State & Local
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May 14, 2024
Tax Pact Council OKs Nexus, Registration Advice For States
A Streamlined Sales Tax Board council on Tuesday approved a recommendation for states to provide remote sellers with at least 30 days to begin collecting sales tax after crossing economic nexus thresholds, and to use gross sales to calculate those thresholds.
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May 14, 2024
Texas Justices Leave Cities' Franchise-Fee Suit Tossed
The Texas Supreme Court has refused to vacate a lower appeals court's order that allowed Hulu, Disney and Netflix to escape a lawsuit from 31 municipalities claiming the streaming platforms are required to pay 5% state franchise fees, holding that the municipalities have other remedies available.
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May 14, 2024
Ore. Tax Court Says ABC Affiliates Must Apportion Separately
The apportionment of corporate tax to Oregon by ABC must be made for each of its affiliates, not for the taxpayers as a group, the state's tax court said Tuesday, agreeing with the entertainment giant.
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May 14, 2024
Va. Gov. Signs Budget With No Tax Changes
Virginia will not expand its sales tax base to include digital products, and it will not change current tax policy in any way, under a two-year budget signed by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
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May 14, 2024
NJ Total Revenues Through April Down $709M
New Jersey general revenue collection from July through April dipped $709 million compared with the same period last year, the state Department of the Treasury reported Tuesday.
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May 14, 2024
Colo. Lawmakers OK Sales Tax Exemption For Modular Homes
New modular homes would be exempt from Colorado's sales and use taxes, saving taxpayers about $1 million annually, under legislation passed by lawmakers and heading to Gov. Jared Polis.
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May 14, 2024
Okla. To Give Rebates To Pro Sports Teams That Create Jobs
Oklahoma will provide rebate payments to offset payroll costs incurred by qualifying professional sports teams that create jobs in the state under a bill signed by the governor.
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May 14, 2024
NJ Tax Court Nixes Condo Owners' Exemption Claims
A New Jersey condominium building is not eligible for a five-year property tax exemption because the developer and owners did not enter into a tax agreement with the city prior to the units being built, the state Tax Court ruled.
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May 14, 2024
Okla. Prohibits Additional Tax On Cryptocurrency Payments
Oklahoma will prevent state and local governments from levying additional tax on payments using digital assets, such as cryptocurrencies, as part of a bill signed by the governor.
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May 14, 2024
La. April Revenue Beats Previous Year By $120M
Louisiana's total revenue in April was $120 million higher than the same month last year, according to a report by the state Department of Revenue.
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May 14, 2024
Minn. Total Revenue In April $16M Ahead Of Forecasts
Minnesota's total revenue in April beat budget estimates by $16 million, according to a report by the state Department of Management and Budget.
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May 14, 2024
Ga. General Fund Receipts Through April Down $341M
Georgia's general fund receipts from July through April dropped $341 million from the same period last year, according to the state's Department of Revenue.
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May 14, 2024
Ex-Whiteford Taylor Business Co-Chair Joins Baker Donelson
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC has welcomed a new shareholder who spent more than a decade with the Internal Revenue Service and previously co-chaired Whiteford Taylor & Preston LLP's business department, the firm announced on Monday.
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May 13, 2024
Corp. Transparency Act An Overbroad Dragnet, 11th Circ. Told
Congress exceeded its authority in passing the Corporate Transparency Act, which prompted the U.S. Treasury Department to solicit personal information for law enforcement purposes from those that registered and owned state-registered entities, a small-business group told the Eleventh Circuit on Monday.
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May 13, 2024
Alaska House Passes Bill To Levy 7% Marijuana Retail Tax
Alaska would update its marijuana tax regime by levying a 7% tax on sales and phasing out the current $50 per ounce excise tax as part of a bill passed by the state House of Representatives.
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May 13, 2024
NY Appeals Court Upholds Fuel Distributor's Tax Bill
A fuel distributor isn't entitled to a refund of New York taxes paid on 13.8 million gallons of fuel delivered to Citgo because the distributor failed to prove the taxes were paid twice, a state appeals court ruled.
