Florida Statutes 617.0505 – Distributions; exceptions
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Terms Used In Florida Statutes 617.0505
- Articles of incorporation: includes original, amended, and restated articles of incorporation, articles of consolidation, and articles of merger, and all amendments thereto, including documents designated by the laws of this state as charters, and, in the case of a foreign corporation, documents equivalent to articles of incorporation in the jurisdiction of incorporation. See Florida Statutes 617.01401
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Distribution: means the payment of a dividend or any part of the income or profit of a corporation to its members, directors, or officers. See Florida Statutes 617.01401
- Member: means one having membership rights in a corporation in accordance with the provisions of its articles of incorporation or bylaws or the provisions of this chapter. See Florida Statutes 617.01401
- Mutual benefit corporation: means a domestic corporation that is not organized primarily or exclusively for religious purposes; is not recognized as exempt under…. See Florida Statutes 617.01401
Except as authorized in s. 617.1302, a corporation may not make distributions to its members, directors, or officers.
(1) A mutual benefit corporation, such as a private club that is established for social, pleasure, or recreational purposes and that is organized as a corporation of which the equity interests are held by the members, may, subject to s. 617.1302, purchase the equity membership interest of any member, and the payment for such interest is not a distribution for purposes of this section.
(2) A corporation may pay compensation in a reasonable amount to its members, directors, or officers for services rendered, may confer benefits upon its members in conformity with its purposes, and, upon dissolution or final liquidation, may make distributions to its members as permitted by this chapter.
(3) If expressly permitted by its articles of incorporation, a corporation may make distributions upon partial liquidation to its members, as permitted by this section. Any such payment, benefit, or distribution does not constitute a dividend or a distribution of income or profit for purposes of this section.
(4) A corporation that is a utility exempt from regulation under s. 367.022(7), whose articles of incorporation state that it is exempt from taxation under s. 501(c)(12) of the Internal Revenue Code, may make refunds to its members, prior to a dissolution or liquidation, as its managing board deems necessary to establish or preserve its tax-exempt status. Any such refund does not constitute a dividend or a distribution of income or profit for purposes of this section.
(5) A corporation that is regulated by chapter 718, chapter 719, chapter 720, chapter 721, or chapter 723, or a corporation where membership in such corporation is required pursuant to a document recorded in the county property records, may make refunds to its members, giving credits to its members, disbursing insurance proceeds to its members, or disbursing or paying settlements to its members without violating this section.