Member Services
Texas Tax Briefing
TAB will present a special tax seminar on Feb. 6 at the TAB Building in Austin. 
Cindy Ohlenforst and Jeff Dorrill, partners with TAB Gold Patron Associate Member K&L Gates, will be on hand to answer your business tax questions.
Topics include:
- Texas' New Franchise ("Margins") Tax: Understanding how it works and how specific provisions affect radio & TV stations
- Texas Sales & Use Tax: Maximizing sales tax exemptions secured by TAB and complying with state tax rules
- Property Tax Valuations: Ensuring local property tax assessors aren't overvaluing your station's tangible personal property.
Radio and television owners, general managers and business managers should plan to attend.
Registration is $50/person and is open to TAB MEMBERS ONLY!
Date |
Wednesday, February 6, 2008 |
Time |
1 – 4 p.m. |
Badge Pickup |
Starts at 12:30 p.m. (LUNCH ON YOUR OWN) |
Location |
TAB Building, 502 E. 11th St., Ste. 200, Austin, 78701 (Directions) |
Parking |
Capitol Visitors’ Parking Garage (Trinity & 12th St): $6/day La Quinta Inn (11th & San Jacinto St.): $5/day Street meters along Red River: $1/hour |
Registration Fee |
$50/person (members ONLY) NO ON SITE REGISTRATION  Download registration form |
Policies |
Fees must be paid in advance. No on-site registrations. Written cancellations will be accepted until 2/1/08. After that date no refunds will be issued. |
Questions |
Contact TAB’s Sydney Haisler or call (512) 322-9944 |
Franchise ("Margins") Tax Background
Governor Rick Perry and the Texas Legislature in 2006 restructured the state’s main business tax to lower local school property taxes. Now, nearly all businesses are required to pay the tax, and the tax will be due even if a business loses money.
In 2007, TAB secured the following key clarifications addressing broadcasters’ business operations:
- A media broadcast is considered tangible personal property and is eligible to claim cost of goods sold (COGS). This is important because it ensures stations can deduct production, programming and other key expenses when calculating their state tax liability.
- Any revenues not included in a station’s “reportable income” in federal tax returns are not included in state tax returns and the exclusion of sales commissions from total revenue under the tax is not limited to real estate brokers. These provisions ensure that expenses such as sales and ad agency commissions and rep firm fees are excluded from a station’s total revenue for state tax purposes.
Businesses that are organized as sole proprietorships or general partnerships of individuals are exempt from the tax.
In addition, businesses with gross revenues less than $300,000 or that owe less than $1,000 in taxes do not have to pay any tax, but still have to file a return in May.
Tax questions? Contact TAB's Oscar Rodriguez or call (512) 322-9944.
Broadcast Directory