Source: https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=34&pt=1&ch=3&rl=340
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 16:23:35+00:00

Document:
(1) Combined group--Taxable entities that are part of an affiliated group engaged in a unitary business and that are required to file a combined group report under Tax Code, §171.1014.
(A) A combined group may not include a taxable entity that conducts business outside the United States if 80% or more of the taxable entity's property and payroll are assigned to locations outside the United States. If either the property factor or payroll factor is zero, the denominator is one. For example, if Corporation Z has no property, but does have payroll located entirely outside the United States, Corporation Z will not be included in the combined group. The combined group may not include a taxable entity that conducts business outside the United States and has no property or payroll if 80% or more of the taxable entity's gross receipts are assigned to locations outside the United States. See Tax Code, §171.1014.
(B) A combined group may not include an exempt entity.
(C) A combined group must include eligible entities even if those entities do not have nexus as described in §3.586 of this title (relating to Margin: Nexus).
(D) Eligible pass-through entities including partnerships, limited liability companies taxed as partnerships under federal law, limited liability companies that are disregarded under federal law and S corporations are included in a combined group.
(E) Passive entities are not included in the combined group; however, the pro rata share of net income from a passive entity shall be included in total revenue to the extent it was not generated by the margin of another taxable entity.
(2) Directly used in qualified research--Having an immediate use in qualified research activity, without an intervening or ancillary use.
(3) Franchise tax research and development activities credit--A credit against franchise tax for qualified research activities that is allowed under Tax Code, Chapter 171, Subchapter M (Tax Credit for Certain Research and Development Activities).
(4) Internal Revenue Code--The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in effect on December 31, 2011, excluding any changes made by federal law after that date, but including any regulations adopted under the code applicable to the tax year to which the provisions of the code in effect on that date applied.
(5) Qualified research--This term has the meaning given in Internal Revenue Code, §41.
(A) Qualified research means research undertaken for discovering information that is technological in nature, and its application must be intended for use in developing a new or improved business component of the person undertaking the research. Substantially all of the activities of the research must be elements of a process of experimentation relating to a new or improved function, performance, reliability, or quality.
(ix) research funded by another person or governmental entity.
(6) Registrant--A person who holds a Texas Qualified Research Registration Number issued by the comptroller.
(7) Registration number--The Texas Qualified Research Registration Number issued by the comptroller to a person who submits the Texas Registration for Qualified Research and Development Sales Tax Exemption form.
(8) Taxable entity--This term has the meaning given by Tax Code, §171.0002 (Definition of Taxable Entity).
(b) Depreciable tangible personal property used in qualified research.
(D) is directly used in qualified research. Depreciable tangible personal property is directly used in qualified research if it is used in the actual performance of activities that are part of the qualified research. For example, machinery, equipment, computers, software, tools, laboratory furniture such as desks, laboratory tables, stools, benches, and storage cabinets, and other tangible personal property used by personnel in the process of experimentation are directly used in qualified research. Tangible personal property is not directly used in qualified research if it is used in ancillary or support activities such as administration, maintenance, marketing, distribution, or transportation activities, or if it is used in activities excluded from qualified research. For example, machinery and equipment used by administrative, accounting, or clerical personnel are not directly used in qualified research.
(2) A person may not claim the exemption if that person will, as a taxable entity or as a member of a combined group, claim a franchise tax research and development activities credit on a franchise tax report based on the accounting period during which the depreciable tangible personal property used in qualified research would first be subject to Texas sales or use tax.
(3) A claim for a carryforward of an unused franchise tax research and development activities credit under Tax Code, §171.659 does not affect a person's ability, as a taxable entity or as a member of a combined group, to claim the sales and use tax exemption provided by paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(c) Texas Qualified Research and Development Exemption Registration. In order to claim an exemption under this section, a person must first register with the comptroller and obtain a registration number.
(1) Registration procedure. To obtain a registration number, a person must complete Form AP-234, Texas Registration for Qualified Research and Development Sales Tax Exemption, its electronic equivalent, or any form promulgated by the comptroller that succeeds such form.
(A) The person requesting the registration number must certify that it will not, as a taxable entity or as a member of a combined group, claim a franchise tax research and development activities credit on a franchise tax report based on an accounting period during which it claims an exemption under subsection (b) of this section.
