When the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was enacted, it created, for the 2018 through 2025 tax years, an itemized deduction “cap,” limiting to $10,000 the amount of state and local taxes an individual could deduct each year. In response to this limitation and to protect their resident individuals from an increase in federal income taxes potentially arising from this limitation, many states considered and/or enacted a state-level income tax on pass-through entities (often referred to as a pass-through entity (PTE) tax). Historically, pass-through entities were not subject to an income tax – their owners were taxed.  Subjecting the pass-through entity to tax lowers the income flowing from the pass-through entity to its owners, lowering such owner’s federal income tax.

When these PTE taxes were initially enacted, there was significant ambiguity as to whether such PTE tax regimes would be accepted by the IRS. However, in November 2020, the IRS issued Notice 2020-75, essentially providing that PTE taxes are deductible at the entity level (e.g., these items are not subject to the $10,000 “cap” had these taxes been paid by the pass-through entities’ owners).  

Based on this favorable IRS position, on April 19, 2021, as part of its 2021-2022 Budget Bill, New York State (NYS) joined the list of states that have enacted similar tax laws and created their own PTE tax.

NYS’s optional PTE tax, outlined under newly enacted Article 24-A, is effective for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2021. Eligible entities include any partnership under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 7701(a)(2), other than a publicly traded partnership pursuant to IRC Section 7704, including a limited liability company treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes; and any New York S corporation, including a limited liability company treated as an S corporation for federal income tax purposes that is otherwise eligible. 

The following highlights some of the key NYS PTE provisions.

Election

To file and pay PTE tax, the eligible partnership or S corporation must make an irrevocable election by the first estimated payment due date, which is March 15 of the calendar year prior to the year in which the PTE tax return is required. The election is made annually and will be effective for the current taxable year. For the 2021 tax year only, an election must be made by Oct. 15, 2021. A fiscal year filer is required to make the election by Oct. 15, 2021, as well if the fiscal year filer’s final date of the entity’s taxable year falls before the Dec. 31, 2021, calendar year-end.

Estimated tax payments

Electing entities are required to make four equal estimated tax payments for every quarter of a calendar year. To avoid penalties, total payments should be the lesser of 90% of the current year tax or 100% of prior year tax. Electing entities can make advance payments prior to the payment dates. A fiscal year filer is required to follow the same estimated tax payment due dates as a calendar filer. For the 2021 tax year, estimated payments are not required. A fiscal year filer whose final day of the taxable year is in 2021 and makes a PTE election is considered a 2021 tax year filer and is not required to make an estimated payment for this period. 

Taxable income

A partnership’s NYS taxable income is the sum of the entity’s adjusted net income (all items of income gain, loss, or deduction) allocated to NYS to the extent included in a nonresident partner’s taxable income and adjusted net income to the extent included in a resident partner’s taxable income.  Similarly, an S corporation’s NYS taxable income includes “all items of income, gain, loss, or deduction derived from or connected with New York sources to the extent they would be included in the taxable income of a shareholder subject to tax under Article 22.” (NYS Tax Law Section 860(h))

Tax rate

The tax is imposed on the partnership or the S corporation’s taxable income at the following tax rates:  

• 6.85% for income not over $2 million
• $137,000 plus 9.65% for the income excess over $2 million but not $5 million
• $426,500 plus 10.30% for the income excess over $5 million but not over $25 million
• $2,486,500 plus 10.90% for the income excess over $25 million

Tax credit

A tax credit is available for a direct partner or shareholder of an electing PTE, and the credit for each individual is equal to his or her share of the PTE tax paid. If an individual is a partner/shareholder in multiple electing entities, his or her total credit is equal to the sum of such credits calculated separately for each entity. If the credit exceeds tax due for the taxable year, it should be treated as an overpayment, which can be credited or refunded, without interest. Furthermore, any individual that is claiming a tax credit for PTE taxes paid must have a corresponding NY addback of the amount of the PTE tax deduction (e.g., while the PTE tax is deductible in computing a PTE owner’s federal taxable income, it is not allowed as a deduction in computing such owner’s NYS taxable income).

Moreover, Article 24-A also clarifies that a resident credit will be allowed for any PTE tax paid that is “substantially similar” to NYS’s PTE tax. The credit will be in proportion with the partner/shareholder’s direct share of the PTE tax paid, and any excess credit is not an allowable overpayment or refund.

Annual return

On or before March 15 of the year following the close of the taxable year, an electing entity must file an annual return. A six-month election to file the return may apply as needed. Each return must include a “certification of eligibility” by an authorized individual stating that (1) a timely election was made and (2) all statements are true.  Additionally, the return must identify all partners, members, or shareholders of the electing entity eligible to receive credit. Once filed, such returns may not be amended without the consent of the commissioner.

An electing partnership or S corporation that is a fiscal year filer is required to file a return on or before March 15 following the close of the calendar year that includes the final date of the entity’s taxable year. For example, a fiscal year filer whose period end is June 30, 2021, will file its PTE return by March 15, 2022.  

What does CohnReznick think?

Each PTE and its owners should weigh the benefits of making an irrevocable election to be taxed as a PTE, comparing the savings in federal income taxes to any savings or costs at the state level. In addition, any disregarded entity wholly-owned by an individual and reported on federal Schedule C should also consider the potential benefits of becoming a multi-member PTE. These considerations are especially important given the different tax rates, not just for federal income tax purposes, but also the varying tax rates enacted for the NYS PTE tax versus NYS individual income taxes.  We anticipate further guidance to be forthcoming from NYS.  As with any new, complex tax, this could be a bumpy ride.

Contact

Arvinder Kaur, CPA, Senior Manager, State and Local Tax Services

646.448.5466

Corey L. Rosenthal, JD, Principal, Practice Leader, State and Local Tax Services 

646.625.5729

^{Any advice contained in this communication, including attachments and enclosures, is not intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues. Nor is it sufficient to avoid tax-related penalties. This has been prepared for information purposes and general guidance only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining specific professional advice specific to, among other things, your individual facts, circumstances and jurisdiction. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this publication, and CohnReznick, its partners, employees and agents accept no liability, and disclaim all responsibility, for the consequences of you or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in reliance on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based on it.}