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View All Business Privilege Tax FAQs

What taxpayers must file an Alabama Business Privilege Tax return?

According to the Alabama business privilege tax law, every corporation, limited liability entity, and disregarded entity doing business in Alabama or organized, incorporated, qualified, or registered under the laws of Alabama is required to file an Alabama Business Privilege Tax Return and Annual Report. The Business Privilege Tax remains due every registered year until the entity is legally dissolved/withdrawn through Alabama Secretary of State, regardless of whether or not such entity is actively doing business in Alabama.

C-corporations, Financial Institution Groups, insurance companies, REITs, and business trusts must file Alabama Form CPT. Limited liability entities taxed as corporations for federal income tax purposes must also file Alabama Form CPT.
S-corporations, limited liability entities and disregarded entities must file Alabama Form PPT.
Limited liability entity is defined in Section 40-14A-1, Code of Alabama 1975, as: Any entity, other than a corporation, organized under the laws of this or any other jurisdiction through which business may be conducted while offering limited liability to the owners of the entity with respect to some or all of the obligations of the entity and which is taxable under subchapter K of the Code, including, without limitation, limited liability companies, registered limited liability partnerships, and limited partnerships
Corporation is defined in Section 40-14A-1, Code of Alabama 1975, as: Any entity, including a limited liability company electing to be taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, through which business can be conducted while offering limited liability to the owners of the entity with respect to some or all of the obligations of the entity, other than a limited liability entity or a disregarded entity
“S-corporation” is defined in Section 40-14A-1, Code of Alabama 1975, as: An S corporation defined under Section 40-18-160

For years prior to January 1, 2024, every corporation, limited liability entity, and disregarded entity doing business in Alabama or organized, incorporated, qualified, or registered under the laws of Alabama is required to file an Alabama Business Privilege Tax Return and Annual Report. The Business Privilege Tax remains due every registered year until the entity is legally dissolved/withdrawn through Alabama Secretary of State, regardless of whether or not such entity is actively doing business in Alabama.

For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, every corporation, limited liability entity, and disregarded entity doing business in Alabama or organized, incorporated, qualified, or registered under the laws of Alabama who would otherwise be subject to the minimum tax due shall be exempt from the privilege tax.

C-corporations, Financial Institution Groups, insurance companies, REITs, and business trusts must file Alabama Form CPT. Limited liability entities taxed as corporations for federal income tax purposes must also file Alabama Form CPT.

S-corporations, limited liability entities and disregarded entities must file Alabama Form PPT.
Limited liability entity is defined in Section 40-14A-1, Code of Alabama 1975, as: Any entity, other than a corporation, organized under the laws of this or any other jurisdiction through which business may be conducted while offering limited liability to the owners of the entity with respect to some or all of the obligations of the entity and which is taxable under subchapter K of the Code, including, without limitation, limited liability companies, registered limited liability partnerships, and limited partnerships.

Corporation is defined in Section 40-14A-1, Code of Alabama 1975, as: Any entity, including a limited liability company electing to be taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, through which business can be conducted while offering limited liability to the owners of the entity with respect to some or all of the obligations of the entity, other than a limited liability entity or a disregarded entity.

“S-corporation” is defined in Section 40-14A-1, Code of Alabama 1975, as: An S corporation defined under Section 40-18-160.

Related FAQs in Business Privilege Tax

In Alabama, a resale certificate is officially called a “Sales Tax License”. To get a copy of your Alabama resale certificate or Sales Tax License, you should:

Login to MAT, locate the appropriate tax account, locate and click “Print tax account license” link. If you need help or cannot access your certificate online contact the Alabama Department of Revenue Sales and Use Tax Division for assistance.

Step by Step Instructions for License Renewal

Yes. In accordance with Rule 810-6-1-.144.03: All buyers of property for resale purposes are entitled to purchase at wholesale, tax-free, the property they resell as regular course of business when they have secured the sales tax license required by law. This rule also applies to retailers located outside Alabama when they have secured the sales tax license required by law in the state in which they are located.

A credit card transaction fee is a charge added to the regular price of an item by a retailer when the purchaser pays for the item using a credit card. Other names for this fee include swipe fee, credit card surcharge, processing fee, service charge, or convenience fee.

These fees are subject to sales and use tax and should be included in the seller’s gross sales on retail transactions when calculating tax due. Example: A sale of tangible personal property totals $100. The customer pays with a credit card and is charged a $3 credit card transaction fee. The total price of $103, including the credit card transaction fee, is subject to sales and use taxes.

A credit card fee, even if separately stated, is part of the retailer’s cost of doing business, and the entire consideration for the sale of tangible personal property is subject to sales and use taxes.

If a transaction consists of only non-taxable goods or services, the credit card transaction fee is not subject to sales and use taxes. Example: A customer is charged $50 for a haircut. The customer pays with a credit card and is charged a $3 credit card transaction fee. Since the haircut is not subject to sales and use taxes, the corresponding credit card transaction fee is not subject to sales and use taxes.

When trying to complete title applications for vessels that have inches listed on the MSO, please use this Vessel Length Chart for conversion purposes.

Vessel Length Chart

Yes, Alabama allows resident individuals to claim a tax credit for income taxes imposed by other states. This credit is claimed on Form 40, Schedule CR. A copy of the other state’s return and a copy of the state Schedule K-1 should be included as documentation of this credit.

If the individual does not file an individual income tax return in the other state or the state provides an exclusion of income, include a proforma return calculating the tax at the other state’s rate and a copy of the state Schedule K-1 as documentation of this credit.

Note: Any Pass-Through Entity tax deducted on the Pass-Through Entity’s federal return, which reduces the taxable income reported on the owner’s K-1, should be added back to compute Alabama taxable income.

No, if the current title is an Alabama ELT there is no cost to print a physical title.

However, once an ELT is printed on physical title paper it can not be printed again. A replacement title application must be applied for if a replacement is needed.