After a long wait and much anticipation, the Florida Department of Revenue has finally used an Order of Emergency (#20-52-DOR-003) that provides certain relief and extended deadlines to some corporations. While many hoped DOR would provide relief similar to what was provided by the IRS, this new order does provide some relief, albeit limited.

Entities with a Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2019:

• Florida Corporate Income/Franchise return filing deadline is extended from May 1 until August 3, 2020.
• Florida Corporate Income/Franchise tax payment deadline is extended from May 1 until June 1, 2020.
• The deadline to submit a request for extension to time to file and make tentative payment is extended from May 1 until June 1, 2020.

Entities with a Fiscal Year Ending January 31, 2019:

• Florida Corporate Income/Franchise return filing deadline is extended from June 1 until August 3, 2020.
• Florida Corporate Income/Franchise tax payment deadline is unchanged and remains June 1.
• The deadline to submit a request for extension to time to file and make tentative payment is unchanged and remains June 1.

Entities with a Fiscal Year Ending February 29, 2019

• Florida Corporate Income/Franchise return filing deadline is extended from July 1 until August 3, 2020.
• Florida Corporate Income/Franchise tax payment deadline is unchanged and remains July 1.
• The deadline to submit a request for extension to time to file and make tentative payment is unchanged and remains July 1.

The DOR’s order also notes that payments submitted should be based on a “corporation’s best estimate of the amount of tax that would be due with the return”, though there is no mention of how underpayments may be addressed.