State & Local
-
September 23, 2024
Walmart Accused Of Wrongly Taxing Delivery Fees In Fla.
Walmart unlawfully collects sales tax on delivery fees in Florida, a customer claimed in a proposed class action removed to federal court, saying the tax cannot apply if customers may choose to pick up the order themselves.
-
September 23, 2024
ND General Revenues Up $350M Over Budget Forecast
North Dakota's general revenue collection from July 2023 through August 2024 came in $350 million over estimates, according to the state's Legislative Council.
-
September 23, 2024
RI General Revenue Collection Beats Estimates By $49M
Rhode Island's total general revenue exceeded budget estimates by $49 million for July through August, according to the state Department of Revenue.
-
September 23, 2024
Ala. Biz Tax Refund Denied For Lack Of Family Entity Election
An Alabama taxpayer was properly assessed business privilege tax in 2021 after failing to file the correct form to be considered a family limited liability entity, the state Tax Tribunal ruled.
-
September 20, 2024
NY Sales Tax Applies To Use Of Portal Software, Dept. Says
New York state and local sales taxes apply to charges for the use of a web portal host's software by customers and applicants, the state tax department said, finding the charges constitute the sale of prewritten software.
-
September 20, 2024
NJ Explains Sales Tax Reduction Phaseout For EVs
New Jersey will subject zero-emission vehicles to a reduced sales tax starting Oct. 1, before increasing the levy in 2025, the state Division of Taxation said as part of an FAQ page released Friday that specified other tax changes.
-
September 20, 2024
NJ Resident Owes NY Tax For Remote Work During COVID
A vice president of an investment fund with a New York office owes income tax to that state for days he worked from home in New Jersey during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a New York administrative law judge determined.
-
September 20, 2024
NY Tax Dept. Says Biz's Data Services Subject To Sales Tax
A mobile and web analytics company in New York must collect and remit state and local sales tax for its services, according to the state Department of Taxation and Finance.
-
September 20, 2024
NY Auctioneer Can't Lower Tax Bill After Price Drop
An auction house can't exclude payment reductions that are granted to a successful irrevocable bidder from its receipts subject to sales tax, the New York state taxation department said.
-
September 20, 2024
IRS Special Trial Attorney Joins Hochman Salkin In California
When Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez PC's newest principal, Sebastian Voth, was studying at Emory University School of Law, a former chief counsel for the Internal Revenue Service told students that the IRS was a great place to start their careers. After 15 years as an IRS attorney, Voth found that the agency was also a great place to work, he told Law360 Pulse in an interview Friday.
-
September 20, 2024
La. Tax Agency Expands Informal Payment Plans
Louisiana taxpayers with less than $50,000 in taxes due will be able to pay over five years in an informal installment plan, the state Department of Revenue said in a rule that will increase the current threshold.
-
September 20, 2024
Nev. Tax Agency Allows Penalty Waivers Due To Agent Errors
The Nevada Department of Taxation can decide to waive penalties and interest for late payments from a taxpayer if the payment was late because of an error made by a taxpayer's agent, the state tax commission said in an updated regulation.
-
September 20, 2024
NY Biz Out-Of-State Email Services Not Taxable, Dept. Says
A New York business that subscribes to an out-of-state email hosting service doesn't need to pay sales tax, the state tax department said, as taxing such services isn't allowed under the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act.
-
September 20, 2024
NY Curtain Walls Subject To Sales Tax, Dept. Says
Tax is owed on the sales of curtain walls to a contractor for installation in New York buildings regardless of whether the installations constituted capital improvements to the properties, the state tax department said in an advisory opinion.
-
September 20, 2024
NY Tobacco And Vapor Taxes Apply To Man's Product Sales
A New Yorker owes the tobacco excise tax and a 20% supplemental tax on vapor products on his sales of product that are similar to electronic cigarettes, the state Department of Taxation and Finance said.
-
September 20, 2024
Miss. Revenue Through Aug. Up $3M From Last Year
Mississippi's revenue collection from July through August exceeded last year's total for that period by $3 million, according to the state Department of Revenue.
-
September 20, 2024
Mass. Offering Tax Amnesty In November, December
Massachusetts will grant amnesty in November and December to certain delinquent taxpayers under a program authorized by the Legislature, the state Department of Revenue said.
