Sec. 15.35. Franchise taxes payable by domestic corporations. For the privilege of exercising its franchises in this State, each domestic corporation shall pay to the Secretary of State the following franchise taxes, computed on the basis, at the rates and for the periods prescribed in this Act:

(a) An initial franchise tax at the time of filing its first report of issuance of shares.

(b) An additional franchise tax at the time of filing (1) a report of the issuance of additional shares, or (2) a report of an increase in paid-in capital without the issuance of shares, or (3) an amendment to the articles of incorporation or a report of cumulative changes in paid-in capital, whenever any amendment or such report discloses an increase in its paid-in capital over the amount thereof last reported in any document, other than an annual report, interim annual report or final transition annual report required by this Act to be filed in the office of the Secretary of State.

(c) An additional franchise tax at the time of filing a report of paid-in capital following a statutory merger or consolidation, which discloses that the paid-in capital of the surviving or new corporation immediately after the merger or consolidation is greater than the sum of the paid-in capital of all of the merged or consolidated corporations as last reported by them in any documents, other than annual reports, required by this Act to be filed in the office of the Secretary of State; and in addition, the surviving or new corporation shall be liable for a further additional franchise tax on the paid-in capital of each of the merged or consolidated corporations as last reported by them in any document, other than an annual report, required by this Act to be filed with the Secretary of State from their taxable year end to the next succeeding anniversary month or, in the case of a corporation which has established an extended filing month, the extended filing month of the surviving or new corporation; however if the taxable year ends within the 2-month period immediately preceding the anniversary month or, in the case of a corporation which has established an extended filing month, the extended filing month of the surviving or new corporation the tax will be computed to the anniversary month or, in the case of a corporation which has established an extended filing month, the extended filing month of the surviving or new corporation in the next succeeding calendar year.

(d) An annual franchise tax payable each year with the annual report which the corporation is required by this Act to file.

On or after January 1, 2020 and prior to January 1, 2021, the first $30 in liability is exempt from the tax imposed under this Section. On or after January 1, 2021, and prior to January 1, 2024, the first $1,000 in liability is exempt from the tax imposed under this Section. On or after January 1, 2024 and prior to January 1, 2025, the first $5,000 in liability is exempt from the tax imposed under this Section. The provisions of this Section shall not require the payment of any franchise tax that would otherwise have been due and payable on or after January 1, 2025. There shall be no refunds or proration of franchise tax for any taxes due and payable on or after January 1, 2025 on the basis that a portion of the corporation's taxable year extends beyond January 1, 2025.

This Section is repealed on January 1, 2026.

(Source: P.A. 102-16, eff. 6-17-21; 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)

(Text of Section from P.A. 102-282, 102-558, and 103-8)

Sec. 15.35. Franchise taxes payable by domestic corporations. For the privilege of exercising its franchises in this State, each domestic corporation shall pay to the Secretary of State the following franchise taxes, computed on the basis, at the rates and for the periods prescribed in this Act:

(a) An initial franchise tax at the time of filing its first report of issuance of shares.

(b) An additional franchise tax at the time of filing (1) a report of the issuance of additional shares, or (2) a report of an increase in paid-in capital without the issuance of shares, or (3) an amendment to the articles of incorporation or a report of cumulative changes in paid-in capital, whenever any amendment or such report discloses an increase in its paid-in capital over the amount thereof last reported in any document, other than an annual report, interim annual report or final transition annual report required by this Act to be filed in the office of the Secretary of State.

(c) An additional franchise tax at the time of filing a report of paid-in capital following a statutory merger or consolidation, which discloses that the paid-in capital of the surviving or new corporation immediately after the merger or consolidation is greater than the sum of the paid-in capital of all of the merged or consolidated corporations as last reported by them in any documents, other than annual reports, required by this Act to be filed in the office of the Secretary of State; and in addition, the surviving or new corporation shall be liable for a further additional franchise tax on the paid-in capital of each of the merged or consolidated corporations as last reported by them in any document, other than an annual report, required by this Act to be filed with the Secretary of State from their taxable year end to the next succeeding anniversary month or, in the case of a corporation which has established an extended filing month, the extended filing month of the surviving or new corporation; however if the taxable year ends within the 2-month period immediately preceding the anniversary month or, in the case of a corporation which has established an extended filing month, the extended filing month of the surviving or new corporation the tax will be computed to the anniversary month or, in the case of a corporation which has established an extended filing month, the extended filing month of the surviving or new corporation in the next succeeding calendar year.

(d) An annual franchise tax payable each year with the annual report which the corporation is required by this Act to file.

