State & Local
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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
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.
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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.
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May 10, 2024
Ill. Remote Seller Rules Violate Wayfair, Calif. Seller Claims
A California-based business argued that Illinois' remote seller system presents unconstitutional burdens, telling the state tax tribunal that Illinois' varying sourcing rules and the quick pace by which it adopted economic nexus violate the U.S. Constitution's commerce clause.
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May 10, 2024
Nev. Tax Commission Floats Updated Regs For Remote Sellers
Nevada would clarify sales tax collection requirements imposed on remote sellers, marketplace sellers and marketplace facilitators under regulatory changes proposed by the state Tax Commission.
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May 10, 2024
Newsom Says No Tax Increases Planned In Calif. Budget
California would not increase taxes or impose new taxes under a revised budget plan presented Friday by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
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May 10, 2024
Ore. Court Drops Tax Value Of Rural Property
The Oregon Tax Court lowered the real market valuation of a rural property with outbuildings used for storage of a car collection, relying partially on the owner's cost approach to the value.
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May 10, 2024
Miss. To Lower Sales Tax Rate For Oil Cos.' Purchases
Mississippi will reduce the sales tax rate for equipment and services used to drill, survey or explore for oil, natural gas and other minerals to 4.5% as part of a bill signed by the governor.
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May 10, 2024
Colo. Lawmakers OK Quantum Tech Investment Tax Credits
Colorado would create a pair of tax credits to promote investment in quantum technology development facilities by entities receiving certain federal grants under legislation passed by the state Senate and heading to the governor.
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May 10, 2024
NY Senate Bill Seeks Excise Tax On To-Go Alcohol
New York would impose a 5% excise tax on sales of to-go alcoholic drinks under a bill introduced in the state Senate, with funds from the tax to be put toward substance use education and treatment programs.
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May 10, 2024
SD General Revenues Through April Up $24M Over Estimates
South Dakota's general revenue collection was up roughly $24 million over budget estimates from July through April, according to a monthly report by the state Bureau of Finance and Management.
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May 10, 2024
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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May 10, 2024
Mo. Net Revenue Collection Through April Up $280M
Missouri's net general revenue collection from July through April was $280 million higher than in the previous fiscal year, according to a report by the state Office of Administration, Division of Budget and Planning.
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May 10, 2024
Colo. Lawmakers OK MTC Method For Corp. Tax Reporting
Colorado would conform its method for determining the makeup of a combined corporate group with Multistate Tax Commission standards under legislation approved by lawmakers and sent to Democratic Gov. Jared Polis.
Expert Analysis
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As Promised, IRS Is Coming For Crypto Tax Evaders
The IRS is fulfilling its promise to crack down on those who have neglected to pay taxes on cryptocurrency earnings, as demonstrated by recently imposed prison sentences, enforcement initiatives and meetings with international counterparts — suggesting a few key takeaways for taxpayer compliance, say attorneys at BakerHostetler.
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5 Reasons Associates Shouldn't Take A Job Just For Money
As a number of BigLaw firms increase salary scales for early-career attorneys, law students and lateral associates considering new job offers should weigh several key factors that may matter more than financial compensation, say Albert Tawil at Lateral Hub and Ruvin Levavi at Power Forward.
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The Pop Culture Docket: Judge Djerassi On Super Bowl 52
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Ramy Djerassi discusses how Super Bowl 52, in which the Philadelphia Eagles prevailed over the New England Patriots, provides an apt metaphor for alternative dispute resolution processes in commercial business cases.
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Envy, Regressivity And Other Sins: SALT In Review
From a California official's remarks on a star athlete's contract to another study documenting the regressivity of tax policies across the land, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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Employee Experience Strategy Can Boost Law Firm Success
Amid continuing business uncertainty, law firms should consider adopting a holistic employee experience strategy — prioritizing consistency, targeting signature moments and leveraging measurement tools — to maximize productivity and profitability, says Haley Revel at Calibrate Consulting.
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6 Practice Pointers For Pro Bono Immigration Practice
An attorney taking on their first pro bono immigration matter may find the law and procedures beguiling, but understanding key deadlines, the significance of individual immigration judges' rules and specialized aspects of the practice can help avoid common missteps, says Steven Malm at Haynes Boone.
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Lessons From Country Singer's Personal Service Saga
Recent reports that country singer Luke Combs won a judgment against a Florida woman who didn’t receive notice of the counterfeit suit against her should serve as a reminder for attorneys on best practices for effectuating service by electronic means, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.
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7 E-Discovery Predictions For 2024 And Beyond
The legal and technical issues of e-discovery now affect virtually every lawsuit, and in the year to come, practitioners can expect practices and policies to evolve in a number of ways, from the expanded use of relevancy redactions to mandated information security provisions in protective orders, say attorneys at Littler.
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Other Views On Administration And Land Tax: SALT In Review
From another take on ranking the states' tax agencies to the latest proposal on a different approach to land values, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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5 Litigation Funding Trends To Note In 2024
Over the next year and beyond, litigation funding will continue to evolve in ways that affect attorneys and the larger litigation landscape, from the growth of a secondary market for funded claims, to rising interest rates restricting the availability of capital, says Jeffery Lula at GLS Capital.
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4 Legal Ethics Considerations For The New Year
As attorneys and clients reset for a new year, now is a good time to take a step back and review some core ethical issues that attorneys should keep front of mind in 2024, including approaching generative artificial intelligence with caution and care, and avoiding pitfalls in outside counsel guidelines, say attorneys at HWG.
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What The Law Firm Of The Future Will Look Like
As the legal landscape shifts, it’s become increasingly clear that the BigLaw business model must adapt in four key ways to remain viable, from fostering workplace flexibility to embracing technology, say Kevin Henderson and Eric Pacifici at SMB Law Group.
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4 PR Pointers When Your Case Is In The News
Media coverage of new lawsuits exploded last year, demonstrating why defense attorneys should devise a public relations plan that complements their legal strategy, incorporating several objectives to balance ethical obligations and advocacy, say Nathan Burchfiel at Pinkston and Ryan June at Castañeda + Heidelman.