Meaning
A corporate taxation methodology provides the framework for calculating franchise taxes in jurisdictions that levy fees on authorized capital. The assumed par value method calculates this tax by dividing a corporation’s gross assets by its issued shares to establish an assumed value for each share. This calculated value is then applied to the total authorized capital of the entity to determine the taxable basis.
Tax Calculation
Revenue authorities apply this formula to determine the taxable valuation of a corporation’s authorized capital. The assumed par value method multiplies the number of authorized shares by the calculated assumed par value to determine the basis for the annual franchise tax. This reduces the risk of disproportionate tax burdens on early-stage businesses with high share counts.
Asset Valuation
Balance sheet figures form the foundation of this specific tax assessment. In many cases, the gross assets are derived from the corporation’s federal tax return. An increase in total assets directly raises the calculated par value, which subsequently increases the tax due under this calculation.
Corporate Application
Incorporators often select this approach when structuring startup entities that require millions of authorized shares for future venture capital rounds. It protects the company from the massive tax bills that the alternative share-count method would generate. Delaware corporations file their annual reports utilizing this option to maintain fiscal efficiency during their early growth phases.