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May 13, 2024
Colo. Lawmakers OK Agricultural Stewardship Tax Credits
Colorado farms and ranches using certain agricultural stewardship practices would be eligible for tax credits of up to $300,000 under a bill approved by state lawmakers and headed to Democratic Gov. Jared Polis.
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May 13, 2024
Okla. To Allow 1% Local Sales Tax For Medical Service Funds
Oklahoma counties will be able to levy a sales tax of up to 1% to fund emergency medical services with voter approval under a bill signed by the governor.
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May 13, 2024
Mass. Tax Board Rejects Plea To Cut Home Valuation
A Massachusetts homeowner's argument that his property was overvalued because its assessment increased by a higher percentage than those of neighboring properties was rejected by the state's tax appeals board in a decision released Monday.
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May 13, 2024
Ohio Revenue Through April $1.1B Under Projection
Ohio general revenue collection from July through April trailed budget estimates by $1.1 billion, according to a monthly report by the state Office of Budget and Management.
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May 13, 2024
Calif. Total Receipts Through April Drop $4.8B From Estimates
California's total receipts from July through April sank $4.8 billion from the governor's 2024-2025 budget, according to a monthly report by the state controller.
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May 13, 2024
Ind. General Revenues Beat Budget Estimates By $23M
Indiana's total general fund revenues in July through April were roughly $23 million higher than budget forecasts, according to a report by the State Budget Agency.
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May 13, 2024
NY Bill Seeks Property Tax Break For Upgrades To Cut Carbon
New York would create a property tax exemption for capital improvements made to residential property for the purpose of reducing carbon emissions under a bill introduced in the state Assembly.
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May 13, 2024
Ky. General Revenue Collection Up $461M From Last Year
Kentucky general revenue collection from July through April grew $461 million from the last fiscal year, according to a monthly report from the Office of State Budget Director.
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May 13, 2024
NJ Panel Seeks Oral Healthcare Product Tax Break In Compact
A New Jersey Assembly committee advanced a resolution Monday pushing for an amendment to the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement that would allow states to exempt oral healthcare products from sales tax.
State Digital Goods Sourcing Proposal Advanced By Council
States could apply the highest, lowest or a blended state and local tax rate inside a five-digit ZIP code area to sales of digital goods when buyers aren't required to provide their full address under a proposal advanced Tuesday by a Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board council.
Tennessee Giving $1.6B In Corporate Franchise Tax Refunds
Tennessee will issue nearly $1.6 billion in corporate franchise tax refunds and cut the tax by about $400 million annually going forward under legislation signed into law by the governor.
Calif. OTA In Untested Area On Ruling That Biz Wants Binding
A decision by California's Office of Tax Appeals that Microsoft can include 100% of the dividends from foreign affiliates in its California sales factor denominator pleased businesses, who now want the OTA to designate the opinion as precedential, thus binding on it and the state Franchise Tax Board.
Editor's Pick
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Law360 Revenue Report Map Tracks Health Of State Coffers
As state coffers fluctuate because of federal pandemic aid drying up, demographics shifting and remote work becoming commonplace, Law360 Tax Authority is providing up-to-date coverage on state tax revenue with the launch of its Revenue Report Map.
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Nev. Sales Tax Revenue In Jan. Rises $23.8M From Last Year
Nevada brought in $23.8 million more in sales tax revenue in January than in the same month last year, the state Department of Taxation said in a monthly report.
Featured Stories
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Use Of AI For Tax Comment Letters Poses Ethical Quandaries
While artificial intelligence can streamline the process of conducting a comprehensive review of complex, IRS-proposed federal tax regulations, tax attorneys must be aware of professional and ethical considerations when using it to help draft comment letters to submit to the agency.
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Calif. OTA In Untested Area On Ruling That Biz Wants Binding
A decision by California's Office of Tax Appeals that Microsoft can include 100% of the dividends from foreign affiliates in its California sales factor denominator pleased businesses, who now want the OTA to designate the opinion as precedential, thus binding on it and the state Franchise Tax Board.
