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Nebraska Basic Business Taxes

Corporate Taxes & Incentives Guide
Corporate income tax
Imposed on corporations engaged in local or intrastate business. The tax rate is 5.58 percent for taxable income up to $100,000. The tax rate is 7.81 percent for taxable income above $100,000.

Corporate unitary tax
Affects multistate and multinational corporations and serves to reflect the relative degree of presence a business has in the state for state income tax purposes. To encourage investment in property and payroll within Nebraska's borders, the unitary tax formula considers sales only. As a result, businesses that have a significant property and payroll presence in Nebraska, as compared to sales attributed to Nebraska, experience a reduction in corporate income taxes.

Sales and use taxes
A 5.5 percent state sales tax is levied against gross receipts, installation, maintenance, and rentals of tangible personal property, certain utilities, admissions, and certain enumerated services. A 5.5 percent use tax is levied on the purchase, lease, or rental price of property. Municipalities may impose sales and use taxes of 0.5 to 2.0 percent. A city of the metropolitan class (i.e., Omaha) may not impose a local sales tax above 1.5%. A municipality other than a city of the metropolitan class may still impose a local sales tax of 1.75% or 2.0% if the rate increase is approved by at least 70% of the municipality’s governing board and by a vote of the voters residing in the municipality.

Under the Nebraska Advantage Act, a qualified business that creates 30 or more new jobs and invests at least $3 million in business facilities is eligible for a refund of all state and local sales taxes on most capital purchases. A qualified business that invests a lower amount, but still creates at least 10 new jobs and has at least $1 million in new investment, is eligible for a refund of one-half of state and local taxes on qualified property purchases.

Property tax
Unless expressly exempted, both tangible and real property are subject to taxation. All property is assessed at actual value. There is no state property tax. Tax rates vary among localities.

Under the Nebraska Redevelopment Act, communities can declare land outside their city limits as blighted (up to 10 miles away for the largest cities), and then, through tax increment financing, allow for the increased property taxes generated by the improvement of the blighted property to be used to pay for the redevelopment costs.

Business inventory
Exempt from all property taxation.

Goods in transit
Goods exported out of state, or delivered to a carrier for shipment out of state, are exempt from sales and use taxes.

Pollution-control equipment
Businesses installing certified pollution-control equipment are refunded sales and use taxes paid in connection with purchase and installation.

Industrial machinery and equipment
Railroad rolling stock, manufacturing and process equipment, barges, and common carrier vehicles are exempt from sales and use taxation.

Industrial fuels and raw materials
Energy sources, fuels, industrial water, ingredients, component parts, and containers are not subject to state sales tax.

Energy and fuel conservation measures
A credit against corporate tax is allowed for qualifying alternative energy systems.

State Contact: Dan Curran
Director, Business Development Division
Nebraska Department of Economic Development
Phone: 402-471-6513
Fax: 402-471-3778
dan.curran@nebraska.gov

Nebraska tax incentive programs are administered by the Nebraska Department of Revenue. Questions regarding Nebraska tax incentive programs, should be directed to Megan Ferris at megan.ferris@nebraska.gov 402-471-5687. Incentive and tax information is provided to Area Development by each state's economic development or commerce agency for information purposes only and is subject to revision at any time by the state government. Please contact the state agency directly for full requirements and offerings. This information was last updated October 2015.

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