Texas franchise bill passes House; on way to Senate

The Texas Franchise Tax legislation was included in Substitute House Bill 500, which recently passed the Texas State House. Currently, automotive service and collision repair shops owned and operated by new or used car dealerships are taxed at half the rate used to tax independent automotive repair facilities doing identical work. The Texas state tax code classifies dealership sales as “retail” and allows their service and repair business to be included under that banner.

The Texas Franchise Tax legislation, included in Substitute H.B. 500, states that “the activities classified as Industry Group 753 of the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification Manual published by the federal Office of Management and Budget fall under Retail Trade,” addressing the Texas inequity.

Charles Parker, AAM, ASA-Texas executive director, says: “We are not finished with our work on this issue, but we have come a long way and ASA wants to thank Rep. Allen Fletcher (TX-130) and Rep. Harvey Hilderbran (TX-53) who have worked hard to ensure that independent repairers are treated fairly in the state of Texas.”

ASA thanks Texas members for rallying around Substitute House Bill 500. To view this legislation in its entirety, visit ASA’s legislative website at www.TakingTheHill.com. ASA asks that Texas repairers continue to encourage their senators to support this legislation by going to www.TakingTheHill.com and sending a letter.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA’s legislative website at www.TakingTheHill.com.

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