State & Local
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June 12, 2024
Florida Net Revenue Through April Beats Estimate By $879M
Florida's net revenue from July through April exceeded forecasts by $879 million, the state Office of Economic and Demographic Research reported.
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June 12, 2024
Colo. Dept. OKs Tax Credit For Donations To Adoption Agency
Donations to an agency that seeks adoptive parents for children qualify for Colorado's child care contribution tax credit, the state Department of Revenue said.
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June 11, 2024
Tax Agencies Must Exercise Caution With AI, Experts Say
Artificial intelligence has the potential to make tax administration more efficient and effective but must be approached with great caution to minimize significant risks including privacy, fairness and quality control, experts on the subject said Tuesday.
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June 11, 2024
Precedent Favors Nationwide In Mich. Tax Fight, Judge Says
A Michigan Court of Appeals judge said Tuesday that the state's tax agency was asking the court to turn its back on recent precedent to hold that Nationwide entities couldn't file as a unitary business to share insurance tax credits across their group members.
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June 11, 2024
RI Lawmakers OK Sharing Info About Biz Entities' Tax Status
Rhode Island would allow its Division of Taxation and secretary of state's office to share information on a business' tax status as part of a bill passed by lawmakers and headed to the governor.
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June 11, 2024
NY Senate Confirms Gov.'s Appointment To Tax Tribunal
The New York State Senate confirmed Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul's nominee for the state's Tax Appeals Tribunal, according to a statement from the governor's office.
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June 11, 2024
Colo. To Allow Tax Credits For Gifts Through Intermediaries
Colorado will allow taxpayers to claim income tax credits for charitable gifts made through certain intermediaries instead of directly to qualifying organizations under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis.
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June 11, 2024
NJ City's Watershed Property Is Subject To Tax, Court Says
An undeveloped property in West Milford, New Jersey, that's owned by Newark was properly valued by West Milford, as the property is a watershed subject to tax, the New Jersey Tax Court ruled.
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June 11, 2024
Texas General Revenue Up $263M From Last Fiscal Year
Texas brought in $263 million more in general revenue from September through May than it did during the same period last fiscal year, the state comptroller's office said.
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June 11, 2024
Conn. Man's Land Not Used For Farming, Appeals Court Finds
A tax assessor in Connecticut properly declassified a property owner's land as farmland, the state's appellate court ruled in an opinion released Tuesday, affirming a trial court's finding that the property was no longer used for farming.
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June 11, 2024
No Tax Owed On Mailed Ads, Insurer Tells Mich. Appeals Court
Advertisements mailed for a Michigan insurance provider by an out-of-state direct-mail contractor should not incur the state's use tax, the insurer told a state appeals court Tuesday.
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June 11, 2024
Global Combined Reporting Catches States' Eyes, Expert Says
States in the last two years are showing interest in worldwide combined reporting at a level not seen in decades, a tax expert said.
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June 11, 2024
Ohio Revenue Through May Misses Estimate By $1B
Ohio general revenue fund receipts from July through May totaled roughly $1 billion less than expected, according to the state's Office of Budget and Management.
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June 11, 2024
State Tax Agencies Should Eye Chevron Cases, Official Says
Although the concept known as Chevron deference refers to federal agencies' interpretations of ambiguous laws, state tax officials should be paying close attention to the outcome of two cases that could overturn or significantly weaken Chevron as soon as Thursday, an official said.
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June 11, 2024
Kostelanetz Partners Talk Benefits Of Atlanta Tax Firm Tie-Up
Kostelanetz LLP partners Bryan Skarlatos and Todd Welty discuss the firm’s recent combination with Atlanta boutique Welty PC.
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June 11, 2024
NH General Revenues Beat Budget Forecast By $143M
New Hampshire general revenue collection from July through May was $143 million higher than projected, according to the state Department of Administrative Services.
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June 11, 2024
La. Will Allow Deadline Discretion In Award Of Tax Incentives
The Louisiana Economic Development agency will have discretion when awarding tax incentives to businesses that miss a deadline for reasons beyond their control under a bill signed by the governor Tuesday.
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June 11, 2024
Vt. Short-Term Rental Tax Proposal Vetoed
A Vermont bill that would have imposed a 3% surcharge on short-term rentals was vetoed by the governor.
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June 10, 2024
Philly Tax Case Could Give Answers On Reach Of Localities
The U.S. Supreme Court, presented with a Philadelphia resident's claim that the city's refusal to credit her Delaware state taxes paid against her city wage tax liabilities discriminated against interstate commerce, could answer questions about how much agency localities have to tax work performed elsewhere, panelists said Monday.
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June 10, 2024
Unclaimed Property Group Backs Disney At Mich. High Court
An unclaimed property holder trade organization urged the Michigan Supreme Court to affirm that the state waited too long to demand that Disney and a restaurant company remit unclaimed property, arguing that third-party auditors' lax oversight allowed examinations to languish beyond the statute of limitations.