(B) The person requesting the registration number must provide all data and information required by the comptroller to administer the exemption and comply with Tax Code, §151.3182(c).
(2) Retroactive registration. A person may request that a registration number be given retroactive effect.
(A) A person may request that a registration number have retroactive effect by submitting a registration as required under paragraph (1) of this subsection and by completing an annual information report, described in paragraph (3) of this subsection, for each prior year for which the registration number is to be effective.
(B) The registration number may be made retroactive to the later of January 1, 2014, or a date requested by a registrant that is no more than four years prior to the date the registration is received, if the date requested is not within an accounting period during which the registrant, as a taxable entity or as a member of a combined group, claimed the franchise tax research and development activities credit.
(C) A registrant who is issued a retroactive registration number may file a claim for refund of Texas sales and use tax paid on purchases made on or after the later of January 1, 2014, or the effective date of the registration number, that qualify for exemption under subsection (b) of this section, in accordance with the requirements of §3.325 of this title (relating to Refunds and Payments Under Protest).
(D) A claim for a carryforward of an unused franchise tax research and development activities credit under Tax Code, §171.659 does not affect a person's ability, as a taxable entity or as a member of a combined group, to request a retroactive registration.
(3) Annual information report. A registrant must submit an annual information report for each calendar year its registration number is effective, irrespective of the date on which the original registration occurred.
(A) The registrant must provide all data and information required by the comptroller to administer the exemption and comply with Tax Code, §151.3182(c).
(B) The annual information report must be submitted electronically unless the comptroller issues a waiver. A registrant who cannot comply with this requirement due to hardship, impracticality, or other valid reason must submit a written request to the comptroller for a waiver of the requirement.
(C) The due date for the annual information report for the preceding calendar year is March 31. If March 31 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, the due date is the next business day.
(i) An annual information report filed electronically must be completed and submitted by 11:59 p.m. central time on the due date to be considered timely.
(ii) Reports submitted on paper must be postmarked on or before the due date to be considered timely.
(D) A registrant who fails to timely file an annual information report for its registration number will be given written notice of the failure to file. If an annual information report is not submitted within 60 days of the date of the notice of failure to file, the registration number will be cancelled by the comptroller in accordance with paragraph (5) of this subsection.
(4) Direct payment permit holders. A direct payment permit holder must obtain a registration number as required by paragraph (1) of this subsection in order to claim an exemption under this section. A direct payment permit holder with a registration number must file an annual information report for each year the number is effective as required by paragraph (3) of this subsection.
(5) Cancellation of registration number by the comptroller. The comptroller will cancel the registration number of a registrant who fails to comply with the provisions of this section. For example, the comptroller will cancel the registration number of a registrant who fails to file an annual information report or who claims the franchise tax research and development activities credit without first cancelling its registration number, as required by paragraph (8) of this subsection. The comptroller shall give written notice of the cancellation to the registrant. The notice may be personally served on the registrant or sent by regular mail to the registrant's address as shown in the comptroller's records. The former registrant may not claim an exemption under this section during the period when the registration number is cancelled. A former registrant that purchases an item under a cancelled registration number may be subject to a criminal penalty under Tax Code, §151.707 and §3.287(d)(3) of this title (relating to Exemption Certificates).
(6) Effective date of cancellation. A registrant whose registration number is cancelled by the comptroller is responsible for remitting Texas sales and use tax, and penalty and interest from the date of purchase, on any items purchased tax-free pursuant to Tax Code, §151.3182 on or after the effective date of cancellation. In the case of a registrant whose registration number is cancelled because the registrant, as a taxable entity or as a member of a combined group, claimed the franchise tax research and development activities credit, the effective date of cancellation is the beginning date of the accounting period covered by the franchise tax report on which the credit was claimed.
(7) Reinstatement following cancellation. A former registrant who has had its registration number cancelled by the comptroller may submit a request in writing to have the registration number reinstated.
(A) A former registrant whose registration number has been cancelled may request reinstatement of the number be given retroactive effect. The registrant must file an annual information report for each prior year for which the registration number is to be effective.
(B) A registration number will not be reinstated for periods during which the former registrant is not eligible for the exemption under this section.

References: §171
 §171
 §3
 §41
 §171
 §171
 §151
 §3
 §171
 §151
 §151
 §3
 §151