The FP-32 District of Columbia Railroad Tangible Personal Property Tax Instructions are issued by the DC Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) for railroad companies and for parlor-car and sleeping-car companies that report this tax. FP-32 is one of the DC property tax filings OTR administers, and the document includes Schedules A to E and the tax worksheet. On this page you can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. The return itself is filed and paid electronically on MyTax.DC.gov.
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What is FP-32?
The FP-32 District of Columbia Railroad Tangible Personal Property Tax Instructions are the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) document that explains how railroad companies and parlor-car and sleeping-car companies report and pay the railroad tangible personal property tax, with Schedules A to E.
OTR is part of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer of the Government of the District of Columbia. The document states that it provides instructions only and that the return must be filed and paid electronically. It also carries the schedules and the worksheet that match the return:
- Schedule A: supplies as of June 30.
- Schedule B: depreciation schedule, used to establish book value for Line 2 and Line 5 items.
- Schedule C: equipment primarily located in the District of Columbia (Line 3).
- Schedule D: migratory railroad cars and engines, owned or leased (Line 4).
- Schedule E: disposition of assets reported on the prior year return.
- Railroad Tangible Personal Property Tax Worksheet: the line-by-line computation of value, exclusion, taxable value and tax due.
The filing requirement rests on DC Code § 47-1512(d), which applies the District's personal property tax rules on returns, assessment, payment and collection to these companies. For items 3 and 4 of the worksheet, the instructions say the provisions of DC Code § 47-1512 must be strictly observed. The tax is payable in full at the time the return is due.
Who needs to file FP-32?
The main filers are railroad companies. Every railroad company operating rolling stock over or upon the lines of any railroad or terminal company in the District of Columbia must file Form FP-32.
The instructions name a second group: every parlor-car company and sleeping-car company that owns parlor and sleeping cars operated in the District over or upon the tracks of any railroad or terminal company.
Other points that affect who files and how:
- Taxpayer Identification Number. You must have a TIN, either a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Apply for it before completing the return. Paid tax preparers use their PTIN on returns.
- New businesses. OTR no longer registers businesses for personal property tax automatically when an FP-32 return is filed. New entities starting operations in the District must register on MyTax.DC.gov with Form FR-500.
- Ending operations. A filer that is no longer required to file because business operations ended selects the "final return" option, and OTR then cancels the filing requirement.
When to file FP-32
The tax due date is the 31st day of July. If that date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the return and any payment are due the next business day. The worksheet covers the tax year beginning July 1 and ending June 30, and supplies on Schedule A are reported as of June 30 preceding the July in which the return is due.
Returns or payments not received by the due date accrue penalties and interest as District law requires. Form FP-132A, Extension of Time to File a Railroad Tangible Personal Property Tax Return, is listed in the instructions among the other forms a railroad filer may need.
If your business operations end and you no longer have to file, select the "final return" option on MyTax.DC.gov so that OTR cancels your filing requirement. To change a return already filed, amend it online as described under How to submit.
Documents you need
- Applicable FP-32 schedule(s), Schedule A, B, C, D or E, attached to the return when you file; the instructions say you must complete and attach the ones that apply.
- A separate schedule listing the full and true value with a full explanation, if the July 1 book value (Line 2) or the adjusted depreciated cost (Line 4) is not the full and true value of the property.
- An explanation of Line 5 items (other tangible personal property), given in Schedule B or on a separate schedule.
- A Taxpayer Identification Number: an FEIN issued by the IRS (apply with Form SS-4) or, for paid preparers, a PTIN; you need it before completing the return.
How to fill out FP-32
Enter the tax year and period
Enter the tax year at the top of each schedule and the worksheet. The worksheet covers the tax year beginning July 1 and ending June 30; fill in both years.
Complete Schedule A for supplies
List each kind of supply (fuel, repair and replacement parts, packing materials, office stationery, advertising material, salesbooks, postage and revenue stamps and similar items) as of June 30. Enter the date of inventory, the basis if other than physical inventory, the cost and the total.
Complete Schedule B depreciation
For furniture, machinery, equipment, instruments, tools, signs and Line 5 property, enter the kind of property, date acquired, cost or other basis, cost of assets fully depreciated, depreciation claimed in prior years, rate used and book value as of July 1st. Property depreciated in excess of 75% is reported at 25% of the cost of fully depreciated assets.
Complete Schedule C for D.C. equipment
For railroad cars and engines primarily located in the District of Columbia, list each class of equipment with its original cost, depreciated cost 12/31 and adjusted depreciated cost 12/31, then the total. The total feeds Line 3.
Complete Schedule D for migratory equipment
For migratory railroad cars and engines, owned or leased, enter the class of equipment, original cost, depreciated cost and adjusted depreciated cost at 12/31, then D.C. miles, total miles, the percentage and the taxable portion of adjusted depreciated cost. The result feeds Line 4.
