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March 27, 2018 Puerto Rico's Treasury Department issues guidance for e-filing of corporate income tax returns for tax year 2017 The Puerto Rico Treasury Department (PRTD) has issued guidance (Circular Letter (CL) 18-03) for the electronic filing (e-filing) of corporate income tax returns for tax year 2017. Background Generally, domestic and foreign corporations that are engaged in a trade or business in Puerto Rico must file a corporate income tax return by no later than the 15th day of the fourth month following the close of the tax year. For tax year 2017, the corporate income tax return for calendar-year taxpayers must be filed by no later than 17 April 2018, and for fiscal-year taxpayers, by no later than the 15th day of the fourth month following the close of the tax year. Foreign corporations that do not have an office or place of business in Puerto Rico must file the corporate income tax return no later than the 15th day of the sixth month following the close of the tax year. For tax year 2017, regular corporations filing Form 480.20 will have the option of electronically filing their corporate income tax returns through a program certified by the PRTD. Certified programs can be accessed on the PRTD's website at: www.hacienda.pr.gov under Corporate Returns 2017. Tax return specialists using a private program to prepare the corporate income tax returns for their corporate clients may also use the private program to electronically file these returns. To complete the electronic filing, the specialists must be registered with the PRTD and use their social security number or employer identification number and the password provided by the PRTD through email. Procedure for electronic filing of the corporate income tax return and required evidence Taxpayers that electronically file their corporate income tax returns for tax year 2017 and whose electronic filing confirmation sheet issued by the certified program indicates that they must submit evidence should access the E-Forms System to electronically file these documents. The E-Forms System is available at www.hacienda.pr.gov under the "Hacienda Virtual" link. To access the E-Forms System, the taxpayer or specialist should use the username and password used to access the "Colecturia Virtual" webpage (PRTD Online Payment webpage). Once in the system, taxpayers should press the Submit Evidence link to upload the additional documents required (e.g., audited financial statements). Tax return specialists filing on behalf of a taxpayer must receive authorization from their corporate clients to upload these documents and should select the Representative/Specialist link for these purposes. CL 18-03 provides step-by-step instructions for filing the evidence. The E-Forms System will be available for electronically filing the required evidence with the corporate income tax return until the day after the due date for filing the return, including extensions, or until the day after the return is electronically filed in those cases in which the return is filed after its due date. Once the process for electronically filing the evidence for the corporate income tax return is completed, the taxpayer or specialist may not add, substitute or modify documents. For tax return specialists to file a return on behalf of a taxpayer, they must obtain the taxpayer's written authorization for the specialist to digitally sign the corporate income tax return. Written authorization must be made on Form SC 2909 A, Specialists Authorization to Electronically File and Digitally Sign the Corporate Income Tax Return. Specialists should retain Forms SC 2909 A for 10 years. Large taxpayers, as described in Section 1010.01(a)(35) of Puerto Rico's Internal Revenue Code of 2011 (PR Code), also may elect to electronically file their corporate income tax returns for tax year 2017. Automatic extensions Taxpayers may file Form SC 2644, Extension Request, to request an automatic extension of time to file the corporate income tax return. For tax year 2017, taxpayers must file Form SC 2644 electronically. Corporate income tax returns with a tax liability Taxpayers owing a balance on the corporate income tax return should make the payment by no later than the date established in the PR Code. The payment may be paid electronically through a checking or savings account (ACH debit method). The balance also may be paid in person with cash, debit card, credit card, check or money order at an Internal Revenue Collection office. Amended returns Taxpayers may electronically amend their corporate income tax returns. If they file an amended return, they must submit the required evidence, including the evidence electronically filed with the original return. Electronic filing restrictions The following taxpayers may not file the corporate income tax return electronically:
Paper filing Taxpayers that file their corporate income returns on paper may file the same in person at any of the following locations:
Tax returns also may be sent by mail to the following address: Puerto Rico Treasury Department P.O. Box 9022501 San Juan, PR 00902–2501 Implications The electronic filing procedure for 2017 is optional. It is expected, however, that the requirement may be mandatory at some time in the future, as it was a few years ago for individual income tax returns. Therefore, companies with operations in Puerto Rico should note this change and start conversations with their tax departments and tax service providers to determine the proper filing method for tax year 2017. Even though electronic filing of the corporate income tax return is optional, the electronic filing of the request for extension is mandatory. Although CL 18-03 did not mention whether payment may be sent by mail if the return is filed electronically, the PRTD will accept payments sent by mail, but the payment must be accompanied with a copy of the electronic filing confirmation of the tax return. ——————————————— For additional information with respect to this Alert, please contact the following: Ernst & Young Puerto Rico LLC, State and Local Taxation Group, San Juan
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