Accumulated Earnings Tax Computation

This template calculates the accumulated earnings tax.  The accumulated earnings tax (AET) is a penalty tax imposed on corporations for unreasonably accumulating earnings in the corporation. The tax is assessed at the highest individual tax rate on the corporation’s accumulated income and is in addition to the regular corporate income tax. The tax is assessed by the IRS, rather than self-assessed by the taxpayer.

If the input worksheet is completed, a journal entry is also generated to record the tax liability.  

Entering Information

All of the information needed to produce the computation is entered on the Input worksheet.  The yellow highlighted cells are calculated fields, and no data should be entered in these cells.  Gray cells are not calculated fields, but data should not be entered in these cells.

Enter the following information:

- Section 243 dividends received deduction

- Section 244 deduction for dividends received on certain preferred stock

- Section 245 deduction for dividends received from certain foreign corporations

- Section 247 deduction for dividends paid on certain preferred stock of public utilities

- Section 561(a)(1) dividends paid during the tax year, not including dividends paid during the first 2½ months of the tax year that are considered Section 563 dividends for the prior year

- Section 565 consent dividends

- Section 563 dividends paid within the 2½ months after the close of the tax year

- Working capital requirement

- Other reasonable needs