STATE TAX KNOWLEDGE UPDATE (70 ITEMS) - MARCH 13, 2018

The following are state tax and business developments I have curated since February 7th, and posted in the LEVERAGE SALT LinkedIn group:

Some of the items may be on the same state/issue/topic, but they are from different sources which may give you a broader perspective to help your company or client.

1. Sweeping New Iowa Tax Policy Unveiled

2. Idaho Enacts New IRC Conformity Date

3. Georgia Introduce IRC Conformity Bill

4. West Virginia Passes Federal Conformity Bill

5. Sales Subject to Indiana Throwback Rule

6. Idaho Sends IRC Conformity Legislation to Governor

7. Kansas Might Repeal Multistate Tax Compact Provisions

8. Corporate Close Up: D.C. Denies Big Oil Summary Judgment on Multimillion-dollar Chainbridge Transfer Pricing Case

9. Tax Reform Friday: High Income Tax States Strike Back Against Limitation of State Tax Deduction

10. Individual Income Insights: Many States Mulling Conformity to “Fit In”

11. Extras on Excise: States are Smitten for Fuel Tax Revenue

12. Sales Tax Slice: Sourcing Online Purchases from Physical Stores

13. Effective NOL Planning in Light of Tax Reform | Tax Executive

14. Pennsylvania DOR Issues Non-Participation Penalty Assessments to Delinquent Taxpayers that Failed to Partake in 2017 Tax Amnesty Program

15. The Empire State is Open for Business – Overview of Select New York Credits and Incentives

16. Nexus Considerations: Navigating the "Kill Quill" Revolt

17. District of Columbia Confounds Opposition to Its Transfer Pricing Strategy

18. Implications to Illinois Repeal and Replacement of Its Unclaimed Property Act

19. Louisiana Governor Calls Special Session to Address Fiscal Cliff

20. COST: State-by-State Scorecard Summaries and State Legislative Targets

21. 2018 State Tax Amnesty Programs

22. 2017 State Tax Amnesty Programs (in case you missed it)

23. COST’s Opposition to House Bill 2489, Retroactive Repeal of Multistate Tax Compact Provisions

24. COST’s Opposition to Senate Bill 227, Mandatory Unitary Combined Reporting

25. California Issues Out-of-State Voluntary Disclosure Application

26. Idaho Enacts New IRC Conformity Date

27. Tax Reform Friday: Idaho and West Virginia Take Differing Approaches to I.R.C. Conformity Post-Pub. L. No. 115-97

28. West Virginia IRC Conformity Date Updated

29. Virginia Enacts IRC Conformity Legislation

30. Corporate Close-Up: California Holds LLC Member Responsible for Entitys Tax Liabilities

31. Extras on Excise: By Taxing Uber and Other TNCs, Alabama Joins the Club

32. Corporate Close-Up: New York City Tribunal Rules on Sourcing of Services from Subscription-Based Consulting

33. Property Tax Post: Payment in Lieu of Tax Already a Success?

34. Individual Income Insights: Many States Mulling Conformity to “Fit In”

35. Court or Congress? State Online Sales Tax Power Set for Change

36. Update: Companies Face Setback in Challenge to District of Columbia’s Use of Chainbridge Transfer Pricing Method

37. Congress Extends Tax Incentives for Energy Production and Conservation

38. 2018 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION CALENDAR

39. MTC Files Brief in Support of South Dakota’s Petition in Wayfair Case

40. Could States Fix The SALT Deduction Cap By Taxing Pass-Throughs and Giving Their Owners A Credit?

41. Ohio Department of Taxation Reissues Release on Nexus Standards and Filing Safe Harbors for Pass-Through Entities

42. Partnership Not Liable for Nonresident Partner’s NJ Tax

43. Michigan Explains Apportionment of Industrial Processing Exemption

44. Federal Tax Reform—Multistate Tax Considerations and Conformity

45. Colorado DOR Holds that Alternative Apportionment is Warranted Under Taxpayer Provided Facts

46. District of Columbia CFO Addresses How Recently Enacted Federal Tax Reforms May Affect Some Taxation in the District

47. New Idaho Law Specifies 120-Day Timeframe to Report Federal Tax Audit Adjustments

48. New Virginia Law Updates State Conformity to IRC and Decouples from Some Provisions of the 2017 Federal Tax Reform Act

