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HB956 • 2026

License taxes; deduction for out-of-state receipts.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact § 58.1-3732 of the Code of Virginia, relating to license taxes; deduction for out-of-state receipts.</p>

Taxes
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Watts
Last action
2026-02-18
Official status
Failed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific information about enforcement mechanisms or penalties for non-compliance.

License Taxes; Deduction for Out-of-State Receipts

This bill modifies the calculation of license taxes by allowing businesses to deduct out-of-state receipts if they are subject to an income tax in that state.

What This Bill Does

  • Modifies how license taxes are calculated for businesses with sales outside Virginia.
  • Allows businesses to exclude from their taxable gross receipts any money earned outside of Virginia, provided it is taxed by another state or country.
  • Defines 'income or other tax based upon income' as a net income tax under federal law or a business activity tax that measures income or receipts.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Businesses operating in Virginia with sales outside the state

Terms To Know

Income tax based upon income
A net income tax as defined by federal law, or a business activity tax that measures gross or net income or receipts.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the deduction will be calculated for businesses with complex out-of-state operations.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect small businesses compared to larger corporations.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-18 House

    Left in Committee Education

  2. 2026-02-18 House

    Left in Finance

  3. 2026-01-27 Subcommittee #2

    Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting (4-Y 6-N)

  4. 2026-01-26 House

    Fiscal Impact statement From TAX (1/26/2026 9:23 pm)

  5. 2026-01-13 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104401D

  6. 2026-01-13 Finance

    Referred to Committee on Finance

Official Summary Text

License taxes; deduction for out-of-state receipts.
Provides that, for purposes of the license tax deduction for out-of-state receipts, such receipts shall be determined based upon the facts and circumstances of the taxpayer's business operation, without regard to the amount of income, receipts, or revenue ultimately computed as taxable under the methodology used by the state or country to which such receipts are attributable. The bill defines "income or other tax based upon income" as a net income tax, as defined in federal law, or, if the state or country to which such receipts are attributable does not have a net income tax as defined in federal law, a business activity tax such state or country does have, the measure of which is based in whole or in part on gross or net income or receipts.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
A BILL to amend and reenact §
58.1-3732
of the Code of Virginia, relating to license taxes; deduction for out-of-state receipts.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
58.1-3732
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§
58.1-3732
. Exclusions and deductions from "gross receipts."

A. Gross receipts for license tax purposes shall not include any amount not derived from the exercise of the licensed privilege to engage in a business or profession in the ordinary course of business.

The following items are excluded:

1. Amounts received and paid to the United States, the Commonwealth or any county, city or town for the Virginia retail sales or use tax, for any local sales tax or any local excise tax on cigarettes, or amounts received for any federal or state excise taxes on motor fuels.

2. Any amount representing the liquidation of a debt or conversion of another asset to the extent that the amount is attributable to a transaction previously taxed (e.g., the factoring of accounts receivable created by sales which have been included in taxable receipts even though the creation of such debt and factoring are a regular part of its business).

3. Any amount representing returns and allowances granted by the business to its customers.

4. Receipts which are the proceeds of a loan transaction in which the licensee is the obligor.

5. Receipts representing the return of principal of a loan transaction in which the licensee is the creditor, or the return of principal or basis upon the sale of a capital asset.

6. Rebates and discounts taken or received on account of purchases by the licensee. A rebate or other incentive offered to induce the recipient to purchase certain goods or services from a person other than the offeror, and which the recipient assigns to the licensee in consideration of the sale goods and services shall not be considered a rebate or discount to the licensee, but shall be included in the licensee's gross receipts together with any handling or other fees related to the incentive.

7. Withdrawals from inventory for purposes other than sale or distribution and for which no consideration is received and the occasional sale or exchange of assets other than inventory whether or not a gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes.

8. Investment income not directly related to the privilege exercised by a business subject to licensure not classified as rendering financial services. This exclusion shall apply to interest on bank accounts of the business, and to interest, dividends and other income derived from the investment of its own funds in securities and other types of investments unrelated to the licensed privilege. This exclusion shall not apply to interest, late fees and similar income attributable to an installment sale or other transaction that occurred in the regular course of business.

B. The following shall be deducted from gross receipts or gross purchases that would otherwise be taxable:

1. Any amount paid for computer hardware and software that are sold to a United States federal or state government entity provided that such property was purchased within two years of the sale to said entity by the original purchaser who shall have been contractually obligated at the time of purchase to resell such property to a state or federal government entity. This deduction shall not occur until the time of resale and shall apply to only the original cost of the property and not to its resale price, and the deduction shall not apply to any of the tangible personal property which was the subject of the original resale contract if it is not resold to a state or federal government entity in accordance with the original contract obligation.

2. Any receipts attributable to business conducted in another state or foreign country in which the taxpayer (or its shareholders, partners or members in lieu of the taxpayer) is liable for an income or other tax based upon income.
Such receipts shall be determined based upon the facts and circumstances of the taxpayer's business operations, without regard to the amount of income, receipts, or revenue ultimately computed as taxable under the methodology used by such state or country to which such receipts are attributable. For purposes of this subdivision, "income or other tax based upon income" means
(i)
a net income tax, as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 383, or
(ii)
if such state or country does not
levy
a net income tax
as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 383
, a
business activity
tax
such state or count
r
y
does
levy
,

the measure
of which is based in whole or in part on gross or net income or receipts.