State & Local
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June 06, 2024
Vt. Conforms State Law To Fed. Income, Estate Tax Statutes
Vermont conformed its income tax law to federal income tax and estate tax statutes and will allow municipalities to enact local-option taxes without charter amendments that require approval by the state General Assembly under a bill signed by the governor.
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June 06, 2024
Colorado To Study Simplification Of Local Lodging Taxes
Colorado will expand the scope of a task force responsible for simplifying the state's sales and use tax regime to improve the local lodging tax system as part of a bill signed into law by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis.
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June 06, 2024
Generative AI Poses Novel State Tax Questions, Tax Pros Say
Open questions are swirling around state tax rules for the usage of generative artificial intelligence platforms, including whether they should be treated as canned or custom software, tax professionals said Thursday.
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June 06, 2024
Ind. Tax Court Backs Lower Valuation For Department Store
The value of an Indiana Dillard's store was correctly reduced to about $5 million for tax years 2018 through 2020 by the state tax board after taking into consideration the owner's income approach analysis, the state's tax court ruled.
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June 06, 2024
NY Lawmakers OK Change To Tax Tribunal's Client Rep Rules
New York would allow individuals to choose from an expanded list of representatives in matters before the Tax Appeals Tribunal under a bill passed by the state Legislature that goes next to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
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June 06, 2024
Fox Rothschild Brings On Tax Pro From Atlanta Boutique
Fox Rothschild LLP has added an attorney in Atlanta from tax law boutique Wiggam Law to strengthen the firm's taxation and wealth planning department.
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June 06, 2024
Colorado Extends Contaminated Land Cleanup Tax Credit
Colorado will extend its environmental remediation of contaminated land income tax credit for five years under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis.
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June 06, 2024
NY Senate OKs Bill Expanding Digital Gaming Credit
New York would expand its income tax credit for digital gaming production by lowering the production cost required to qualify and eliminating the in-state production cost threshold under a bill passed by the Senate.
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June 06, 2024
State Digital Tax Rules Lack Consistency, Clarity, Tax Pros Say
Courts have reached different conclusions over whether state definitions of tangible personal property encompass certain elements of the digital economy, underscoring the inconsistent tax treatment of digital transactions and a need for guidance on the issue, tax professionals said Thursday.
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June 06, 2024
Mass. Tax Collections Beat Estimates By $700M Through May
Massachusetts' total tax collections from July through May were $700 million higher than expected, according to the state Department of Revenue.
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June 06, 2024
NJ Corp. Tax Overhaul Regs Expected By Nov., Director Says
New Jersey is on track to release regulations this fall on an omnibus law from last year that changed several provisions of the state's corporate income tax system, the state Division of Taxation's acting director said Thursday.
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June 05, 2024
Citibank Can't Avoid Paying $6M Wash. Biz Tax
Washington's high court won't spare Citibank from a $6 million business tax bill, declining to revisit a ruling that the bank's money-making activities amounted to a physical presence in the state despite not having any local branches open at the time.
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June 05, 2024
Ill. Budget Has Higher Cap On NOLs, Sports Betting Tax Hike
Illinois will extend a cap on corporate net operating loss deductions, increase its sports betting tax and reduce sales tax rebates for retailers under a $53.1 billion fiscal year 2025 budget signed Wednesday by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
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June 05, 2024
Colo. To Exempt Modular Homes From Sales Tax
Colorado will exempt new modular home sales from state tax under a bill signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis.
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June 05, 2024
Calif. OTA Says Avis Owes $12.6M Tax On Asset Acquisition
An acquisition by car rental company Avis of an indirect affiliate's vehicle management business does not constitute a merger and is therefore subject to tax, the California Office of Tax Appeals ruled.
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June 05, 2024
Colo. To Allow Tax Credit For Employee-Owned Businesses
Colorado will allow new businesses that are employee-owned to claim an income tax credit for business expenses under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis.
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June 05, 2024
NY Gov. Indefinitely Halts Manhattan Congestion Pricing
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday shelved congestion pricing just weeks before officials were set to implement a fee for vehicles entering Manhattan's busiest corridor, in a dramatic about-face following intense backlash and litigation from residents and business owners grappling with the high cost of living.
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June 05, 2024
Hawaii To Adjust Income Tax Brackets, Up Standard Deduction
Hawaii will adjust its individual income tax brackets and increase its standard deduction to account for inflation and will exempt certain medical services from the state's general excise tax under bills signed by the governor.
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June 05, 2024
Minn. Justices Back Doctor's Penalty For Frivolous Tax Claim
Minnesota's penalty for filing a frivolous tax claim is constitutional, and the penalty as applied to a nonresident doctor and his wife over nearly $1.2 million in undeclared income is also sound, the Minnesota Supreme Court said Wednesday.
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June 05, 2024
Win May Embolden IRS Use Of Economic Substance Doctrine
The IRS' successful wielding of the economic substance doctrine to characterize multinational telecommunications corporation Liberty Global's sophisticated set of intercompany deals as an abusive tax shelter could encourage the agency to apply similar analysis to even the most basic tax transactions.
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June 05, 2024
Ohio Senate Bill Seeks To Double Film Tax Credit Cap
Ohio would double the amount of film and theater production tax credits it can award annually and eliminate its credit for film and theater capital improvement projects under a bill introduced in the state Senate.
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June 05, 2024
Colo. To Look At Federal Taxable Income As State Basis
Colorado is directing its state auditor to evaluate its use of federal taxable income as the basis for state taxable income under legislation signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis.
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June 04, 2024
Recreational Marijuana To Be On SD Ballot For 3rd Time
Recreational marijuana advocates have successfully put a measure on South Dakota's November ballot, giving state voters a third shot at legalizing the drug just two years after they declined to do so.
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June 04, 2024
Mastercard Owes $7.7M In SC Income Tax Case, ALJ Rules
Mastercard's network, which allows cardholders to buy goods and services and withdraw money, is its income-producing activity, occurs within South Carolina, and thus obligates the company to pay about $7.7 million in taxes, fees and interest, a state administrative law judge ruled in a decision posted Tuesday.
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June 04, 2024
NY Senate OKs Tax Break For Mobile Internet Access Gear
New York would exempt from property tax equipment used for the transmission and switching of radio signals to provide commercial mobile radio service or mobile internet access service under a bill approved by the state Senate.
Expert Analysis
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.