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June 10, 2024
NJ Panel OKs Relaxing Worker Location Rules For Tax Credits
New Jersey would permanently loosen the employee location requirement for businesses to qualify for some of the state's tax breaks and grant programs as part of a bill advanced by the Senate Economic Growth Committee on Monday.
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June 10, 2024
Ariz. Justices Allow Tax On Marriott Loyalty Rewards Stays
A Marriott-branded hotel in Arizona is liable for state taxes on rooms booked through a customer loyalty program, the state's Supreme Court said, upholding a state tax court decision.
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June 10, 2024
SD Declines To Respond To High Court Use Tax Appeal
The South Dakota Department of Revenue sad it will not file a response in the U.S. Supreme Court to a construction company's petition that argues use tax imposed by the state on movable construction equipment was unconstitutional.
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June 10, 2024
Amazon Presses SC Justices To Review Sales Tax Case
The South Carolina Supreme Court should review an appeals court's opinion that held Amazon was required to collect and remit sales tax on products sold on its marketplace in 2016 and owes the state $12.5 million in tax, the company said in a brief.
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June 10, 2024
Mass. House Omits Local-Option Tax From $6B Housing Bill
A proposal by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey to allow local-option transfer fees on high-value real estate sales was left out of a housing package worth more than $6 billion passed by the state House of Representatives.
Expert Analysis
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Strange Notions Bubble Up: SALT In Review
From an assault on North Carolina's phaseout of its corporate income tax to a court ruling on the taxability of sparkling water in Pennsylvania, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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Don't Use The Same Template For Every Client Alert
As the old marketing adage goes, consistency is key, but law firm style guides need consistency that contemplates variety when it comes to client alert formats, allowing attorneys to tailor alerts to best fit the audience and subject matter, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.
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Think Like A Lawyer: Follow The Iron Rule Of Trial Logic
Many diligent and eager attorneys include every good fact, point and rule in their trial narratives — spurred by the gnawing fear they’ll be second-guessed for leaving something out — but this approach ignores a fundamental principle of successful trial lawyering, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.
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The Art Of Asking: Leveraging Your Contacts For Referrals
Though attorneys may hesitate to ask for referral recommendations to generate new business, research shows that people want to help others they know, like and trust, so consider who in your network you should approach and how to make the ask, says Rebecca Hnatowski at Edwards Advisory.
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4 Ways To Refresh Your Law Firm's Marketing Strategy
With many BigLaw firms relying on an increasingly obsolete marketing approach that prioritizes stiff professionalism over authentic connection, adopting a few key communications strategies to better connect with today's clients and prospects can make all the difference, say Eric Pacifici and Kevin Henderson at SMB Law.
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Consider 2 Alternative Exit Plans In RE Distress Scenarios
In the face of an impending wave of foreclosures, lenders and borrowers alike should consider two exit strategies — deed-in-lieu of foreclosure and consent foreclosure — that can mitigate potential costs and diminution in property value that could be incurred during a lengthy proceeding, say attorneys at BCLP.
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SC's Courts Have It Wrong On Amazon Marketplace Sales Tax
The South Carolina Supreme Court should step in and correct the misguided change in tax law effectuated by lower court rulings that found Amazon owes state sales tax for marketplace sales made prior to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Wayfair v. South Dakota decision in 2018, says Hayes Holderness at the University of Richmond.
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Constitutional Shenanigans And Other Sports: SALT In Review
From a challenge to New York's end run on a federal law to voters' rejection of a sales tax that would aid Kansas City's major league teams, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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This Earth Day, Consider How Your Firm Can Go Greener
As Earth Day approaches, law firms and attorneys should consider adopting more sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprint — from minimizing single-use plastics to purchasing carbon offsets for air travel — which ultimately can also reduce costs for clients, say M’Lynn Phillips and Lisa Walters at IMS Legal Strategies.
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Weisselberg's Perjury At Trial Spotlights Atty Ethics Issues
Former Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg’s recent guilty plea for perjury in the New York attorney general's civil fraud trial should serve as a reminder to attorneys of their ethical duties when they know a client has lied or plans to lie in court, and the potential penalties for not fulfilling those obligations, say Hilary Gerzhoy and Julienne Pasichow at HWG.
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Practicing Law With Parkinson's Disease
This Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Adam Siegler at Greenberg Traurig discusses his experience working as a lawyer with Parkinson’s disease, sharing both lessons on how to cope with a diagnosis and advice for supporting colleagues who live with the disease.
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Why Supreme Court Should Allow Repatriation Tax To Stand
If the U.S. Supreme Court doesn't reject the taxpayers' misguided claims in Moore v. U.S. that the mandatory repatriation tax is unconstitutional, it could wreak havoc on our system of taxation and result in a catastrophic loss of revenue for the government, say Christina Mason and Theresa Balducci at Herrick Feinstein.
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For Lawyers, Pessimism Should Be A Job Skill, Not A Life Skill
A pessimistic mindset allows attorneys to be effective advocates for their clients, but it can come with serious costs for their personal well-being, so it’s crucial to exercise strategies that produce flexible optimism and connect lawyers with their core values, says Krista Larson at Stinson.