49. New West Virginia Law Updates State Conformity to IRC

50. US Supreme Court Schedules Oral Arguments in Case Challenging the Constitutionality of Remote Seller Economic Nexus Law for April 17

51. Colorado DOR Issues General Information Letter Addressing Certain Remote Seller Notice and Reporting Requirements

52. South Carolina DOR Announces Acceptance of Retail Sales Tax Applications from Third-Party Suppliers of Products Sold via Online Marketplace Provider Website to In-State Purchaser

53. Could Colorado actually simplify its sales tax system? Let's hope so.

54. Tax Reform Friday: More Tax Reform Bills and Proposals; Texas v. ACA–Round 2

55. Corporate Close-Up: ‘Kill Quill’—What the End of Quill Would Mean for Corporate Income Taxpayers

56. Georgia Enacts IRC Conformity Update, Rate Cut

57. Michigan Keeps Personal Exemptions

58. Oregon Tax Bill Includes IRC Conformity

59. Illinois Introduces Marketplace Fairness Act

60. Alabama Tax Amnesty Program Enacted

61. New Alabama Law Requires 2018 Amnesty Program Providing for Potential Waiver of Interest and Penalties

62. Michigan Department of Treasury Explains New Law Permitting Alternate Method of Dispute Settlement and Resolution for Certain Tax Liabilities

63. California FTB Explains Refund Claim Procedures Pursuant to 2017 Appellate Court Ruling

64. New Georgia Law Updates State Conformity to IRC

65. Illinois DOR Addresses How Recently Enacted Federal Tax Reforms May Affect Some State Income Taxation

66. New Michigan Law Generally Updates State Conformity to IRC and Permits Taxpayer Election to Conform to IRC in Effect for Tax Year

67. Partnership Not Liable for Out-of-State Limited Partner CBT in New Jersey

68. Connecticut DOR Services Sends Use Tax Notices to Online Customers Based on Information Provided by Online Retailers

69. Chart of States with and without State Tax Tribunals (as of 2/3/16)

70. Florida Reaches Agreement on IRC Conformity, Other Tax Issues

The above represents 'general curating' of state tax developments into one spot. If you still feel overwhelmed by the volume of state tax developments, please consider my 'custom curating' service. Meaning, clients hire LEVERAGE SALT to daily curate state tax developments relating to a specific industry, state(s), tax type and issue. You can make it as granular as you prefer. This allows you to reduce information overload, and only get the information you need to help your clients or company. This service is provided on a fixed-fee or subscription basis. Contact me at strahle@leveragesalt.com.

State Tax Knowledge Update (59 items) - February 7, 2018

The following are state tax and business developments I have curated since January 6th, and posted in the LEVERAGE SALT LinkedIn group:

Some of the items may be on the same state/issue/topic, but they are from different sources which may give you a broader perspective to help your company or client.

1. Online Travel Company Liable for Maryland Sales Tax

2. Corporate Close-Up: The Texas Comptroller Ruled that Wireless Voice and Data Services are Performed in Texas when a Customer Accesses Those Services in Texas--Is It Market-Based Sourcing?

3. Many State Tax Incentives Are Now Taxable Due to Federal Tax Reform

4. California Proposes Bill to Counter Federal Limit on SALT Deduction

5. Remote Retailers Must Notify Online Purchasers of Louisiana Use Tax

6. Pennsylvania Requires Addback for Federal Bonus Depreciation

7. Fourth quarter 2017 state and local tax developments

8. State implications of federal tax reform - international business

9. Twenty-Five States Face Revenue Shortfalls in 2018

10. FEDERAL TAX REFORM AND THE STATES - great resource from the National Conference of State Legislatures

11. 2017 State Policy Review: Taxation

12. THE SKINNY ON THE 2017 MTC SALES TAX AMNESTY PROGRAM AND HOW IT AFFECTS AMAZON FBA SELLERS - this is an interesting video to watch (even now).

