State & Local

  • July 09, 2025

    Calif. Court Says Utility Property Can Be Taxed At Higher Rate

    AT&T unit Pacific Bell and other telecommunication companies can be taxed at a different property tax rate because the state statute and legal precedent allows utilities to be taxed at different rates, a California appellate court ruled.

  • July 09, 2025

    5 Years Ago, The McGirt Ruling Reshaped Tribal Jurisdiction

    It was widely held for decades that Oklahoma had domain over criminal matters on tribal lands, but five years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court turned that regime on its head, finding 19th century federal treaties with the Creek Nation that formed its reservation are valid — and, in turn, reestablishing 45% of the Sooner State as Indian Country.

  • July 09, 2025

    Pa. Senate Bill Seeks Severance Tax On Natural Gas In 2026

    Pennsylvania would establish a severance tax on producers of natural gas starting in 2026 under a bill introduced in the state Senate.

  • July 09, 2025

    NH Annual Receipts Down $26M From Budget Estimates

    New Hampshire's total receipts for the year ending in June were $26 million weaker than expected, according to the state Department of Administrative Services.

  • July 09, 2025

    Conn. OKs Credit For Challenges To Remote Worker Taxes

    Connecticut is establishing a personal income tax credit for residents working remotely in the state who successfully challenge taxes imposed by other states under legislation signed by the governor.

  • July 09, 2025

    Baker McKenzie Rehires Int'l Tax Pro As Principal Economist

    Baker McKenzie's former director of economics, who spent more than 15 years as an IRS assistant director in a division that focuses on cross-border tax issues, has rejoined the firm after working with EY.

  • July 08, 2025

    Kansas Extends STAR Bonds To Continue Chiefs, Royals Talks

    Kansas lawmakers have approved a one-year extension of the state's Sales Tax and Revenue bonds while the Missouri-based Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals continue talks with officials about migrating to Kansas.

  • July 08, 2025

    Former Homeowners Land Cert. In Ill. Property Tax Sale Suit

    An Illinois federal court has certified a class of Cook County residents who were stripped of excess equity when their residential properties were sold to recoup property taxes, overriding county objections that homeowners should have to litigate cases individually.

  • July 08, 2025

    State & Local Tax Cases To Watch In The 2nd Half Of 2025

    From Amazon's oral arguments before South Carolina's highest court to Charter Communications' appeal of a New York ruling that it did not qualify for a technology tax break, there will be plenty of state and local tax cases to watch in the second half of 2025. Law360 looks at some of the top state and local tax cases to keep an eye on in the next six months.

  • July 08, 2025

    Kansas Tax Collection Through June Up $132M From Estimate

    Kansas' total receipts from July through June beat government estimates by $132 million, according to the state Division of the Budget.

  • July 08, 2025

    Florida Net Revenue Through May Beat Estimates By $360M

    Florida's net general revenue for July through May outpaced forecasts by $360 million, according to a report by the state Department of Revenue.

  • July 08, 2025

    California Expands Eligibility For Boosted Film, TV Tax Credits

    California expanded eligibility for its increased film and television production tax credits under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

  • July 08, 2025

    Ala. Tax Revenue Through June Jumps $368M From Last Year

    Alabama's total revenue from October through June outpaced last year's collection during the same time frame by $368 million, according to a report by the state Department of Revenue.

  • July 07, 2025

    Calif. Ex-Doctor Was Resident, Owes $6.6M, Tax Judge Says

    A former California doctor with aspirations to be a professional gambler remained domiciled in the state and owes $6.6 million in tax and penalties, the state's Office of Tax Appeals said in an opinion released Monday.

  • July 07, 2025

    Calif. OTA Denies Shareholders' Bids To Increase Losses

    Two shareholders in auto body shop businesses failed to provide evidence to substantiate losses they claimed on their California tax returns, the state Office of Tax Appeals said in an opinion released Monday that affirmed a state Franchise Tax Board assessment.

  • July 07, 2025

    Calif. OTA Says COVID Delay Doesn't Extend Refund Deadline

    The postponement of a tax due date does not affect when the clock for refund claims starts running, the California Office of Tax Appeals said in a pending precedential opinion released Monday that involved a pandemic-related extension.

  • July 07, 2025

    Calif. Boat Dealer Doesn't Owe Tax On Manufacturer's Rebate

    A California boat dealer does not owe sales tax on one of the promotional allowances it was given by a boat manufacturer despite running a deal on the manufacturer's brand of boats after receiving the allowance, the state Office of Tax Appeals said in a ruling released Monday.

  • July 07, 2025

    Calif. Tax Appeals Office Has Jurisdiction On Refund Cases

    The California Office of Tax Appeals, not the Franchise Tax Board, has jurisdiction over a refund claim filed by a couple who had already paid $755,000 in taxes, penalties and interest, according to a precedential OTA opinion released Monday.

