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Ohio.gov

Ohio Department of Taxation FAQs - Pass Through Entity

  1. Is a PTE subject to filing the Ohio form IT 1140 if all of its nonresident equity investors file Ohio form IT 1040 returns?
  2. What prevented the tax department from mandating that all pass-through entities file form IT 4708 for its nonresident shareholders rather than allowing an option for filing form IT 1140?
  3. Many PTE's can file either Ohio form IT 4708 or IT 1140. Since payments can be transferred from one return to the other, shouldn't the tax due computed on both returns be the same?
  4. Provide an example of a completed Ohio form IT 4708 which sets forth an amount on line 16, pass-through entity credit.
  5. Why can't PTE's owned by nonresident individuals who file and pay the Ohio IT 1040 provide a written statement agreeing they have nexus and are in compliance; thus exempting them from filing the IT 1140 much like corporations can?
  6. What is the department's position in a case where (A) the S-corporation or partnership has considerably less funds available than the distributive share and/or (B) by law the funds can not be used for withholding on a regular basis?
  7. (A) Is PTE-earned interest income taxable to Ohio if the person is an out-of-state resident and (B) If the interest income is also taxed by another state, can the non-Ohio resident properly claim a credit on the Ohio individual income tax return?
  8. If the PTE is not subject to Ohio tax, what is the procedure for a nonresident partner/shareholder to recover an amount erroneously withheld by a PTE and paid via Ohio form IT 1140ES?
  9. Who should file Ohio form IT 4708?
  10. Why was Ohio Revised Code Section 5747.08 (D) (1) (a) amended a few years ago to allow residents to file as members of a Ohio form IT 4708 composite return?
  11. Is the PTE tax deductible for Ohio income and corporation franchise tax purposes?
  12. Can a PTE file Ohio form IT 4708 composite return for Ohio and/or nonresident individual qualifying investors and Ohio form IT 1140 PTE return for the remaining Ohio and/or nonresident individual qualifying investors?
  13. (A)If a nonresident individual invests in several Ohio PTEs, can the nonresident individual be included in an Ohio form IT 4708 for some PTEs and included in the Ohio form IT 1140 for others? (B)Does the answer change if the PTEs are related?
  14. If a nonresident individual qualifying investor is included in Ohio form IT 1140, is the individual required to file the IT 1040 Ohio individual income tax return?
  15. Ohio form IT 1140, Schedule B, line 1 asks for the "Sum of all qualifying investors' distributive shares of income and gain." What lines from the IRS form 1065, Schedule K and IRS form 1120S, Schedule K, comprise "income and gain" on Schedule B, line 1?
  16. On Ohio forms IT 1140 (Sch. B, line 4) and IT 4708 (Sch. II, line 26), PTE's must add back the qualifying investors' shares of expenses and losses from transactions between the PTE and its related members. Please explain the reason for the add-back.
  17. In the example provide below, what is the effect of R.C. section 5733.40(A)(7) on Ohio's reciprocity agreements with other states?
  18. An Ohio resident who owns at least 20% of an S corporation is an employee of that S corporation and receives wages for services performed in Michigan. Does the reciprocity agreement between Michigan and Ohio apply to this shareholder-employee wages?
  19. What is a "related member"? Can you provide an example?

1. Is a PTE subject to filing the Ohio form IT 1140 if all of its nonresident equity investors file Ohio form IT 1040 returns?

Yes. The current law does not provide any exemption for the PTE even if each investor is currently filing the Ohio form IT 1040. Note, however, that the law does provide such an exemption with respect to corporations that are not considered qualifying investors (see item #12 on page 3 of the 2008 general instructions for Ohio form IT 1140).

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2. What prevented the tax department from mandating that all pass-through entities file form IT 4708 for its nonresident shareholders rather than allowing an option for filing form IT 1140?

Ohio Revised Code Section 5747.08(D) does not allow C corporations to participate in the filing of the IT 4708. Reason: There are concerns that corporations might manipulate the apportionment factors to avoid paying the appropriate amount of tax. Thus, the law had to provide for a return (IT 1140) which the pass-through entity could file on behalf of qualifying investors which are corporations.

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3. Many PTE's can file either Ohio form IT 4708 or IT 1140. Since payments can be transferred from one return to the other, shouldn't the tax due computed on both returns be the same?

No. The Ohio taxable income on form IT 4708 is taxed at the highest individual income rate of tax set forth in Ohio Revised Code Section 5747.02. Ohio Revised Code Section 5747.41 states that the IT 1140 tax rate is only 5% for qualifying investors who are individuals. While some maintain that the rates should be the same, the law does not provide for the same rates.

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4. Provide an example of a completed Ohio form IT 4708 which sets forth an amount on line 16, pass-through entity credit.

  • PTE #1 is equally owned by PTE A and PTE B.
  • All the investors in PTE A and PTE B are full-year non-Ohio individuals, and they have no other Ohio-sourced income.
  • All three partnerships are operating partnerships, have Ohio apportionment factors of 1.000000 and have no allocable income.
  • PTE #1’s profit apportioned to Ohio is $50,000.
  • PTE A’s profit apportioned to Ohio is $175,000 (this amount does not include A’s share of #1’s profit).
  • PTE B’s profit apportioned to Ohio is $275,000 (this amount does not include B’s share of #1’s profit).
  • Each of the three partnerships files Ohio form IT 4708 and pays the tax shown thereon.

