Establishing secure connection…Loading editor…Preparing document…

Tennessee Quarterly Franchise Excise Tax Declaration

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

Tennessee Department of Revenue
Quarterly Franchise, Excise Tax Declaration

Account No.:

Taxable Year

Due Date

Taxpayer Name and Mailing Address

Name:

Box (Street):

City:

State:   ZIP:

Reminders

1. Please read instructions on reverse side before preparing worksheet.

2. Use the prenumbered vouchers and envelopes provided by the Department of Revenue.

3. Enter the amount from Line 4 of the worksheet to the "Amount of Payment" field on the voucher.

4. If Line 4 of the worksheet is zero, please do not file the voucher.

Round to Nearest Dollar

1. Estimated Franchise, Excise tax liability

2. Less: Franchise, Excise Tax Credits and prior year overpayments

3. Net Estimated Franchise, Excise tax liability

4. Estimated payment (one fourth of Line 3)

Instructions

1. WHO MUST MAKE ESTIMATED TAX PAYMENTS: Taxpayers who expect a franchise, excise tax liability of $5,000 or more for the current tax year must file a declaration of their franchise, excise tax for the taxable year and make quarterly payments.

2. WHEN TO MAKE PAYMENTS: Quarterly payments of the estimated franchise, excise tax are to be made as follows:

1st payment - The 15th day of the 4th month of the current taxable year.

2nd payment - The 15th day of the 6th month of the current taxable year.

3rd payment - The 15th day of the 9th month of the current taxable year.

4th payment - The 15th day of the 1st month of the subsequent taxable year.

3. REQUIRED PAYMENT: The minimum amount of each quarterly payment shall be the lesser of: (a) 25% of the combined franchise, excise tax shown on the tax return for the preceding tax year, annualized if the preceding tax year was for less than twelve (12) months; or (b) 25% of 100% of the combined franchise, excise tax liability for the current tax year.

4. PENALTY AND INTEREST: Penalty at the rate of 5% per month, up to 25%, and interest at the current rate per annum are imposed upon any quarterly installment which is late or underpaid. Penalty and interest are computed from the due date of the installment to the date paid or until the fifteenth day of the fourth month following the close of the taxable year.

5. WHICH FORM TO USE: All franchise, excise tax payments must be accompanied by the Tennessee Estimated Franchise, Excise Tax Declaration form. If you received a preaddressed packet, please use the prenumbered vouchers and envelopes supplied with the packet. This will help expedite the processing of your estimated payments.

Record of Estimated Tax Payments

Due Date of Payment Date Paid Amount Paid
1.
2.
3.
4.
Total payments to be taken on completed return

Voucher Copy 1

Due Date:

FEIN/SSN:

Amount of Payment:

Voucher Copy 2

Due Date:

FEIN/SSN:

Amount of Payment:

Voucher Copy 3

Due Date:

FEIN/SSN:

Amount of Payment:

Voucher Copy 4

Due Date:

FEIN/SSN:

Amount of Payment:

Signature

Date

Enter text✕

What the Tennessee Quarterly Franchise Excise Tax Declaration Is

The Tennessee Quarterly Franchise Excise Tax Declaration is a state business tax reporting form used to report and remit franchise and excise tax liabilities for the quarter to the Tennessee Department of Revenue. It documents gross receipts, apportionment factors if applicable, and credits or payments applied against the tax. Corporations, LLCs taxed as corporations, and certain other business entities use the declaration to reconcile quarterly estimates and report tax due; the declaration supports the state’s assessment and audit trail for franchise and excise obligations.

Why This Quarterly Declaration Matters

Filing accurate quarterly declarations helps businesses meet state compliance, avoid late-payment penalties, and maintain correct payment schedules for franchise and excise taxes.

Why This Quarterly Declaration Matters

Who Typically Completes the Tennessee Quarterly Declaration

The declaration is completed by an authorized company representative, often a CFO, controller, or an external tax preparer with consent from the business.

  • In-house tax or finance teams preparing quarterly remittance and reconciliation.
  • External CPAs and tax firms filing on behalf of corporate or pass-through entities.
  • Business owners of small corporations or LLCs managing filing and payment responsibilities.

Ensure the signer is authorized to bind the business for tax purposes and that supporting books and schedules are available for review.

Core Elements Included on a Professional Declaration

A complete Tennessee Quarterly Franchise Excise Tax Declaration contains clear entity identifiers, tax period, gross receipts, apportionment details, computed tax, payments and credits, and an authorized signature. Proper layout and supporting schedules improve reviewability and reduce processing delays.

