State & Local
-
May 08, 2024
Va. Biz's Forklift Exempt From Use Tax, Commissioner Rules
A forklift owned by a business engaged in electronics dismantling and recycling qualifies for a use tax exemption because it was used for industrial processing, the Virginia tax commissioner said.
-
May 08, 2024
Va. Tax Head Denies Exceptions For Receivables Factoring
The Virginia tax commissioner said a corporation that sold invoices to another entity doesn't qualify for an expense exception for factoring costs because it was unable to prove there was a valid business purpose other than the avoidance of tax.
-
May 08, 2024
Colo. Lawmakers Approve Film Tax Credit Extension
Colorado's film production tax credit would run through 2031 and make changes to the credit under legislation passed Wednesday by the state Senate and headed to the governor.
-
May 08, 2024
Mass. Dept. Says Part Of Bundled Phones' Value Not Taxable
Consumers buying discounted mobile phones in Massachusetts as part of a bundled package owe sales tax only on the amount actually paid, the state tax department said, responding to a 2023 court ruling.
-
May 08, 2024
Colo. Lawmakers OK Historic Structure Tax Credit Extension
Colorado's tax credit for rehabilitation of historic structures would be extended and apply to structures as young as 30 years old under legislation approved by the Senate and headed to the governor.
-
May 07, 2024
LA Cannabis Co. Owes $216K In Taxes, City Says
Los Angeles has slapped a Venice cannabis shop with a lawsuit accusing it of shirking a more than $200,000 tax obligation, asking a state court for to force the dispensary to pay up.
-
May 07, 2024
SD Unapportioned Use Tax Unconstitutional, US Justices Told
South Dakota's imposition of an unapportioned use tax on a construction company's movable construction equipment — some of which was used in the state for one day — violates the fair apportionment requirement of the commerce clause, the company told the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday.
-
May 07, 2024
Colo. House OKs Tax Credits For Gifts Through Intermediaries
Colorado would allow income tax credits for charitable gifts made through certain intermediaries instead of directly to qualifying organizations under legislation approved Tuesday by the state House of Representatives.
-
May 07, 2024
Calif. OTA Backs Excluding Dealership Sale From Sales Factor
A business that operates car dealerships rightly had the gross receipts from its sale of an Alaskan dealership excluded from its California sales factor, the California Office of Tax Appeals ruled.
-
May 07, 2024
Ore. Tax Court Drops Values Of Residential Parcels
The Oregon Tax Court ruled that the real market values of two parcels teed up for a residential subdivision should be lowered after agreeing with the owner's comparable sales study and development cost analysis.
-
May 07, 2024
Colo. Legislature OKs Apprenticeship Tax Credit
Colorado would create a refundable income tax credit for the creation of apprenticeship programs, up to $12,600 per apprentice per year, under a bill passed by the state Senate.
-
May 07, 2024
Colo. House OKs Conservation Easement Tax Break Extension
Colorado would extend its conservation easement tax credit through 2031 and raise its statewide annual cap on available credits under legislation approved Tuesday by the state House of Representatives.
-
May 07, 2024
Calif. Credit For Tax Paid Doesn't Apply To Couple, OTA Says
A couple is not entitled to a credit against their California tax liability for capital gains tax paid in Virginia, even if the tax was paid in error, the California Office of Tax Appeals ruled.
-
May 07, 2024
Mo. Laundromat May Owe Sales Tax On Customer Payments
A Missouri laundromat wouldn't need to remit sales tax on payments made by its customers for use of its laundry machines if the company already paid sales tax when purchasing the machines, the state Department of Revenue said in a letter ruling.
-
May 07, 2024
Calif. Tax Owed By Ex-President Of Delaware Corp., OTA Says
The former president of a corporation that was once based in California is the responsible party for the corporation's sales tax liability, the state Office of Tax Appeals ruled.
-
May 07, 2024
Colo. Lawmakers OK Tax Credit For Job Training Costs
Colorado would create an income tax credit for expenses associated with facility upgrades and purchases of equipment for training programs designed to alleviate staffing shortages as part of a bill passed by lawmakers that goes next to Democratic Gov. Jared Polis.
-
May 07, 2024
Tenn. To Let Cities Exempt Food From Sales Tax
Tennessee will allow municipalities that have adopted a city sales tax rate to exempt retail sales of food from the local tax under a bill signed by the governor.
-
May 07, 2024
Fla. Net Revenue Through March Beats Estimates By $468M
Florida's net revenue collection from July through March was up $468 million over budget estimates, the state Office of Economic and Demographic Research reported.
-
May 07, 2024
Colo. Senate Approves Property Tax Cuts
Colorado would extend temporary property tax rate reductions into 2024 and set lower rates for future years under bipartisan legislation passed Tuesday by the state Senate that is forecast to save property owners nearly $1 billion in its first year if enacted.
-
May 07, 2024
ITFA Protects Apple Music From City Tax, La. Board Says
New Orleans' attempt to impose sales tax on Apple Music streaming subscriptions is blocked by a federal law that prohibits discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce, the Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals ruled.
-
May 07, 2024
Ala. Sees Dip In Net Revenue Through April
Alabama collected roughly $23.49 million less in net revenue from October through April than it did during the same period last fiscal year, the state Department of Revenue reported.
-
May 07, 2024
Calif. Solar Co.'s Tax Assessment Not Time Barred, OTA Says
The increased tax assessment on a California solar lighting company was not barred by the statute of limitations because the company and government failed to tell the state about the federal adjustment, the state Office of Tax Appeals ruled.
-
May 06, 2024
Unclaimed Property Class Action Against Pa. Treasurer Axed
A Pennsylvania federal judge has tossed a potential class action challenging the constitutionality of the state's unclaimed property law, finding that the state treasurer doesn't have to pay interest on property that was otherwise abandoned.
-
May 06, 2024
NJ Pitches Rule Allocating Tax On Nonresident Stock Options
New Jersey would create a formula for calculating a nonresident's state tax liability on compensation from stock options under a proposed regulation issued Monday.
-
May 06, 2024
NJ Justices Erase Gov't Workplace Probe Confidentiality Rule
The New Jersey Supreme Court on Monday struck down part of a state statute that directs investigators to request, but not require, confidentiality in discrimination or harassment investigations involving state workers, ruling the provision still reached too far and chilled protected speech.
Expert Analysis
-
A Post-Mortem Analysis Of Stroock's Demise
After the dissolution of 147-year-old firm Stroock late last year shook up the legal world, a post-mortem analysis of the data reveals a long list of warning signs preceding the firm’s collapse — and provides some insight into how other firms might avoid the same disastrous fate, says Craig Savitzky at Leopard Solutions.
-
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.