13. Top Tax Strategies for California Businesses in 2018

14. U.S. Supreme Court to Review Bid to Collect Internet Sales Tax

15. New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration Announces Business Tax Rate Reductions

16. Michigan Department of Treasury Discusses New Law Permitting Alternate Method of Dispute Settlement and Resolution for Certain Tax Liabilities

17. Ohio Department of Taxation Launches Amnesty Program that Runs through February 15 and Permits Potential Waiver of 100 Percent Penalties and 50 Percent Interest

18. Pennsylvania DOR Announces that Non-Participation Penalty Assessments from 2017 Amnesty Program are Coming Soon

19. Alabama DOR Issues Proposed Amended Rules on NOL Carryforwards, Federal Conformity, and Revised Filing Due Dates

20. Florida DOR Issues Administrative Rule Changes Reflecting 2017 Law on Return Filing and Payment Due Dates

21. US Supreme Court Denies Taxpayer Request to Review Florida Supreme Court Holding

22. Louisiana DOR Reminds that Certain Remote Retailers Must Issue Annual Information Notices and File Statements

23. Washington DOR Issues CPI-Adjusted Substantial Nexus Bright Line Nexus Thresholds for Business and Occupation Tax Purposes

24. Remote Businesses Might Become Subject to Hawaii Tax

25. New Jersey Enacts Corporate HQ Credit

26. Illinois Proposes Tax on Investment Management Service Businesses

27. Federal Tax Act Affects Minnesota Taxpayers

28. Illinois Responds to SALT Deduction Limit

29. Alaska Governor Seeks Support For Payroll Tax

30. Missouri Governor’s Plan for Tax Reform

31. Tax Law Prompts S Corps to Examine Their Structures: A Primer

32. Idaho State Tax Commission Discusses How Recently Enacted Federal Tax Reforms May Affect State Income Taxation

33. Michigan Court of Appeals Holds that Receipts from Law Firm Services are Sourced on a Market-Based Methodology for City of Detroit Income Tax Purposes

34. Colorado DOR Issues Updated Compliance Guidance on Some Remote Seller Notice and Reporting Requirements

35. Texas Comptroller Revises Administrative Rule 3.308 Computers – Hardware, Software, Services, and Sales

36. Washington DOR Issues Proposed Expedited Regulatory Amendments Reflecting 2017 Legislation that Expands B&O Economic Nexus

37. Multistate Tax Considerations of the Federal Tax Reform International Tax Provisions

38. What the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Means for States – A Guide to Impacts and Options

39. Key Lessons for States as They Determine Responses to the Federal Tax Bill

40. 2018 Tax policy outlook

41. NYC Receipts Allocation Reflects Employees and Consultants

42. State Tax Conformity: Revenue Effects

43. Tax Reform Moves to the States: State Revenue Implications and Reform Opportunities Following Federal Tax Reform

44. January Tax Retrospective: Congress Acts, States React

45. Tax reform provides federal and state credits and incentives opportunities

46. New York releases FY 18-19 budget proposal

47. California Competes tax credit program - More than $55 million in tax credits available

48. You’re Invited: COST, Bloomberg Tax and McDermott Will & Emery to Host Post-Oral Argument Roundtable Discussion

49. Oregon DOR Issues Final Market-Based Sourcing Rule

50. Pennsylvania DOR Discusses New Law that Imposes Information Reporting and Notice Requirements on Some Remote Sellers Including Marketplace Facilitators

51. South Carolina: ALJ Denies DOR Motion for Injunction – Holds that Online Marketplace Provider is Not Required to Collect Tax on Third-Party Sales During Pendency of Case

52. Pennsylvania DOR Announces Immediate Effectiveness of 2017 Legislative Amendments Involving NOL Limitations

53. Montana DOR Discusses How Recently Enacted Federal Tax Reforms May Affect Some State Income Taxation

54. Minnesota DOR Discusses How Recently Enacted Federal Tax Reforms May Affect Some State Income Taxation

55. South Dakota Updates IRC Conformity Date

56. New Hampshire Joins Internet Sales Tax Fight

57. Ohio Amnesty Program Ends February 15

58. Oklahoma Governor Proposes Budget with Numerous Tax Changes

59. Tax Reform Friday: From Coast to Coast, Federal Tax Reform Involves State Taxation Policy

The above represents 'general curating' of state tax developments into one spot. If you still feel overwhelmed by the volume of state tax developments, please consider my 'custom curating' service. Meaning, clients hire LEVERAGE SALT to daily curate state tax developments relating to a specific industry, state(s), tax type and issue. You can make it as granular as you prefer. This allows you to reduce information overload, and only get the information you need to help your clients or company. This service is provided on a fixed-fee or subscription basis. Contact me at strahle@leveragesalt.com.

