Subscribe
Close
  • Free for qualified executives and consultants to industry

  • Receive quarterly issues of Area Development Magazine and special market report and directory issues

Renew

Delaware Basic Business Taxes

Corporate Taxes & Incentives Guide
Corporate income tax:
An 8.7 percent direct tax is imposed on net income derived from business activities and property located in the state.

License and Use Taxes:
The state imposes no sales tax. Instead, a business license tax and a use tax on personal property leases are levied.
Cost to the business is a $75 license fee and a tax of 0.144 percent on the gross receipts for all goods manufactured in Delaware. In computing monthly receipts, the first $1 million is not subject to tax.
A wholesaler's license fee is $75 per year, plus a tax of 0.307 percent on the gross receipts of all goods sold within Delaware. In computing the monthly receipts, the first $50,000 is not subject to taxation.
Retailers must pay a $75 annual fee, plus an additional 0.576 percent tax on the gross receipts in excess of $80,000 per month.
Other license taxes specifically apply to restaurants and food processors.
A lease/use tax is 1.536 percent annually on equipment rentals, including automobiles (lessee rate remains at 1.92 percent), payable by the lessee. Property rental tax of 0.384 percent on gross rentals of commercial rental property must be paid by the lesser in addition to the $75 annual fee.

Property Tax:
Real estate is subject to county property taxes, school district property taxes, and, if located in an incorporated area, municipal property taxes. The state does not levy a tax on real property. Effective property tax rates per $100 market value range from $0.7799 to $1.6034 for New Castle County; $0.8133 to $1.4293 for Kent County; and $0.3827 to $0.9934 for Sussex County.

Retention and Expansion Tax Credits:
Corporate income tax credits and gross receipts tax reductions are available for those qualifying manufacturers and wholesalers expanding their asset base without expanding their employment. Such companies investing a minimum of $1 million or 15 percent of the unadjusted basis in the facility are eligible to receive 75 percent of blue-collar tax credits. Wages cannot fall below 85 percent of the total wages for the period 12 months prior to the opening of a new facility. The maximum annual credit cannot exceed $500,000. Gross receipts tax reductions are limited to a maximum total credit of $500,000 over the 10-year life.

Green Industries Tax Credits:
Waste reductions - Manufacturers who reduce their chemical waste reported under the Toxics Release Inventory by 20 percent or their other waste by 50 percent are granted a $400 corporate income tax credit for each 10 percent reduction. Credits will be provided over a five-year period.

Industry Credits:
Eligible firms include: (a) manufacturers whose production inputs are comprised of at least 25 percent recycled materials; (b) firms that engage in the processing of materials removed from Delaware's solid waste stream for resale as input to manufacturers; and (c) firms that collect and distribute recycled materials, and/or materials removed from Delaware's solid waste stream for the purpose of recycling. In addition, eligible firms must meet the investment and employment criteria listed under targeted industry tax incentives.

Qualifying firms receive a $400 corporate income tax credit, in addition to credits offered under the targeted industry tax incentives, per employee and per $100,000 investment. These firms also qualify for the 10-year gross receipts tax reductions.

Business Inventory:
There is no property tax on business inventories.

Goods in Transit:
Goods sold out of state by a wholesaler with no Delaware outlet are exempt from the tax on gross receipts.

Industrial Machinery and Equipment:
Industrial machinery and equipment are not taxed.

Research and Development Credit:
Delaware research and development credits provide for up to $5 million in Delaware research and development tax credits to all Delaware taxpayers for qualified research and development expenses in a taxable year. The credit is equal to (a) 10 percent of the excess of the taxpayer's total Delaware qualified research and development over its base amount, or (b) 50 percent of Delaware's apportioned share of the taxpayer's federal research and development tax credits, with modifications. In no year may the Delaware research and development tax credits exceed 50 percent of the taxpayer's qualified tax liability. Unused credits may be carried forward.

State of Delaware Contact:
Alan B. Levin
Cabinet Secretary
Delaware Economic Development Office
99 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 739-4271

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 November 2014.

Exclusive Research