Out of State Business “Doing Business” in California
If you or your business are doing business in California, you are subject to California tax laws. The CDTFA or FTB may audit your business or issue a demand that the taxpayer file a tax return.
The state of California considers you to be “doing business” if you meet any of the following:
- Engage in any transaction for the purpose of financial gain within California
- Are organized or commercially domiciled in California
- Your California sales, property or payroll exceed the following amounts:
| Year | CA sales exceed (either the threshold amount or 25% of total sales) | CA real and tangible personal property exceed (either the threshold amount or 25% of total property) | CA payroll compensation exceeds (either the threshold amount or 25% of total payroll) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $601,967 | $60,197 | $60,197 |
| 2018 | $583,867 | $58,387 | $58,387 |
| 2017 | $561,951 | $56,195 | $56,195 |
| 2016 | $547,711 | $54,771 | $54,771 |
| 2015 | $536,446 | $53,644 | $53,644 |
| 2014 | $529,562 | $52,956 | $52,956 |
Public Law 86-272: An Exception to Doing Business in California
Public Law 86-272 potentially applies to companies located outside of California whose only in-state activity is the solicitation of sale of tangible personal property to California customers. Additionally, businesses that qualify for the protections of Public Law 86-272 are exempt from state taxes that are based on your net income.
These entities, however, still may be considered to be doing business in California and may be liable for filing and paying the applicable amounts.
For more information download the Application & Interpretation of Public Law 86-272 (FTB 1050).
Apportionment and allocation
A trade or business with income inside and outside of California may be subject to California apportionment and allocation rules.
Under California tax law, a trade or business with income inside and outside of California may be subject to California apportionment and allocation rules. Moreover, business income is subject to apportionment and nonbusiness income is subject to allocation.
A trade or business subject to California apportionment or allocation rules can include:
- Sole-proprietorships
- Limited Liability Companies
- Corporations
- Partnerships
Forms and instructions
Apportionment and Allocation of Income (Sch R):
Other resources for corporations:
- Guide for Corporations Starting Business in California (Pub 1060)
- Guidelines for Corporations Filing a Combined Report (Pub 1061)
Apportionment
Apportionment generally refers to the division of business income among states by the use of an apportionment formula. A trade or business with business income attributable to sources both inside and outside of California are required to apportion such income.
Business income
Generally, income earned in your business on a regular basis (transactional) or income earned from property used for your business (functional) is business income.
Business income is income from the regular course of trade or business and/or income from tangible and intangible property if the acquisition, management, and disposition of the property constitute integral parts of the corporation’s regular trade or business operations.
The critical element in determining whether income is “business income” is the identification of the transactions and activities that are the elements of a particular trade or business. In general, all transactions and activities of the corporation that are dependent on or contribute to the operations of the corporation’s economic enterprise as a whole give rise to business income.
The California Supreme Court held that the definition of business income contains both a transactional test and a functional test and includes income from the sale of a business asset or right, even if the income is derived from an extraordinary event (Hoechst Celanese Corp. vs. Franchise Tax Board, (2001) 25 Cal. 4th 508).
Nonbusiness income is not subject to apportionment.
Apportionment formulas
Business income is apportioned using one of these formulas:
- Single-sales factor
- Three-factor
Single-sales factor
All trade or businesses, except those that derive more than 50% of their gross receipts from qualified business activities (QBA), must apportion their business income to California using a single-sales factor. Visit Three-factor for a list of QBAs.
Use Instructions for Schedule R to help you calculate the single-sales factor. Use the form locator for prior years.
Three-factor
Trades or businesses that derive more than 50% of their gross receipts from QBA must use the three factor formula consisting of property, payroll, and single-weighted sales factor to apportion business income to California. QBAs include:
- Agricultural
- Extractive
- Savings and loan
- Banking or financial
Use Instructions for Schedule R to help you calculate the factors. Use the form locator for prior years.
Allocation
Allocation refers to the assignment of nonbusiness income to a particular state.
Nonbusiness income
Nonbusiness income is all income other than business income.
Use Apportionment and Allocation of Income (Sch R) to help you calculate nonbusiness income. Use the form locator for prior years.
California net income
California net income is apportioned business income plus allocated nonbusiness income to California.
Use Apportionment and Allocation of Income (Sch R) to help you calculate California net income. Use the form locator for prior years.
If you have questions about whether your business is subject to California taxes, contact a tax attorney today for a consultation. A CDTFA sales tax audit can be confusing and intimidating. The attorneys at www.losangelestaxattorney.com can guide you through the process the best way possible.
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