Generating PTE tax in California S Corporations in ProConnect Tax

California A.B. 150, also known as the Pass-Through Entity Elective tax or PTET, allows state tax on passthrough income to be paid at the entity level at a flat rate of 9.3%. The law is effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2021, and before January 1, 2026.

This article will help you report the elective pass-through entity tax (sometimes called PTE, PTET, PET, or SALT workaround) and the resulting credit.

For more PTE resources, check out our dedicated Tax topics page where you'll find a list of all PTE states and the respective content for each.

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Follow these steps to make the election:

For all qualifying shareholders -

1. On the left-side menu, select State & Local.
2. Select Miscellaneous.
3. Select the CA Miscellaneous screen.
4. Scroll down to the California Miscellaneous section.
5. Check the box labeled Every qualified shareholder wants to elect to file PTE tax calculation (3804).

Note: If this is a large S-corporation and most qualifying shareholders want to elect in, you can check this box then elect out at the shareholder level for those who don’t want to participate.

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To elect in or out for certain shareholders

1. On the left-side menu, select State & Local.
2. Select Schedule K-1.
3. Select the CA Schedule K-1 screen.
4. Scroll down to the California Miscellaneous section.
5. Enter a 1 or 2 in Qualified taxpayer is electing to have tax paid by S Corporation.

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When you make the election:

The program will generate form 3804, Pass-Through Entity Elective Tax Calculation. Part II of the form lists each qualifying shareholder who elected in, along with their pro-rata share of income, and calculated PTE tax. 

• The program uses the Shareholder Type selected on the Shareholder Information screen to exclude shareholders who don’t qualify.
• You can override a shareholder’s pro-rata share of income on the CA Schedule K-1 screen.
• The amount of credit calculated for each shareholder will flow to their CA K-1, line 13d.

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To make or record PTE payments

Client letter paragraphs will generate for any separately filed payment vouchers. Always double check the e-file Instructions and e-file Payment Records ProConnect Tax generates to be sure how much you’re paying with a direct debit return.

To make a PTE payment:

By default, ProConnect Tax assumes your client is going to pay PTE tax by mail, and will print an FTB 3893 voucher for any amount you haven't already recorded as paid in the program.

If your client is going to use Web Pay to make their payments:

1. From the Input Return tab, go to State & Local ⮕ Taxes ⮕ CA Taxes.
2. Find the Tax Computation section.
3. Check the Payment amount will be paid with Web Pay for business box.
4. If applicable, check the Estimate amount will be paid with Web Pay for business box.

These checkboxes will suppress the 3893 vouchers and add instructions for using Web Pay to the client letter.

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To enter PTE tax already paid:

1. On the left-side menu, select State & Local.
2. Select Taxes.
3. Select the CA Taxes screen.
4. Enter the amount in Pre-payment actually made for PTE (-1 equals none).

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What if my client made a partial payment?

• the full amount of PTE tax will print on line 35, and
• the 3893 (PMT) will print, showing only the amount of PTE tax not previously paid.

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State tax accrual

If you’re using accrual option 1 (on the General ⮕ Miscellaneous Information screen) then the program will take all of the taxes owed on the state return, line 30, and add this as a deduction on the federal return. The same amount will be added back to the state return on page 1, line 2.

If you want to allocate the deduction for PTE taxes paid to only the participating shareholders:

1. Under Schedule K-1, go to Schedule K-1 Overrides.
2. Override the Ordinary business income (loss) for each shareholder to report the adjusted federal and state amounts.

How do extensions affect PTE tax?

Extentions are only valid for the current tax year, 2024.

Before you e-file an extension, check:

• The e-file Payment Record (ext.)
• The e-file Instructions (Ext.)

These fields verify the amount of payment you’re authorizing. 

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If you need to make a PTE payment with your extension:

• The separate 3893 (PMT) voucher will report the amount of PTE tax due
• Your client should mail the voucher with payment or use Web Pay by 3/15, or the due date for their return.

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After you file an extension:

1. On the left-side menu, select State & Local.
2. Select Taxes.
3. Select the CA Taxes screen.
4. Enter the amount of PTE prepayment made in Pre-payment actually made for PTE (-1 equals none).

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How do I make the election for the current year?

When you make the election in a prior year return, ProConnect Tax assumes you’ll want to do the same in the next year, and produces the 3893 (ES) voucher. This payment can’t be made electronically through ProConnect Tax.

A paragraph in the client letter will tell your client when and where to send the payment. 

To suppress or override the 3893

On the State & Local > Taxes > CA Taxes screen, you can indicate that the 2024Payment amount will be paid with Web Pay, or that the 2025Estimate amount will be paid with Web Pay.

These checkboxes suppress the 3893 (PMT) and 3893 (ES) from printing, and remove the client letter paragraph related to these forms.

The voucher amounts can also be overridden here.

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