Form IT 4708 Computation---PTE #1

Income apportioned to Ohio                               

$50,000

Income allocated to Ohio                  

0

Ohio Taxable Income

$50,000

Times: tax rate for year 2008

x.0624

Tax before credit(s)

$3,120

Less: Line 16 "PTE Credit"

(0)

Tax after refundable credits

$3,120

Form IT 4708 Computation---PTE A

Income apportioned to Ohio ($175K + $25K)

$200,000

Income allocated to Ohio

0

Ohio taxable income

$200,000

Times: tax rate for year 2008

x .0624

Tax before credit(s)

$12,480

Less: Line 16 "PTE Credit" (50% X $3,592)

(1,796)

Tax after refundable credits

$10,684

Form IT 4708 Computation---PTE B

Income apportioned to Ohio ($275K + $25K)

$300,000

Income allocated to Ohio

0

Ohio taxable income

$300,000

Times: tax rate for year 2008

x .0624

Tax before credit(s)

$18,720

Less: Line 16 "PTE Credit" (50% X $3,592)

(1,796)

Tax after refundable credits

$16,924

Notes:

1) Because PTE A and PTE B equally own PTE #1, PTE A and PTE B must each include in income one-half of PTE #1's profit.

2) PTE A and PTE B can each claim one-half of the form IT 4708 tax which PTE #1 paid.

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5. Why can't PTE's owned by nonresident individuals who file and pay the Ohio IT 1040 provide a written statement agreeing they have nexus and are in compliance; thus exempting them from filing the IT 1140 much like corporations can?

The current law does not provide for this type of exemption for the PTE even if all the out-of-state individual investors are currently filing the Ohio form IT 1040. Please note Ohio Revised Code Section (R.C.) 5733.41 provides that if all the investors in a pass-through entity are (i) corporations subject to the Ohio corporation franchise tax and/or (ii) corporations that would be subject to the Ohio corporation franchise tax if they were not exempt from the franchise tax pursuant to R.C. 5733.09, then the pass-through entity is exempt from the withholding and entity tax.

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6. What is the department's position in a case where (A) the S-corporation or partnership has considerably less funds available than the distributive share and/or (B) by law the funds can not be used for withholding on a regular basis?

(A) The tax is based upon the distributive share of income. It is the responsibility of the pass-through entity to have the cash necessary to pay the tax even if this means (i) reducing the distributions to the investors and/or (ii) borrowing money. (B) Similarly, where federal statutes (for example, HUD housing partnerships) limit the frequency of cash distributions by the partnership to the investors, then the department has waived (and will continue to waive) the estimated tax payment requirements — but only the estimated tax provisions and not the yearly tax payment provisions.

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7. (A) Is PTE-earned interest income taxable to Ohio if the person is an out-of-state resident and (B) If the interest income is also taxed by another state, can the non-Ohio resident properly claim a credit on the Ohio individual income tax return?

(A) Yes. Generally, PTE-earned interest income is business income which is apportioned in and out of Ohio rather than completely allocated to the state of residency (regardless of whether the investor is a resident of a state contiguous to or not contiguous to Ohio).

(B) Regardless of whether or not such interest is taxed by another state, a nonresident individual filing the IT 1040 can claim the nonresident credit with respect to (i) income that is not apportioned to Ohio and (ii) income that is not allocated to Ohio.

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8. If the PTE is not subject to Ohio tax, what is the procedure for a nonresident partner/shareholder to recover an amount erroneously withheld by a PTE and paid via Ohio form IT 1140ES?

If the PTE is not subject to Ohio tax, then there are two “avenues” for securing a refund:

  • The PTE can file an original (if PTE has not yet filed an IT 1140) or an amended IT 1140 (if PTE has already filed an IT 1140) and seek a full refund of all amounts withheld, or
  • The individuals can each file an Ohio form IT 1040 and via the refundable PTE credit seek a full refund of all amounts withheld and paid by the PTE.

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9. Who should file Ohio form IT 4708?

Who should file Ohio form IT 1140? The PTE files form IT 4708 and pays the tax on behalf of noncorporate investors; investors who are corporations cannot participate in the filing of form IT 4708. The PTE must file form IT 1140 and withhold the tax for qualifying investors that cannot or will not authorize the PTE to file form IT 4708 on their behalf.

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10. Why was Ohio Revised Code Section 5747.08 (D) (1) (a) amended a few years ago to allow residents to file as members of a Ohio form IT 4708 composite return?

Practitioners wanted to be able to file one composite return on behalf of all investors included in a PTE, whether or not the investors were nonresidents. Note that (i) Ohio residents must still file Ohio form IT 1040 and (ii) nonresidents must file Ohio form IT 1040 if they have Ohio-sourced income for which a form IT 4708 has not been filed.

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11. Is the PTE tax deductible for Ohio income and corporation franchise tax purposes?