On or after January 1, 2020 and prior to January 1, 2021, the first $30 in liability is exempt from the tax imposed under this Section. On or after January 1, 2021 and prior to January 1, 2024, the first $1,000 in liability is exempt from the tax imposed under this Section. On or after January 1, 2024 and prior to January 1, 2025, the first $5,000 in liability is exempt from the tax imposed under this Section. The provisions of this Section shall not require the payment of any franchise tax that would otherwise have been due and payable on or after January 1, 2025. There shall be no refunds or proration of franchise tax for any taxes due and payable on or after January 1, 2025 on the basis that a portion of the corporation's taxable year extends beyond January 1, 2025.

This Section is repealed on January 1, 2026.

(Source: P.A. 102-282, eff. 1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)

(805 ILCS 5/15.65) (from Ch. 32, par. 15.65)

Sec. 15.65. Franchise taxes payable by foreign corporations. For the privilege of exercising its authority to transact such business in this State as set out in its application therefor or any amendment thereto, each foreign corporation shall pay to the Secretary of State the following franchise taxes, computed on the basis, at the rates and for the periods prescribed in this Act:

(a) An initial franchise tax at the time of filing its application for authority to transact business in this State.

(b) An additional franchise tax at the time of filing (1) a report of the issuance of additional shares, or (2) a report of an increase in paid-in capital without the issuance of shares, or (3) a report of cumulative changes in paid-in capital or a report of an exchange or reclassification of shares, whenever any such report discloses an increase in its paid-in capital over the amount thereof last reported in any document, other than an annual report, interim annual report or final transition annual report, required by this Act to be filed in the office of the Secretary of State.

(c) Whenever the corporation shall be a party to a statutory merger and shall be the surviving corporation, an additional franchise tax at the time of filing its report following merger, if such report discloses that the amount represented in this State of its paid-in capital immediately after the merger is greater than the aggregate of the amounts represented in this State of the paid-in capital of such of the merged corporations as were authorized to transact business in this State at the time of the merger, as last reported by them in any documents, other than annual reports, required by this Act to be filed in the office of the Secretary of State; and in addition, the surviving corporation shall be liable for a further additional franchise tax on the paid-in capital of each of the merged corporations as last reported by them in any document, other than an annual report, required by this Act to be filed with the Secretary of State, from their taxable year end to the next succeeding anniversary month or, in the case of a corporation which has established an extended filing month, the extended filing month of the surviving corporation; however if the taxable year ends within the 2-month period immediately preceding the anniversary month or the extended filing month of the surviving corporation, the tax will be computed to the anniversary or, extended filing month of the surviving corporation in the next succeeding calendar year.

(d) An annual franchise tax payable each year with any annual report which the corporation is required by this Act to file.

On or after January 1, 2020 and prior to January 1, 2021, the first $30 in liability is exempt from the tax imposed under this Section. On or after January 1, 2021 and prior to January 1, 2025, the first $1,000 in liability is exempt from the tax imposed under this Section. The provisions of this Section shall not require the payment of any franchise tax that would otherwise have been due and payable on or after January 1, 2025. There shall be no refunds or proration of franchise tax for any taxes due and payable on or after January 1, 2025 on the basis that a portion of the corporation's taxable year extends beyond January 1, 2025.

This Section is repealed on January 1, 2026.

(Source: P.A. 101-9, eff. 6-5-19; 102-16, eff. 6-17-21; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(805 ILCS 5/15.90) (from Ch. 32, par. 15.90)

Sec. 15.90. Statute of limitations.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other Section of this Act, prior to January 1, 2025, no domestic corporation or foreign corporation shall be obligated to pay any annual franchise tax, fee, or penalty or interest thereon imposed under this Act, nor shall any administrative or judicial sanction (including dissolution) be imposed or enforced nor access to the courts of this State be denied based upon nonpayment thereof more than 7 years after the date of filing the annual report with respect to the period during which the obligation for the tax, fee, penalty or interest arose, unless (1) within that 7 year period the Secretary of State sends a written notice to the corporation to the effect that (A) administrative or judicial action to dissolve the corporation or revoke its authority for nonpayment of a tax, fee, penalty or interest has been commenced; or (B) the corporation has submitted a report but has failed to pay a tax, fee, penalty or interest required to be paid therewith; or (C) a report with respect to an event or action giving rise to an obligation to pay a tax, fee, penalty or interest is required but has not been filed, or has been filed and is in error or incomplete; or (2) the annual report by the corporation was filed with fraudulent intent to evade taxes payable under this Act. A corporation nonetheless shall be required to pay all taxes that would have been payable during the most recent 7 year period due to a previously unreported increase in paid-in capital that occurred prior to that 7 year period and interest and penalties thereon for that period, except that, from February 1, 2008 through March 15, 2008, with respect to any corporation that participates in the Franchise Tax and License Fee Amnesty Act of 2007, the corporation shall be only required to pay all taxes that would have been payable during the most recent 4 year period due to a previously unreported increase in paid-in capital that occurred prior to that 7 year period. Beginning January 1, 2025, no domestic corporation or foreign corporation shall be obligated to pay any annual franchise tax, fee, or penalty or interest thereon imposed under this Act, nor shall any administrative or judicial sanction (including dissolution) be imposed or enforced nor access to the courts of this State be denied based upon nonpayment thereof more than 7 years after the date of filing the annual report with respect to the period during which the obligation for the tax, fee, penalty or interest arose.

