California Form 587 PDF Details

The California Form 587, officially titled the Nonresident Withholding Allocation Worksheet, determines how withholding tax is applied to nonresidents who earn income from California sources. Withholding agents must collect a completed Form 587 from each nonresident payee before making payment, and the form stays valid unless a material change in circumstances occurs.

Who Must Complete California Form 587

Any nonresident payee who receives California-source income from a withholding agent must complete Form 587. This includes individuals who reside outside California, as well as corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), estates, and trusts that are not formed under California law or do not maintain a permanent place of business in California. The payee completes the form and returns it to the withholding agent before the first payment is issued.

When California Withholding Is Required

California requires withholding on payments to nonresidents when total California-source income exceeds $1,500 in a calendar year. The standard withholding rate is 7% for individuals and partnerships, and 8.84% for corporations. S corporations are subject to a 13.8% withholding rate. These rates apply to income such as wages, rent, royalties, prizes, and other California-source payments that do not already have taxes withheld through another mechanism.

How Income Is Allocated on Form 587

Form 587 requires payees to allocate income between California-source and non-California-source amounts. For services performed partly in California and partly outside, the payee identifies what portion of payments relates to California activity. The withholding agent applies the tax rate only to the California-allocated portion of the payment, which is especially useful when a nonresident performs services across multiple states. Accurate allocation protects both the payee and the withholding agent from penalties under the California Revenue and Taxation Code.

Withholding Waivers and Exemptions

Payees who qualify for a reduced withholding rate or a withholding waiver may request one through the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB). Common grounds for a waiver include prior-year net operating losses in California or participation in a registered California business. An approved waiver allows the withholding agent to reduce or eliminate withholding on qualifying payments. Withholding agents must keep completed Forms 587 in their records for at least five years after the end of the calendar year in which the withholding was paid.

QuestionAnswer
Form NameCalifornia Form 587
Official TitleNonresident Withholding Allocation Worksheet
Issued ByCalifornia Franchise Tax Board (FTB)
PurposeAllocate California-source income for nonresident withholding tax
Withholding Rate7% (individuals), 8.84% (corporations), 13.8% (S corps)
Withholding ThresholdCalifornia-source payments exceeding $1,500 per calendar year
Form Length3 pages
Fillable?No
Fillable fields0
Avg. time to fill out45 sec
Other namesca 587 form, california 587, ca form 587 fillable, california form 587 2019

How to Edit California Form 587 Online for Free

Who Needs to Complete California Form 587

California Form 587 is completed by nonresident payees before receiving California-source income from a withholding agent. If you are an individual, corporation, LLC, partnership, estate, or trust earning income from California but without a permanent California business location, your withholding agent will request this form. Return the signed form to your withholding agent before the first payment is made. The withholding agent keeps the form on file for at least five years to comply with California tax law.

How to Fill Out California Form 587 Online

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This document requires specific details. To ensure accuracy and reliability, remember to take note of the guidelines below:

1. It is crucial to complete the ca form 587 fillable accurately, hence be careful when filling out the parts that contain these blank fields:

Step 1 in completing California Form 587

2. Once your current task is complete, take the next step and fill out all of these fields - Nonresident payee Check one, Services withholding required, Goods/materials no withholding, Add column a line through line, b Outside California, a Within California, c Total payments, Withholding threshold amount, Withholding is optional at the, Certification of Payee, Authorized representatives, Payees signature, Title, Date, and Daytime telephone number with their corresponding information. Make sure to double check that everything has been entered correctly before continuing!

Authorized representatives and Title fields inside California Form 587

You can potentially make errors when filling out your Authorized representatives field, so make sure to reread it before you finalize the form.

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Key Fields on California Form 587

Form 587 is divided into four main parts: income allocation for services, income allocation for goods and materials, withholding calculation, and payee certification. In the income allocation part, you break down each payment type and identify how much relates to California versus non-California activity. The withholding calculation section uses your allocation to determine the required tax amount. Finally, the payee or an authorized representative signs the certification, confirming the accuracy of all information provided to the withholding agent.

Common Mistakes to Avoid on Form 587

One of the most frequent errors on California Form 587 is failing to separate California-source income from non-California income. Another common mistake is applying the wrong withholding rate. Individuals and partnerships should use the 7% rate, while corporations use 8.84%. S corporations are subject to the higher 13.8% rate. Always verify that the correct entity type and rate are entered before submitting the form to your California withholding agent.

Frequently Asked Questions About California Form 587

What is the purpose of California Form 587?

California Form 587 is used to allocate a nonresident payee's income between California and non-California sources so the withholding agent applies the correct tax withholding rate to only the California-source portion of the payment.

Who is a withholding agent?

A withholding agent is any person or entity that pays California-source income to a nonresident payee. Withholding agents include businesses, government agencies, and individuals who make such payments. They are responsible for obtaining Form 587 and remitting the required withholding tax to the California Franchise Tax Board.

How long does a withholding agent keep Form 587?

California withholding agents must keep completed Forms 587 for a minimum of five years after the end of the calendar year in which the withholding was paid. This record retention requirement supports compliance with California tax law and allows for audit verification.

Can nonresidents get a waiver from California withholding?

Yes. Nonresident payees who believe withholding should not apply may request a withholding waiver from the California FTB. Qualifying grounds include prior-year California net operating losses or active participation in a registered California business. The approved waiver allows the withholding agent to reduce or eliminate withholding on eligible payments.

Related California Tax and Withholding Forms

If you work with California nonresident withholding, you may also need the California Form 590-P (Withholding Exemption Certificate), the California Form 592-B (Nonresident Withholding Tax Statement), or the Income Withholding Form. These documents work alongside California Form 587 to ensure accurate tax withholding and reporting for all nonresident payees receiving California-source income.