Entity Information

Business name, Tennessee account number, FEIN, and mailing address for precise identification and cross-reference with Department of Revenue records.

Reporting Period

Quarter start and end dates or quarter identifier (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) that determine the taxable period and align with state filing cycles.

Gross Receipts

Quarterly gross receipts reported per Tennessee rules; include applicable exclusions, adjustments, and backup calculations for auditability.

Apportionment

Apportionment factor(s) for multistate businesses, including numerator and denominator details for Tennessee sourcing calculations.

Tax Calculation

Computed franchise and excise tax amounts with applied credits, estimated payments, and balance due or overpayment clearly shown.

Signature Block

Authorized signer’s printed name, title, signature, and date; include preparer details if a third party completed the filing.

Required Information and Fields at a Glance

Business Name: Exactly as registered
FEIN: Nine-digit federal EIN
Tennessee Account: State account number
Reporting Quarter: Q1, Q2, Q3, or Q4
Gross Receipts: Quarter total
Authorized Signer: Name, title, date

Step-by-Step: Complete and Submit the Declaration

Follow these four steps in order to prepare, review, and submit the Tennessee Quarterly Franchise Excise Tax Declaration accurately and on time.

  • 01
    Gather records: Collect quarterly sales, receipts, and apportionment schedules.
  • 02
    Populate form: Enter entity data, receipts, apportionment, and compute tax owing.
  • 03
    Review: Verify totals, credits, estimated payments, and signer authority.
  • 04
    Submit: File electronically or by paper and remit any balance due.

How to Customize and File the Declaration Online

Configure your filing workflow to attach schedules, authorize preparers, and choose electronic payment options before submission.

Field Configuration
Preparer Access Grant limited access to external CPA firm
Attach Schedules Upload supporting spreadsheets or PDFs
Payment Method Select ACH debit or electronic check
Confirmation Enable email receipt and transaction ID

Where to File and How the Routing Works

Use the Tennessee Department of Revenue’s filing portal for electronic submission or the department’s paper filing address if you must file by mail.

  • Prepare: Complete declaration and attach schedules
  • Authenticate: Confirm signer authority and contact details
  • Transmit: Submit via Revenue Online or mail to the department
  • Confirm: Retain filing confirmation and payment receipt

Digital Signing and eSubmission Essentials

Keep audit trails and retain signed records to meet state and federal retention rules and to facilitate any department review or audit.

  • Accepted Standards: ESIGN and UETA compliant
  • Authentication: Email or multi-factor options
  • File Formats: PDF and common document types

Key Filing Deadlines and Quarterly Schedule

Quarterly franchise and excise tax declarations are due according to Tennessee Department of Revenue schedules; late filings can trigger interest and penalties.

Quarterly Due Dates:

Follow state calendar for quarter-end submission

Payment Deadline:

Payment is due with the declaration

Annual Reconciliation:

Complete year-end reconciliation per department instructions

Extension Requests:

State extension rules vary; verify with Department of Revenue

Late Filing Interest:

Interest accrues from the original due date

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using an incorrect FEIN or Tennessee account number that prevents the Department of Revenue from matching the payment to the correct taxpayer account.
  • Failing to apply the correct apportionment factor for multistate activity, which can materially misstate taxable receipts and result in audit adjustments.
  • Neglecting to attach required supporting schedules or explanations for credits and adjustments, causing processing delays or rejection.
  • Submitting paper payment without specifying the declaration period or including the required payment voucher, leading to misapplied funds.

Penalties and Administrative Risks for Incorrect Filings

Late Filing: Interest and state penalties apply; amount depends on days late
Underpayment: State may assess underpayment penalties and interest
Incorrect TIN: Backup withholding or adjustment risks
Missing Schedules: Rejection or administrative inquiry
Intentional Misstatement: Civil penalties or criminal referral in severe cases
Audit Exposure: Increased likelihood of state audit and adjustments

eSignature Vendor Pricing Snapshot for Filing Workflows

Selected vendor pricing and capability indicators for eSignature platforms commonly used to sign and submit tax declarations; signNow is listed first per comparison rules.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies Varies Varies Varies
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies Varies Varies

Frequently Asked Questions About the Tennessee Quarterly Declaration

Answers to common questions about who should sign, acceptable electronic signatures, deadlines, and what to do if you discover an error after filing.


Need help? Contact support

be ready to get more
Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users