28 State Tax Developments You May Want to Know - Sept 12, 2017

The following are state tax and business developments I have curated since September 5th, and posted in the LEVERAGE SALT LinkedIn group:

1. State income tax return extended due dates 2016 calendar year

2. While Virginia Supreme Court Holds “Subject-To-Tax” Means “Actually Taxed,” Determination of “Actually Taxed” is Relatively Broad for Purposes of Addback Exception

3. Corporate Income Tax Rates around the World, 2017

4. Wrapping Up August – and Looking Forward to September

5. How Much Does Your State Collect in Corporate Income Taxes Per Capita?

6. The Virginia Tax Amnesty Program will run for a 62-day period, beginning on September 13, 2017, and ending on November 14, 2017.

7. Guidance for 2017 Tennessee Hall Income Tax Released

8. As Political Division Grows, State Budgets Come in Later (If at All)

9. How Did America's Richest State Become Such a Fiscal Mess?

10. Indiana Ruling Holds that Taxpayer Successfully Showed Nexus with Foreign Jurisdictions for Sales Factor Throwback Purposes

11. New York ALJ Rules in Favor of Taxpayer - Receipts from Online Services Sourced Out-of-State

12. New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Removes Draft Proposed Regulation Section 4-2.12 Regarding Receipts from Certain Services to Investment Companies

13. South Carolina Appellate Court Affirms that Satellite TV Provider Must Source Subscription Receipts Based on Market because Signal Delivery is Income-Producing Activity

14. New York Advisory Opinion Explains Taxation and Sourcing of Interactive Software with Customized Skinning

15. New New York Law Extends Certain Real Property Transfer Tax Rate Reductions to 1 September 2020

16. California FTB proposes new withholding regulation for pass-through entities

17. This week's local policy digest includes the NC Brunch Bill, a housing discrimination ordinance, and a balloon ban.

18. California partnership returns: penalty relief available for 2016 returns and revised extension period in 2017

19. NFL Superstars Sacked by Jock Taxes on Away Games

20. State Revenue Volatility: An Inevitable Challenge With a Workable Solution

21. States vs. Marketplace vs. Third-Party Sellers––The Amazon Sales Tax Challenge

22. First U.S. Prosecution Over ‘Zapper’ Software Nets Guilty Plea

23. New York Tax Office Loses Another Case Against Remote Company

24. South Carolina income producing activity at customer location

25. NORTH CAROLINA IMPORTANT NOTICE: SALES TAX BASE EXPANSION PROTECTION ACT

26. TENNESSEE: Is there more than one formula for apportioning franchise and excise tax?

27. TENNESSEE: 2017 SALES AND USE TAX GUIDE

28. Virginia Supreme Court Rules in Addback Case

The above represents 'general curating' of state tax developments into one spot. If you still feel overwhelmed by the volume of state tax developments, please consider my 'custom curating' service. Meaning, clients hire LS to daily curate state tax developments relating to a specific industry, state(s), tax type and issue. You can make it as granular as you prefer. This allows you to reduce information overload, and only get the information you need to help your clients or company. This service is provided on a fixed-fee or subscription basis. Contact me at strahle@leveragesalt.com.

29 State Tax & Business Developments You May Want to Know - August 21, 2017

The following are state tax and business developments I have curated since August 14th, and posted in the LEVERAGE SALT LinkedIn group:

