Flag_of_Alabama.svg
An official website of the Alabama State government.
Here's how you know

The .gov means it's official

Government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on an official government site.

The site is secure

The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

ADOR Publishes Supplement to Analysis of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

News >
ADOR Publishes Supplement to Analysis of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Category
Income Tax, Press Release, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Analysis
Related Division
Posted: January 3, 2020

MONTGOMERY, Jan. 3, 2020 ­­– On July 30, 2018, the Alabama Department of Revenue published initial guidance regarding the statutory ties between the federal tax law changes made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and Alabama law. This analysis addressed the ties between the federal tax code and the Alabama tax code for relevant TCJA provisions.

At the time the analysis was published, the Financial Institution Excise Tax (FIET) law defined net income broadly as encompassing all gross income of the financial institution, less certain deductions that, for the most part, were not expressly tied to federal income tax provisions. Under this statutory scheme, the department traditionally allowed items of income reported by the financial institution to be computed similarly to those same items of income addressed in federal law, unless Alabama rules provided direct guidance on these items. Absent express ties to federal provisions, however, it was not clear whether changes effected by the TCJA would affect the calculation of FIET. 

Due to these uncertainties, a working group was formed consisting of Revenue personnel, representatives of financial institutions, and tax practitioners. The group was facilitated by the Alabama Bankers Association. In the course of this collaboration, it became evident that fundamental reforms were needed to clarify the calculation of net income for FIET taxpayers, simplify reporting, and simplify the distribution of FIET collections to local governments.

The Alabama Legislature recognized the need for FIET reform and enacted the Financial Institution Reform Act of 2019, Act 2019-284. This act updates the antiquated FIET statute, which had not been substantially revised since being adopted in 1935. The act provides clarity, simplicity, and administrative ease for taxpayers and the department. The act is operative for tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2019, with limited exceptions. 

For an updated analysis of the TCJA and how it affects Alabama FIET law, please visit https://revenue.alabama.gov/audience/professionals.

The updated analysis applies to tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2020.

Click here to download a PDF version of this release.

View News