-
September 20, 2024
Ill. Revenue Through Aug. Tops Forecast By $245M
Illinois revenue for the first two months of the 2025 fiscal year totaled $245 million more than estimated, according to the Office of Management of Budget.
-
September 20, 2024
Taxation With Representation: Gibson Dunn, Holland & Knight
In this week's Taxation With Representation, CACI International buys Azure Summit Technology, Hotel Engine lands a valuation led by Permira, and Knowles Corp. sells its microphone business to Syntiant Corp.
-
September 20, 2024
NY Food Waste Removal Taxable, Department Says
Food waste removal from grocery stores, restaurants and other locations is taxable for a New York contractor because the waste has no value, so the service does not qualify as tax-exempt transportation, the state tax department said.
-
September 20, 2024
Ore. Couple Denied Tax Deduction For Below-Market Rentals
An Oregon couple were correctly denied income tax deductions for expenses related to rental properties, the state tax court said, because they did not charge the renters market rates, disqualifying the rentals as income-producing properties.
-
September 20, 2024
NY Sales Tax Doesn't Apply To Woman's Travel Business
A New York woman who runs a travel business does not need to collect sales tax on the fees she charges for her planning and concierge services, the state Department of Taxation and Finance said.
-
September 19, 2024
Ch. 7 Trustee Urges Justices To Uphold Return Of Taxes
The bankruptcy trustee of a defunct Utah transportation company warned the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday that overturning a decision forcing the IRS to return tax payments made by company directors to cover their personal debts would encourage shareholder fraud.
-
September 19, 2024
Illinois Voters To Weigh In On Nonbinding Income Surtax
Illinois voters will get to weigh in on whether the state should amend its constitution to create a 3% surtax on millionaire income to fund property tax relief, according to a nonbinding measure the Legislature has referred to the November ballot.
-
September 19, 2024
Nev. Clarifies Tax Recordkeeping Rules For Escort Services
Nevada will implement a statutory requirement that the full amount charged for and recorded by an escort service must not include deductions for service costs, interest, losses, gratuities or other expenses, according to updated regulations approved by the state tax commission.
Expert Analysis
-
How 3 New Laws Change Calif. Nonprofits' Legal Landscape
Legislation that went into effect on Jan. 1 should be welcomed by California’s nonprofit organizations, which may now receive funding more quickly, rectify past noncompliance more easily and have greater access to the states’ security funding program, say Casey Williams and Brett Overby at Liebert Cassidy.
-
SG's Office Is Case Study To Help Close Legal Gender Gap
As women continue to be underrepresented in the upper echelons of the legal profession, law firms could learn from the example set by the Office of the Solicitor General, where culture and workplace policies have helped foster greater gender equality, say attorneys at Ocean Tomo.
-
Thinking Big And Soaking The Rich: SALT In Review
From a bold and broad tax plan in Louisiana to proposed legislation targeting the well-to-do in Rhode Island and Michigan, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
-
Reimagining Law Firm Culture To Break The Cycle Of Burnout
While attorney burnout remains a perennial issue in the legal profession, shifting post-pandemic expectations mean that law firms must adapt their office cultures to retain talent, say Kevin Henderson and Eric Pacifici at SMB Law Group.
-
High Court Case Could Reshape Local Development Fees
If last month's oral arguments are any indication of how the U.S. Supreme Court will rule in Sheetz v. County of El Dorado, it's unlikely the justices will hold that the essential nexus and rough proportionality tests under the cases of Nollan, Dolan and Koontz apply to legislative exactions, but a sweeping decision would still be the natural progression in the line of cases giving property owners takings claims, says Phillip Babich at Reed Smith.
-
Nebraska Should Abandon Proposed Digital Ad Tax
If passed, Nebraska’s recently proposed Advertising Services Tax Act, which would finance property tax relief by imposing a 7.5% gross revenue tax on advertising services, would cause a politically risky shift of tax burdens from landowners to local businesses and consumers, and would most certainly face litigation, say attorneys at McDermott.
-
The Legal Industry Needs A Cybersecurity Paradigm Shift
As law firms face ever-increasing risks of cyberattacks and ransomware incidents, the legal industry must implement robust cybersecurity measures and privacy-centric practices to preserve attorney-client privilege, safeguard client trust and uphold the profession’s integrity, says Ryan Paterson at Unplugged.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.