  • July 07, 2025

    RI Justices Reject Verizon's $21M Refund Over Depreciation

    A Rhode Island trial court correctly found that the state applied the correct depreciation approach to property owned by Verizon, the state Supreme Court ruled, affirming the denial of the company's $21 million refund request.

  • July 07, 2025

    Mass. Enacts $61B Budget With No Tax Hikes

    Massachusetts will operate with a nearly $61 billion budget in fiscal year 2026 under legislation signed by Democratic Gov. Maura Healey that doesn't entail any tax increases.

  • July 07, 2025

    California Man On Hook For Former Business's Sales Tax

    A California man who was the responsible party for his business that operated a restaurant franchise willfully failed to pay the business's sales tax liability and must cover the remaining debt, the state Office of Tax Appeals said in a ruling released Monday.

  • July 07, 2025

    Calif. Contractor Denied Sales Tax Deduction

    A California construction contractor failed to prove it was entitled to a deduction of sales tax paid on purchases for resale, the state Office of Tax Appeals said in a ruling released Monday.

  • July 07, 2025

    Maine Authorizes Task Force To Explore Property Tax Changes

    Maine authorized the creation of a task force to explore the need for legislation and constitutional amendments to provide more effective property tax relief for residents under a bill signed by the governor.

  • July 07, 2025

    Alabama Couple Can Deduct Farm Expenses, Tribunal Rules

    An Alabama couple can claim business expense deductions related to their farm because the farm was run as a for-profit business, the state's tax tribunal ruled.

  • July 07, 2025

    Iowa Total Receipts Fall $616M From Last Year

    Iowa's general revenue collection for the fiscal year that ended last month dropped from the prior year's total by $616 million, according to a report by the state's Department of Management.

Expert Analysis

  • The Right Direction Is South: SALT In Review

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    From Louisiana's tax overhaul to the Mississippi governor's quest to repeal the individual income tax, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.

  • 6 Changes I Would Make If I Ran A Law School

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    Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner identifies several key issues plaguing law schools and discusses potential solutions, such as opting out of the rankings game and mandating courses in basic writing skills.

  • Firms Still Have The Edge In Lateral Hiring, But Buyer Beware

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    Partner mobility data suggests that the third quarter of this year continued to be a buyer’s market, with the average candidate demanding less compensation for a larger book of business — but moving into the fourth quarter, firms should slow down their hiring process to minimize risks, say officers at Decipher Investigative Intelligence.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: 1 Type Of Case Complexity Stands Out

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    In contrast to some cases that appear complex due to voluminous evidence or esoteric subject matter, a different kind of complexity involves tangled legal and factual questions, each with a range of possible outcomes, which require a “sliding scale” approach instead of syllogistic reasoning, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Note 3 Simple Types Of Legal Complexity

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    Cases can appear complex for several reasons — due to the number of issues, the volume of factual and evidentiary sources, and the sophistication of those sources — but the same basic technique can help lawyers tame their arguments into a simple and persuasive message, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • Litigation Inspiration: Reframing Document Review

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    For attorneys — new ones especially — there is much fulfillment to find in document review by reflecting on how important, interesting and pleasant it can be, says Bennett Rawicki at Hilgers Graben.

  • California Supreme Court's Year In Review

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    Attorneys at Horvitz & Levy highlight notable decisions on major questions from the California Supreme Court's last term, including voter initiatives, hostile work environment and the economic loss rule.

  • Meeting A New Tax Across The River: SALT In Review

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    From New York's revised congestion pricing for lower Manhattan to the reality of artificial intelligence in tax administration, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.

  • 3 Ways To Train Junior Lawyers In 30 Minutes Or Less

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    Today’s junior lawyers are experiencing a skills gap due to pandemic-era disruptions, but firms can help bring them up to speed by offering high-impact skill building content in bite-sized, interactive training sessions, say Stacey Schwartz at Katten, Diane Costigan at Winston & Strawn and Lauren Tierney at Freshfields.

  • The Bar Needs More Clarity On The Discovery Objection Rule

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    Almost 10 years after Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34 was amended, attorneys still seem confused about what they should include in objections to discovery requests, and until the rules committee provides additional clarity, practitioners must beware the steep costs of noncompliance, says Tristan Ellis at Shanies Law Office.

  • States, Taxes And Scorecards: SALT In Review

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    From the latest noteworthy rankings of the states' business tax regimes to results of ballot measures across the country, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.

  • So You Want To Move Your Law Practice To Canada, Eh?

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    Google searches for how to move to Canada have surged in the wake of the U.S. presidential election, and if you’re an attorney considering a move to the Great White North, you’ll need to understand how the practice of law differs across the border, says David Postel at Henein Hutchison.

  • Promoting Diversity In The Selection Of ADR Neutrals

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Choosing neutrals from diverse backgrounds is an important step in promoting inclusion in the legal profession, and it can enhance the legitimacy and public perception of alternative dispute resolution proceedings, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.

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