What is the Alabama Business MeF Program?

The Alabama Department of Revenue is participating in the Fed/State e–file project for the electronic filing of business privilege, fiduciary, corporate and partnership income returns. This project is a joint effort of the IRS, numerous states, software vendors and other private businesses who have joined together under the umbrella of the Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA). Returns for the IRS and participating states can be transmitted to a single point (the IRS). The IRS will forward the Alabama returns to Alabama for processing. Alabama will return acknowledgements back to the IRS, where they can be picked up by transmitters.

Corporate Income Tax:

• Form 20C – Alabama Corporation Income Tax Return
• Form 20CC – Alabama Consolidated Corporate Income Tax Return

Financial Institution Excise Tax:

• Form ET1 – Alabama Financial Institution Excise Tax Return

Business Privilege Tax:

• Form CPT – Alabama Business Privilege Tax Return and Annual Report (For C–Corporations)
• Form PPT – Alabama Business Privilege Tax Return and Annual Report (For Pass–Thru Entities)

Pass Through Entity:

• Form 20S– Alabama S Corporation Information/Tax Return
• Form 65– Partnership/Limited Liability Company Return of Income
• Form PTEC – Subchapter K Entities/S Corporations Nonresident Composite Payment Return

Fiduciary

• Form 41 – Fiduciary Income Tax Return

Documents

Please visit the Software Developers page for information on how to obtain Business MeF (20C, 20CC, 20S, 65, 41, PTEC, CPT and PPT) schemas, business rules, handbooks and tests for software vendors.

• TY 2023 Business MeF (Corporate/Partnership/Business Privilege/Fiduciary) Error Reject Codes and ERO Handbook
• TY 2022 Business MeF (Corporate/Partnership/Business Privilege/Fiduciary) Error Reject Codes and ERO Handbook
• TY 2021 Business MeF (Corporate/Partnership/Business Privilege/Fiduciary) Error Reject Codes and ERO Handbook
• TY 2020 Business MeF (Corporate/Partnership/Business Privilege/Fiduciary) Error Reject Codes and ERO Handbook
• TY 2019 Business MeF (Corporate/Partnership/Business Privilege/Fiduciary) Error Reject Codes and ERO Handbook

MeF Status

• Modernized e–File (MeF) Status
• Individual MeF-Individual Income Tax (40 and 40NR) Current System Status
  • Modernized e-file Production System: Operational
  • Assurance Testing System (ATS): Operational
• Business MeF-Corporate Income Tax (20C and 20CC), Business Privilege Tax (PPT and CPT), Pass Through Entity Taxes (20S, 65, PTEC), and Fiduciary (41) Current System Status
  • Modernized e-file Production System Tax Year 2016-2020: Operational
  • Assurance Testing System (ATS) Tax Year 2016-2020: Operational

Tips and Other Information

Electronic Payments Requirement – Corporations/Partnerships electing to electronically file must also pay the tax liability due with the return electronically through Direct Debit, EFT-Electronic Funds Transfer (two methods – EFT Debit, EFT Credit) or credit card. No paper checks will be accepted for electronically filed returns. Penalties and interest will be assessed as applicable.