Missouri Senate Passes Bill to Eliminate Corporate Franchise Tax

The Missouri Senate gave second-round approval today to a measure that will help spur job creation in Missouri. Senate Bill 19, sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, would first freeze and then phase out Missouri’s corporate franchise tax over a five-year period. The bill now moves to the House for similar consideration.

“By limiting and then ending this double taxation on employers, we eliminate a disincentive that penalized companies for investing more in our state,” said Schmitt. “Now, companies can invest in hiring new employees instead of growing government through higher taxes.”

The measure would first limit and then end Missouri’s corporate franchise tax. The bill caps corporate franchise tax liabilities at the amount of each corporation's tax liability for the 2010 tax year. New businesses would be capped at the amount of their corporation's franchise tax liability for its first full year of existence. Then, beginning Jan. 1, 2012, the tax would be phased out over a five-year period.

Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, said putting Missourians back to work topped the Senate’s priority list for the 2011 legislative session.

“This bill is the first step to help put the more than 280,000 Missourians who have been out of work for the past year and a half back to work in good-paying jobs with benefits,” Mayer said. “By ending this double tax, we are making sure Missouri is competitive when it comes to bringing new investments and jobs to our state.”

Schmitt said Missouri is one of a few states that still charge businesses a tax just to expand or invest in this state. Kansas has been phasing out its franchise tax since 2007, and beginning in tax year 2011, it will be repealed altogether. Ohio began phasing in a new Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) in 2005, while simultaneously phasing out its corporate franchise tax.

Schmitt noted the change would make Missouri attractive to businesses currently looking to expand and, in particular, may lure businesses from Illinois where that state recently increases taxes on corporations.

“The corporate franchise tax is an outdated tax that is only still imposed in a handful of states,” said Schmitt. “While other states raise taxes on business in an attempt to close their budget gaps, we can set Missouri apart and make it clear that this is a place where businesses can expand and create jobs without being penalized.”

The corporate franchise tax is based on a percentage of a company’s assets. Corporations already pay income taxes on their earned income as well as sales and property taxes in Missouri.

To learn more about the bill, visit www.senate.mo.gov.