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  • What is a Determination Period?

What is a Determination Period?

The relationship between a taxpayer’s Determination Period and the taxpayer’s taxable year is, at first, confusing. But, to understand how to properly compute the Alabama Business Privilege Tax, one must first understand the terms

DETERMINATION PERIOD. The taxpayer’s taxable year next preceding or, if different, the fiscal year next preceding the taxpayer’s current taxable year. If the constitutional amendment proposed by Act 99-600 is ratified by the qualified electors of the state and proclaimed by the Governor as provided in Sections 284 and 285 of the Constitution of Alabama 1901, then for all tax years beginning after December 31, 2000, the term “determination period” means the taxpayer’s taxable year next preceding the taxpayer’s current taxable year.

TAXABLE YEAR. The calendar year for which a tax levied by this chapter is being determined. For all tax years beginning after December 31, 2000, the term “taxable year” means the fiscal year used by the taxpayer to file returns required under the income tax levied by Chapter 18 or the financial institution excise tax levied by Chapter 16, or, in the case of an insurance company subject to the premium tax levied by Chapter 4A of Title 27, the calendar year.

The relationship between a taxpayer’s Determination Period and the taxpayer’s taxable year is, at first, confusing. But, to understand how to properly compute the Alabama Business Privilege Tax, one must first understand the terms

DETERMINATION PERIOD. The taxpayer’s taxable year next preceding or, if different, the fiscal year next preceding the taxpayer’s current taxable year. If the constitutional amendment proposed by Act 99-600 is ratified by the qualified electors of the state and proclaimed by the Governor as provided in Sections 284 and 285 of the Constitution of Alabama 1901, then for all tax years beginning after December 31, 2000, the term “determination period” means the taxpayer’s taxable year next preceding the taxpayer’s current taxable year.

TAXABLE YEAR. The calendar year for which a tax levied by this chapter is being determined. For all tax years beginning after December 31, 2000, the term “taxable year” means the fiscal year used by the taxpayer to file returns required under the income tax levied by Chapter 18 or the financial institution excise tax levied by Chapter 16, or, in the case of an insurance company subject to the premium tax levied by Chapter 4A of Title 27, the calendar year.

Related FAQs in Business Privilege Tax

If you believe you received the delinquency notice in error and have filed the required return, please provide a copy of the return and proof of payment after consulting with your tax professional. Attach copies of the return and proof of payment to a copy of the business privilege tax delinquency notice and email to businessprivilege.tax@revenue.alabama.gov or mail the response to:

Alabama Department of Revenue
Income Tax Administration
Business Privilege Tax Section – Delinquency Notice Response
PO Box 327900
Montgomery, AL 36132-7900

Taxpayers must receive an (Online Filing Info) letter to sign up for MAT. Normally after they have registered their business with the Secretary of State, taxpayers will receive their letter within 4-6 weeks from the Alabama Department of Revenue. Once this letter is received, taxpayers need to visit our website https://myalabamataxes.alabama.gov/_/#1. In the left side of the screen you will see username, password, and logon. Beneath that you will see forgot password, forgot username, DON’T HAVE A LOG ON? REGISTER HERE. Taxpayers should click register here. Select: Business Privilege Tax. Then the taxpayer will need to provide the Account number, Sign On ID, and Access Code. This information is located on the (Online Filing Info) letter.

Where do I start?
Click the Home link to go to the summary page you see when you first sign in.
To edit a customer level address:
Click the Names and Addressestab from the customer springboard.
Find the Customer Names & Addresses
To edit an account level address:
Go to the Accounts tab and click the applicable account (i.e. Business Privilege Tax).
Click the Names and Addressestab from the account springboard.
Find the Account Names & Addresses
What do I do?
View an address
Click an address to view it.
Edit an address
Click the Edit
Update the address fields.
Click the Verify Address link to check that it is a valid address. This step is mandatory
Click the Select link next to the verified address (if applicable).
When finished, click the Submit button to submit the request.
A confirmation message appears. Click the Print Confirmation button to print the page, or click OK to continue.

Payment Options

My Alabama Taxes

Pay via Credit/Debit card or ACH online with MyAlabamaTaxes. Billing payments can be made at Pay Bill.

 By Phone

Taxpayer Assistance Group (TAG): To make a credit card payment by phone, please contact the Alabama Department of Revenue Taxpayer Assistance Group at 334-353-8096.

By Mail

Check or money orders may be mailed if the amount owed is less than $750. Attach voucher Form BPT-V and payment. Mail to:

Alabama Department of Revenue
Business Privilege Tax Section
P.O. Box 327320
Montgomery, AL 36132-7320

Go to our website, www.revenue.alabama.gov. Click on Forms. Enter Business Privilege into the Search box. Sort the forms by Year by clicking on the box “Year” to find the needed Form. Click on the needed Form. Instructions, Forms with calculations, Printable Forms, and our Voucher (BPT-V) are located here.