Delaware Franchise Tax: How to Calculate and Pay Bench Accounting

We offer a tax filing service for a small fee in addition to your Franchise Tax amount. For a discounted rate you can submit your Delaware Franchise Tax payment via our online Franchise Tax form. The online fee will vary depending on when the online payment is submitted. Our Delaware Franchise Tax Calculator was developed to help you understand and plan for how much you’ll likely need to pay your Delaware Franchise taxes for your Delaware business. Delaware’s taxation structure has different tiers for LLCs, LPs, non-profit corporations, and for-profit corporations. Instead of doing hours of research on how to calculate Delaware franchise tax, use our tool to get answers in minutes.

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This method is a bit more complicated, because it involves calculating your business’s assumed par value—i.e. Learn how to build, read, and use financial statements for your business so you can make more informed decisions. Bench simplifies your small business accounting by combining intuitive software that automates the busywork with real, professional human support.

In order to utilize this filing method, you will need to provide the company’s total gross assets (as reported on Form 1120, Schedule asset definition and meaning L) and the total number of issued shares. The tax is then often calculated to the minimum payment of $400 tax plus the $50 annual report fee, for a total of $450 due per year. Certain exempt domestic corporations like charities, civic organizations and religious organizations do not have to pay the franchise tax.

Do I Need to Submit Anything Else With My Delaware Franchise Tax Payment?

Form 1120, Schedule L (Federal Return) relative to the company’s fiscal year ending the calendar year of the report. The tax rate under this method is $400.00 per million or portion of a million. If the assumed par value capital is less than $1,000,000, the tax is calculated by dividing the assumed par value capital by $1,000,000 then multiplying that result by $400.00.

1. Corporations, LLCs and LPs are taxed in arrears, meaning the tax due by each due date is for the previous calendar year.
2. Any corporation that is incorporated in Delaware (regardless of where you conduct business) must file an Annual Franchise Tax Report and pay Franchise Tax for the privilege of incorporating in Delaware.
3. There are two methods that you can use to calculate the amount of Delaware franchise tax due for your corporation (the Authorized Shares Method and the Assumed Par Value Capital Method), which result in vastly different amounts due.
4. If you’re trying to figure out if you owe Delaware franchise tax, Bench can help.
5. The limited partnership (LP) Franchise Tax is also due by June 1 of every year.

If the Delaware Franchise Tax calculation uses the assumed par value capital method, the gross assets and issued shares are also to be listed. If you decide to pay your Delaware Franchise Tax for a corporation with us over the phone, the annual report would need to be separately submitted to us by email, fax or mail. All active Domestic Corporation Annual Reports and Franchise Taxes for the prior year are due annually on or before March 1st and are required to be filed online. Failure to file the report and pay the required franchise taxes will result in a penalty of $200.00 plus 1.5% interest per month on tax and penalty. The California franchise tax, for example, is equal to the larger of your California net income multiplied by the 8.84 percent tax rate or the $800 minimum tax. The minimum tax is due the first quarter of each accounting period and must be paid whether your startup is active, inactive, operates at a loss or files a return for a short period of less than 12 months.

Franchise taxes for partnerships and LLCs

If your company is no longer operating, it’s important to close your Delaware business and end these fees. Notification of Annual Report and Franchise Taxes due are sent to all Delaware Registered Agents in December of each year. Delaware has mandated electronic filing of domestic corporations Annual Reports.

A non-stock/non-profit company is considered exempt by the State of Delaware. This type of company does not pay the standard annual Delaware Franchise Tax, but must still file and pay the annual report fee of $25 per year. Failing to pay your franchise tax by March 1st for corporations or June 1st for LLCs will result in a late penalty and interest.