State & Local
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May 08, 2024
Va. Tax Head Finds Royalties Ineligible For Full Exception
A corporation filing in Virginia that paid royalties to an affiliate wasn't entitled to a state income tax exception for the full amount of the expense, the state tax commissioner said, citing a state Supreme Court ruling and concluding that the company's refund claim couldn't be granted.
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May 08, 2024
Va. Tax Head Won't Change Taxpayer's Apportionment Factor
A Virginia taxpayer that owns more than 10% of a limited partnership's interest is still not entitled to an alternate apportionment method, the state tax commissioner said in a letter ruling.
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May 08, 2024
Calif. Senate Committee Recommends Data Extraction Tax
California would levy its 7.25% state sales and use tax on large online companies with digital advertising revenue above $2.5 billion and use the tax revenue to fund a credit regime for local news outlets under a bill passed by a Senate committee Wednesday.
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May 08, 2024
Ind. Youth Center Rightly Denied Tax Exemption, Board Says
An Indiana youth center was correctly denied a religious tax exemption because the property is used to the benefit of the adopted children of the organization's founder, the state Board of Tax Review said in a decision published Wednesday.
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May 08, 2024
La. Board Says Class Claims On Solar Credits Need Tax Pleas
Louisiana residents who have joined in a class action seeking damages from deferred solar panel tax credits that were capped annually must amend their claims to include tax violations, the state Board of Tax Appeals said.
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May 08, 2024
Colo. House OKs Temporary Income Tax Cut, Refund Changes
Colorado would temporarily lower its flat income tax rate for the current tax year and could reduce the rate in upcoming years based on the levels of future state surpluses under legislation approved Wednesday by the state House of Representatives.
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May 08, 2024
NJ Utility Co. Appeals Tax Assessment On Labor Fees
A utility company based in New Jersey asked the state tax court to set aside a roughly $342,000 sales and use tax assessment, arguing that the Division of Taxation included labor charges that were not taxable.
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May 08, 2024
La. House OKs Constitutional Convention For Tax Overhaul
The Louisiana House of Representatives approved legislation that would call a convention to rework some elements of the state constitution, including moving certain tax provisions into state statutes to give lawmakers more flexibility to address a looming budget deficit.
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May 08, 2024
A Foley Hoag Co-Chair Joins Litigation Firm As Name Partner
Litigation and dispute resolution firm Elliott Kwok Levine & Jaroslaw LLP will operate under a new name after welcoming as its newest name partner a former federal prosecutor who most recently co-chaired Foley Hoag LLP's white-collar crime and government investigations practice.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Expert Analysis
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Finding Focus: Strategies For Attorneys With ADHD
Given the prevalence of ADHD among attorneys, it is imperative that the legal community gain a better understanding of how ADHD affects well-being, and that resources and strategies exist for attorneys with this disability to manage their symptoms and achieve success, say Casey Dixon at Dixon Life Coaching and Krista Larson at Stinson.
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A Ministry Of Silly Ideas: SALT In Review
From proposals before a District of Columbia tax revision panel to the defeat of an income tax cut in North Dakota, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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What Ariz. Ruling Means For Taxation Of Digital Services
The Arizona Supreme Court recently declined to review ADP v. Arizona Department of Revenue, letting stand a state appeals court's ruling that software as a service is a taxable rental of tangible personal property, essentially granting the department of revenue power to tax all digital services, say Karen Lowell and Pat Derdenger at Lewis Roca.
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Attorneys, Law Schools Must Adapt To New Era Of Evidence
Technological advancements mean more direct evidence is being created than ever before, and attorneys as well as law schools must modify their methods to account for new challenges in how this evidence is collected and used to try cases, says Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner.
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Tips For Litigating Against Pro Se Parties In Complex Disputes
Litigating against self-represented parties in complex cases can pose unique challenges for attorneys, but for the most part, it requires the same skills that are useful in other cases — from documenting everything to understanding one’s ethical duties, says Bryan Ketroser at Alto Litigation.
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Pro Bono Work Is Powerful Self-Help For Attorneys
Oct. 22-28 is Pro Bono Week, serving as a useful reminder that offering free legal help to the public can help attorneys expand their legal toolbox, forge community relationships and create human connections, despite the challenges of this kind of work, says Orlando Lopez at Culhane Meadows.
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The Pop Culture Docket: Judge Espinosa On 'Lincoln Lawyer'
The murder trials in Netflix’s “The Lincoln Lawyer” illustrate the stark contrast between the ethical high ground that fosters and maintains the criminal justice system's integrity, and the ethical abyss that can undermine it, with an important reminder for all legal practitioners, say Judge Adam Espinosa and Andrew Howard at the Colorado 2nd Judicial District Court.
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Permanence And Other Elusive Notions: SALT In Review
From a Michigan income tax that may or may not be permanent to a victory in court for online travel companies, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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Newman Suspension Shows Need For Judicial Reform
The recent suspension of U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman following her alleged refusal to participate in a disability inquiry reveals the need for judicial misconduct reforms to ensure that judges step down when they can no longer serve effectively, says Aliza Shatzman at The Legal Accountability Project.
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How And Why Your Firm Should Implement Fixed-Fee Billing
Amid rising burnout in the legal industry and client efforts to curtail spending, pivoting to a fixed-fee billing model may improve client-attorney relationships and offer lawyers financial, logistical and stress relief — while still maintaining profit margins, say Kevin Henderson and Eric Pacifici at SMB Law Group.
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How Law Firms Can Use Account-Based Marketing Strategies
Amid several evolving legal industry trends, account-based marketing can help law firms uncover additional revenue-generating opportunities with existing clients, with key considerations ranging from data analytics to relationship building, say Jennifer Ramsey at stage LLC and consultant Gina Sponzilli.
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Strategic Succession Planning At Law Firms Is Crucial
Senior partners' reluctance to retire, the rise of the nonequity partner tier and generational differences in expectations are all contributing to an increasing number of departures from BigLaw, making it imperative for firms to encourage retirement among senior ranks and provide clearer leadership pathways to junior attorneys, says Laura Leopard at Leopard Solutions.
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Potential Calamities, Greatly Exaggerated: SALT In Review
From fears of judicial upheaval to a tax break for space travel, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.