Ohio law expressly states that if such PTE tax is deducted either for individuals/estate/trust income tax purposes or for corporation franchise tax purposes, such amounts must be added to FAGI or "Line 28” (IRS form 1120) income, respectively.

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12. Can a PTE file Ohio form IT 4708 composite return for Ohio and/or nonresident individual qualifying investors and Ohio form IT 1140 PTE return for the remaining Ohio and/or nonresident individual qualifying investors?

Yes.

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13. (A)If a nonresident individual invests in several Ohio PTEs, can the nonresident individual be included in an Ohio form IT 4708 for some PTEs and included in the Ohio form IT 1140 for others? (B) Does the answer change if the PTEs are related?

A: Yes
B: No

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14. If a nonresident individual qualifying investor is included in Ohio form IT 1140, is the individual required to file the IT 1040 Ohio individual income tax return?

Yes.

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15. Ohio form IT 1140, Schedule B, line 1 asks for the "Sum of all qualifying investors' distributive shares of income and gain." What lines from the IRS form 1065, Schedule K and IRS form 1120S, Schedule K, comprise "income and gain" on Schedule B, line 1?

For the 1065, Schedule K, lines 1 through 3 and 5 through 11 reduced by the related expenses on lines 12, 13b, 13c, 13d and 16l.

For the 1120S, Schedule K, lines 1 through 10 reduced by the related expenses on lines 11, 12b, 12c, 12d and 14l.

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16. On Ohio forms IT 1140 (Sch. B, line 4) and IT 4708 (Sch. II, line 26), PTE's must add back the qualifying investors' shares of expenses and losses from transactions between the PTE and its related members. Please explain the reason for the add-back.

The add-back is required only for those related members for which there is at least a 40% relationship. For the purposes of this add-back, the definition of related member has the same meaning as in division (A)(6) of section 5733.042 except “forty percent” is substituted for “twenty percent”. The law requires this adjustment since we are concerned that PTE’s having nexus with Ohio would pay large fees to related members having no nexus with Ohio. Without the add-back, the PTE having Ohio nexus would have no profit and thus no tax. An example of an inter-company transaction would be PTE Y having an Ohio apportionment factor of 1.00000 and owning 75% of PTE X having no Ohio nexus. PTE X receives a $100,000 “management fee” from PTE Y. Without the add-back, PTE Y's Ohio taxable income would be inappropriately reduced by $100,000.

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17. In the example provide below, what is the effect of R.C. section 5733.40(A)(7) on Ohio's reciprocity agreements with other states?

Example: A related member nonresident shareholder of an Ohio S corporation lives in Michigan and works in Ohio as an employee of the S corporation.

  • Does the reciprocity agreement between Michigan and Ohio apply with respect to the employee’s wages if the nonresident joins in the filing of the Ohio PTE composite return, Ohio form IT 4708?
  • Does the reciprocity agreement between Michigan and Ohio apply with respect to the employee’s wages if the nonresident is included in the Ohio PTE withholding tax return, Ohio form IT 1140?
  • If the reciprocity agreements do not apply with respect to nonresident related members that work in Ohio, has the Department of Taxation notified the states with which the department has reciprocity agreements? Please explain.

5733.40(A)(7): For the purposes of R.C. Chapters 5733 and 5747, guaranteed payments made by a partnership or by a limited liability company that is not subject to the tax imposed by R.C. 5733.06 and compensation paid by an S corporation to its shareholders, shall be considered a distributive share of income of the partnership, limited liability company or S corporation. Division (A)(7) of this section applies only to such payments or such compensation paid to an investor who at any time during the qualifying entity’s taxable year holds at least a twenty percent direct or indirect interest in the profits or capital of the qualifying entity.

The department’s position is that the reciprocity agreements do not apply with respect to wages which an S corporation pays to a shareholder-employee if the shareholder-employee is a “20% or greater” direct or indirect equity investor in the S corporation. See, also, the final determinations for Paul M. & Annette E. Neumann and Timothy Hunt & Leslie Niepp issued on November 3, 2004 and June 3, 2005, respectively. The department did not notify the reciprocity states.

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18. An Ohio resident who owns at least 20% of an S corporation is an employee of that S corporation and receives wages for services performed in Michigan. Does the reciprocity agreement between Michigan and Ohio apply to this shareholder-employee wages?

The State of Michigan must decide if such income is exempt for Michigan income tax withholdings (based upon Ohio Revised Code Section 5733.40(A)(7) such income is not “compensation” for Ohio income tax purposes). In any event, since Ohio residents are taxed on their world-wide income but receive a resident credit for income taxed by another state, this shareholder-employee can claim the credit if Michigan were to impose an income tax on such salary (and at this point we understand that Michigan would treat such income as income sitused entirely to Ohio in accordance with the reciprocity agreement).

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19. What is a "related member"? Can you provide an example?

Generally, a “related member” is any person (individual, corporation, partnership, etc.) who directly or indirectly owns at least 20% or more of another entity. An example would be General Motors and Saturn Corporation: since General Motors owns 100% of the stock of Saturn Corporation, the two corporations are related members.

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