§ 5920 -   Returns and mandatory payments

§ 5920. Returns and mandatory payments

(a) A partnership or limited liability company, which engages in activities in Vermont that would subject a C corporation to the requirement to file a return under section 5862 of this title, shall file with the commissioner an annual return, in the form prescribed by the commissioner, on or before the due date prescribed for the filing of the entity's federal return. The return shall set forth the name, address and Social Security or federal identification number of each partner or member; the partnership or limited liability company income attributable to Vermont and the income not attributable to Vermont with respect to each partner or member as determined under this chapter; and such other information as the commissioner may by rule prescribe. The partnership or limited liability company shall, on or before the day on which such return is filed, furnish to each person who was a partner or member during the year a copy of such information shown on the return as the commissioner may by rule prescribe.

(b) The commissioner may permit a partnership or limited liability company to file composite returns and to make composite payments of tax on behalf of some or all of its nonresident partners or members.

(c) With respect to each of its nonresident partners or nonresident members, a partnership or limited liability company shall for each taxable period be liable for all income taxes, together with related interest and penalties, imposed on the partner or member by Vermont with respect to the income of the partnership or limited liability company. A partnership or limited liability company shall declare estimated tax, and shall pay estimated tax, including applicable interest and penalties, on such liability in the manner and at the times specified in subchapter 5 of this chapter; provided, however, that a partnership or limited liability company with a single partner or member and a tax liability under this section of $250.00 or less in the prior year, and a partnership or limited liability company with two or more partners or members and a tax liability under this section of $500.00 or less in the prior year, may file the entire estimated amount on or before the fourth payment date, January 15. For purposes of this subsection, "estimated tax" as used in subchapter 5 of this chapter shall mean an amount equal to the next-to-lowest marginal tax rate prescribed under section 5822 of this title, multiplied by the partner's or member's pro rata share of the income attributable to Vermont.

(d) If interest or penalty is imposed upon a partnership or limited liability company for any underpayment of estimated tax under subsection (c) of this section, no interest or penalty shall be imposed upon a partner or member for underpayment of estimated taxes relating to the partner's or member's pro rata share of the income attributable to Vermont to which the interest or penalty relates. If a partnership or limited liability company shows to the satisfaction of the commissioner that interest or penalties have been assessed against it in excess of the interest or penalties which would have been applied against the combined, actual tax liabilities of all nonresident partners or members, the commissioner shall abate such excess interest and penalties. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as authorizing a partnership or limited liability company to reduce its estimated tax payments.

(e) Any amount paid by the partnership or limited liability company to Vermont pursuant to this section shall be considered to be a payment by the partner or member on account of the income tax imposed on the partner or member for the taxable period pursuant to section 5822 of this title. A partnership or limited liability company shall be entitled to recover a payment made pursuant to this section from the partner or member on whose behalf the payment was made.

(f) Subsection (c) of this section shall not apply to a partnership or limited liability company engaged solely in the business of operating one or more affordable housing projects in this state, provided such partnership or limited liability company shall notify its nonresident partners or nonresident members of their obligation under subchapter 6 of this chapter to file Vermont personal income tax returns and under subchapter 2 of this chapter to pay a tax on income earned from such investment; instruct each nonresident partner or nonresident member to pay such tax; and in addition to filing copies of all schedules K-1 with its partnership or limited liability company return shall file with the commissioner segregated duplicate copies of all nonresident schedules K-1. In this subsection, "affordable housing project" means a rental residential development that is intended primarily to benefit low income Vermont residents throughout the period of the investment and that is subject to one or more of the following:

(1) A housing subsidy covenant that has been granted to the Vermont housing and conservation board;

(2) A regulatory agreement or LIHTC housing subsidy covenant that has been granted to the Vermont housing finance agency;

(3) A housing assistance payment contract with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development pursuant to 24 C.F.R. Part 883; or

(4) A regulatory agreement that has been granted to the Farmers Home Administration of the United States Department of Agriculture.

In this subsection, "low income" means income that is less than or equal to area median income based on statistics from state or federal sources. (Added 1995, No. 169 (Adj. Sess.), § 24, eff. May 15, 1996; amended 1997, No. 50, §§ 21, 22, eff. June 26, 1997; 1999, No. 119 (Adj. Sess.), § 3b, eff. May 18, 2000; 2005, No. 14, § 4, eff. May 3, 2005; 2005, No. 207 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 31, 2006.)