West Virginia’s franchise tax no longer exists. The state scrapped the Business Franchise Tax for tax years starting after January 1, 2015, so you won't file or pay this tax anymore. What you might still encounter, however, are outdated references on old forms that suggest you still owe this money.

Back when it existed, the franchise tax worked like a net worth tax. You calculated it on your company's capital base, applied a 0.7% rate, and paid at least $50, even during short tax years. Corporations, corporate-taxed LLCs, and many partnerships filed the combined CNF-120 return that handled both franchise and income tax calculations.

Today, every business operating in West Virginia pays a registration fee that varies by entity type (usually $100 or more) to get a Business Registration Certificate. Your ongoing obligations include the 6.5% corporate income tax, an annual report, plus sales, employment, and industry taxes that might apply to your business.

Additional state taxes

Beyond the defunct franchise tax, West Virginia still expects a steady stream of other state-level taxes. This includes: 

• Corporate income tax obligations

• Sales and use tax compliance

• Employee-related tax obligations

• State income tax withholding

• Unemployment insurance

All these taxes exist alongside the Secretary of State's annual report, due June 30 each year. Missing either obligation can knock your business out of good standing, so organize all due dates in a single calendar.

Discern automates your West Virginia compliance

Your accountant manages West Virginia's 6.5% corporate income tax and other complex tax calculations. 

Discern takes the annual compliance work off your plate—filing your June 30 Secretary of State reports, keeping your registered agent current, and tracking every deadline so nothing falls through the cracks.

Book a demo to automate compliance across all your entities.