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Treasury's Energy Tax Credit Regs Leave Room For 'Chaining'
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has said it is prohibiting the practice known as chaining that links two new ways to monetize clean energy tax credits, but recent final rules governing the two methods left the door open to possible exceptions.
Expert Analysis
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A Vision For Economic Clerkships In The Legal System
As courts handle increasingly complex damages analyses involving vast amounts of data, an economic clerkship program — integrating early-career economists into the judicial system — could improve legal outcomes and provide essential training to clerks, say Mona Birjandi at Data for Decisions and Matt Farber at Secretariat.
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E-Discovery Quarterly: Recent Rulings On Text Message Data
Electronically stored information on cellphones, and in particular text messages, can present unique litigation challenges, and recent court decisions demonstrate that counsel must carefully balance what data should be preserved, collected, reviewed and produced, say attorneys at Sidley.
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Kentucky Tax Talk: Budget Focus Cools Tax Reform Efforts
There were some noteworthy tax developments during Kentucky’s legislative session — like the revival of local tax reform and enactment of another tax amnesty program — but major tax initiatives, like those seen in recent years, were largely tabled as legislators focused on establishing the state’s two-year budget, say attorneys at Frost Brown.
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NY Tax Talk: Primary Function Is Key Analysis For Sales Tax
Two sales tax cases recently decided by New York's Appellate Division illustrate why both taxpayers and the state's Department of Revenue subscribe to the primary function test, a logical way to determine whether business transactions are subject to sales tax, say Elizabeth Cha and Jeremy Gove at Eversheds Sutherland.
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Time To Fix NYC's Broken Property Assessment System
A New York appellate court's decision to revive Tax Equity Now New York v. City of New York may force the city to revamp its outdated and unfair real estate tax assessment system, which could be fixed with a couple of simple changes, says Seth Feldman at Romer Debbas.
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Strange Notions Bubble Up: SALT In Review
From an assault on North Carolina's phaseout of its corporate income tax to a court ruling on the taxability of sparkling water in Pennsylvania, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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Don't Use The Same Template For Every Client Alert
As the old marketing adage goes, consistency is key, but law firm style guides need consistency that contemplates variety when it comes to client alert formats, allowing attorneys to tailor alerts to best fit the audience and subject matter, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.
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Think Like A Lawyer: Follow The Iron Rule Of Trial Logic
Many diligent and eager attorneys include every good fact, point and rule in their trial narratives — spurred by the gnawing fear they’ll be second-guessed for leaving something out — but this approach ignores a fundamental principle of successful trial lawyering, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.
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The Art Of Asking: Leveraging Your Contacts For Referrals
Though attorneys may hesitate to ask for referral recommendations to generate new business, research shows that people want to help others they know, like and trust, so consider who in your network you should approach and how to make the ask, says Rebecca Hnatowski at Edwards Advisory.
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4 Ways To Refresh Your Law Firm's Marketing Strategy
With many BigLaw firms relying on an increasingly obsolete marketing approach that prioritizes stiff professionalism over authentic connection, adopting a few key communications strategies to better connect with today's clients and prospects can make all the difference, say Eric Pacifici and Kevin Henderson at SMB Law.
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Consider 2 Alternative Exit Plans In RE Distress Scenarios
In the face of an impending wave of foreclosures, lenders and borrowers alike should consider two exit strategies — deed-in-lieu of foreclosure and consent foreclosure — that can mitigate potential costs and diminution in property value that could be incurred during a lengthy proceeding, say attorneys at BCLP.
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SC's Courts Have It Wrong On Amazon Marketplace Sales Tax
The South Carolina Supreme Court should step in and correct the misguided change in tax law effectuated by lower court rulings that found Amazon owes state sales tax for marketplace sales made prior to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Wayfair v. South Dakota decision in 2018, says Hayes Holderness at the University of Richmond.
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Constitutional Shenanigans And Other Sports: SALT In Review
From a challenge to New York's end run on a federal law to voters' rejection of a sales tax that would aid Kansas City's major league teams, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.