Complete Schedule E for dispositions
List assets reported on the prior year return that were disposed of: kind of property, date acquired, cost or other basis, date and method of disposition, and for sales the purchaser's name and address and the sales price.
Carry schedule totals to Lines 1-5
Enter supplies on Line 1 (Schedule A), furniture, machinery, instruments, tools and signs on Line 2 (Schedule B), Line 3 (Schedule C), Line 4 (Schedule D) and other tangible personal property on Line 5, explained in Schedule B or a separate schedule.
Figure value, taxable value and tax due
Line 6 is the total of Lines 1-5. Line 7 subtracts the exclusion printed on the form, Line 8 is the taxable value, Line 9 applies the tax rate printed on the form, and Line 10 is the tax due.
Add penalty, interest and total
On the printed worksheet, Line 11 is penalty, Line 12 is interest and Line 13 is the total of tax, penalty and interest. The instructions' line definitions describe Line 11 on the online printable view as supplemental information, disposition of assets from Schedule E.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check each schedule and worksheet line against your books, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. File and pay on MyTax.DC.gov as described under How to submit.
How to submit FP-32
The return is filed and paid electronically on MyTax.DC.gov. As of January 1, 2019 there is no paper filing or payment option, and you must be logged in to your MyTax.DC.gov account to file and pay.
- Filing: Submit the return on MyTax.DC.gov with the applicable FP-32 schedule(s) attached. Your username is your electronic signature. After submitting, you can print the return.
- Payment by ACH debit: Available to taxpayers signed up for MyTax.DC.gov, with no fee. Bank details are stored in the online account. Allow 1-3 business days if you change banking information. Foreign bank accounts cannot be used for business ACH debit, and International ACH Transactions are not supported.
- Payment by card: Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. A fee is charged and paid directly to the District's card service provider.
- Amending: In your railroad tangible personal property account, go to the period, select "View or Amend Return," then "Amend."
- Dishonored payments: A fee applies if your electronic payment is not honored by your bank; ask OTR for the amount.
Help: call OTR Customer Service Administration at (202) 727-4TAX(4829), email [email protected], or visit the Walk-In Center at 1101 4th Street, SW, Suite W270, Washington, DC 20024, Monday through Friday, 9:00am–4:00pm. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Trying to file or pay on paper; since January 1, 2019 the return must be filed and paid electronically on MyTax.DC.gov.
- Submitting the return without the applicable FP-32 schedule(s), which must be completed and attached.
- Using a business or trade name different from the one used when registering with OTR, which causes delays in processing returns and payments.
- Assuming OTR registers the business when the FP-32 is filed; new entities must register on MyTax.DC.gov with Form FR-500.
- Reporting supplies as of a date other than June 30 preceding the July in which the return is due.
- Reporting property depreciated in excess of 75% at a value other than 25% of cost, or depreciating qualified technological equipment below 10% of original cost, without attaching a full and true value schedule.
- Paying by a foreign bank account for business ACH debit, or sending an International ACH Transaction; the District does not support either.
- Changing bank information and paying the same day; the instructions say to allow 1-3 business days.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form FP-32 in DC?
Form FP-32 is the District of Columbia Railroad Tangible Personal Property Tax return, and this document holds its instructions, Schedules A to E and the worksheet. It is issued by the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) and is used to report and pay the tax on railroad tangible personal property.
Who must file Form FP-32?
Every railroad company operating rolling stock over the lines of any railroad or terminal company in the District of Columbia, and every parlor-car and sleeping-car company owning cars operated in the District over a railroad or terminal company's tracks, must file Form FP-32.
When is the DC railroad personal property tax due?
The tax due date is the 31st day of July. If it falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the return and payment are due the next business day. Late returns or payments accrue penalties and interest as District law requires.
Can I mail Form FP-32 to OTR?
No. The return must be filed and paid electronically; as of January 1, 2019 there is no paper filing or payment option. Log in to your MyTax.DC.gov account to file and pay, then print the return after you submit it.
How do I pay the railroad tangible personal property tax?
Pay on MyTax.DC.gov by ACH debit, which has no fee, or by Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express, which carries a fee paid to the District's card service provider. The tax is payable in full when the return is due.
How do I amend a filed FP-32 return?
Log in to MyTax.DC.gov, open your railroad tangible personal property account, go to the period of the return, select "View or Amend Return," then select "Amend" at the top of the screen to key in the changes.
What if I stop operating in DC?
Select the "final return" option when you file. OTR will then cancel your filing requirement. This applies if you are no longer required to file because your business operations have ended.
Which other forms might a railroad filer need?
The instructions list Form FP-132A (extension of time to file), the Corporation Franchise Tax Return (D-20) and the Employer/Payor Withholding Tax Quarterly Return (FR-900Q). New entities must also register with Form FR-500 on MyTax.DC.gov.
Can I fill out Form FP-32 online on FillingPDF?
You can fill out the FP-32 PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of OTR and does not file or pay the return; you file and pay on MyTax.DC.gov.
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