(b) If within 2 years following a change in control of a corporation the corporation voluntarily pays in good faith all known obligations of the corporation imposed by this Article 15 with respect to reports that were required to have been filed since the beginning of the 7 year period ending on the effective date of the change in control, no action shall be taken to enforce or collect obligations of that corporation imposed by this Article 15 with respect to reports that were required to have been filed prior to that 7 year period regardless of whether the limitation period set forth in subsection (a) is otherwise applicable. For purposes of this subsection (b), a change in control means a transaction, or a series of transactions consummated within a period of 180 consecutive days, as a result of which a person which owned less than 10% of the shares having the power to elect directors of the corporation acquires shares such that the person becomes the holder of 80% or more of the shares having such power. For purposes of this subsection (b) a person means any natural person, corporation, partnership, trust or other entity together with all other persons controlled by, controlling or under common control with such person.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this Section and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other Section of this Act, no foreign corporation that has not previously obtained authority under this Act shall, upon voluntary application for authority filed with the Secretary of State prior to January 1, 2001, be obligated to pay any tax, fee, penalty, or interest imposed under this Act, nor shall any administrative or judicial sanction be imposed or enforced based upon nonpayment thereof with respect to a period during which the obligation arose that is prior to January 1, 1993 unless (1) prior to receipt of the application for authority the Secretary of State had sent written notice to the corporation regarding its failure to obtain an application for authority, (2) the corporation had submitted an application for authority previously but had failed to pay any tax, fee, penalty or interest to be paid therewith, or (3) the application for authority was submitted by the corporation with fraudulent intent to evade taxes payable under this Act. A corporation nonetheless shall be required to pay all taxes and fees due under this Act that would have been payable since January 1, 1993 as a result of commencing the transaction of its business in this State and interest thereon for that period.

(Source: P.A. 95-233, eff. 8-16-07; 95-707, eff. 1-11-08; 96-66, eff. 1-1-10.)

(805 ILCS 5/15.97) (from Ch. 32, par. 15.97)

Sec. 15.97. Corporate Franchise Tax Refund Fund.

(a) Beginning July 1, 1993, a percentage of the amounts collected under Sections 15.35, 15.45, 15.65, and 15.75 of this Act shall be deposited into the Corporate Franchise Tax Refund Fund, a special Fund hereby created in the State treasury. From July 1, 1993, until December 31, 1994, there shall be deposited into the Fund 3% of the amounts received under those Sections. Beginning January 1, 1995, and for each fiscal year beginning thereafter, 2% of the amounts collected under those Sections during the preceding fiscal year shall be deposited into the Fund.

(b) Beginning July 1, 1993, moneys in the Fund shall be expended exclusively for the purpose of paying refunds payable because of overpayment of franchise taxes, penalties, or interest under Sections 13.70, 15.35, 15.45, 15.65, 15.75, and 16.05 of this Act and making transfers authorized under this Section. Refunds in accordance with the provisions of subsections (f) and (g) of Section 1.15 and Section 1.17 of this Act may be made from the Fund only to the extent that amounts collected under Sections 15.35, 15.45, 15.65, and 15.75 of this Act have been deposited in the Fund and remain available. On or before August 31 of each year, the balance in the Fund in excess of $100,000 shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, for the period commencing on or after July 1, 2022, amounts in the fund shall not be transferred to the General Revenue Fund and shall be used to pay refunds in accordance with the provisions of this Act. Within a reasonable time after December 31, 2024, but no later than December 31, 2025, the Secretary of State shall direct and the Comptroller shall order transferred to the General Revenue Fund all amounts remaining in the fund.

(c) This Act shall constitute an irrevocable and continuing appropriation from the Corporate Franchise Tax Refund Fund for the purpose of paying refunds upon the order of the Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

(d) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2026.

(Source: P.A. 102-282, eff. 1-1-22; 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.