1. Resistance is not Always Futile: New Decision in Ongoing Delaware Unclaimed Property Audit Litigation

2. MTC Voluntary Disclosure Initiative for Online Marketplace Sellers (i.e., Amazon FBA program)

3. A State Tax Administrator's Perspective on Partnership Taxation

4. Illinois Court Upholds Cook County’s Beverage Tax Finding It Passes Constitutional Muster and Related Developments

5. Webinar: August 24th - Best Practices in Achieving Obsolescence Adjustments for Complex and Commercial Properties

6. State Corporate Income Tax Rules for Sourcing of Revenue for Law Firms

7. Nationwide Sales/Use Tax Update - September 12, 2017

8. Credits Can No Longer Be Applied Against Oregon’s Minimum Tax

9. Total Solar Eclipse Won’t Black Out State Taxes

10. South Carolina going after Amazon (the marketplace facilitator) for not collecting sales tax on behalf of the businesses that use the marketplace to sell products to SC residents

11. Summary of New York Corporation Tax Legislation Enacted after the 2016-2017 Budget

12. New York Amendments Regarding Sales Tax Rules for Transactions between Certain Related Entities and for Purchases Made by Nonresident Businesses

13. Technology Company State Tax Guide from Moss Adams (Very Nicely Done)

14. Illinois Amends Rule Regarding Alternative Apportionment

15. Amazon’s Marketplace Business Isn’t a Tax Avoidance Scheme

16. A comparison of enterprise zone programs in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin

17. MTC National Nexus Program Adds 2 More Participating States to Online Marketplace Seller Voluntary Disclosure Initiative

18. Rhode Island DOT Announces that it Will Accept Applications for Recently Enacted Amnesty Program Beginning December 1

19. California FTB Issues Draft Proposed New Pass-Through Entity Withholding Regulation

20. Minnesota Tax Court Holds that Taxpayer May Apply NOL Carryovers from an Acquired Entity to Full Extent Permitted under IRC § 382

21. New North Carolina Law Includes Changes to Intercompany Expense Addback Statute, Added Franchise Tax Base Deduction, and Definition of Business Income

22. Texas Court of Appeals Upholds Subcontractor Exclusion While Reversing and Remanding on Taxpayer COGS Methodology

23. Memo Explains Recent New York Law Changes on Transactions Involving TPP Resold Between Certain Related Entities

24. California Supreme Court Denies Rehearing in Recent Case Involving Taxation of a Transfer of Legal Entity Interests

25. Washington DOR Reissues Emergency Amended B&O Tax Rule on Financial Institution Apportionment to Conform with MTC Changes

26. Three Big Problems with Sales Taxes Today — and How to Fix Them

27. Should Online Platforms Collect Sales Tax For Third-Party Sellers?

28. The United States Of Unicorns: Every US Company Worth $1B+ In One Map

29. Are Remote Retailers and Marketplace Providers in the 'Path of Totality'?

The above represents 'general curating' of state tax developments into one spot. If you still feel overwhelmed by the volume of state tax developments, please consider my 'custom curating' service. Meaning, clients hire LS to daily curate state tax developments relating to a specific industry, state(s), tax type and issue. You can make it as granular as you prefer. This allows you to reduce information overload, and only get the information you need to help your clients or company. This service is provided on a fixed-fee or subscription basis. Contact me at strahle@leveragesalt.com.

South Carolina Goes After Amazon as Marketplace Facilitator | All Internet Retailers and Marketplace Providers Under Attack

WARNING: All Internet retailers and marketplace providers should pay attention.

South Carolina is going after Amazon (the marketplace facilitator) for not collecting sales tax on behalf of the businesses that use the marketplace to sell products to SC residents (see CNBC article, "Amazon faces a tax fight in South Carolina that could change how online sellers do business").

This is a very interesting development since the Multistate Tax Commission is trying to get retailers that sell through marketplace facilitators to collect sales tax (see MTC Voluntary Disclosure initiative).

According to the CNBC article, "South Carolina is arguing that under state law, Amazon is considered the seller because the company controls a large part of the sales process for its third-party merchants."

Each state has different imposition statutes and ability to reach a conclusion that South Carolina is attempting to reach. But as the article suggests, if South Carolina is successful, other states will play the copycat game; OR perhaps South Carolina is the one playing the copycat game, since Minnesota, Washington and Rhode Island recently passed legislation to impose sales tax collection responsibilities on marketplace providers.

Minnesota and Washington laws are already under attack (see BNA articles, "Minnesota Marketplace Law Ripe for Legal Challenge" and "Washington’s Marketplace Sales Tax Law Heading for Battle"). Washington's definition of seller “includes marketplace facilitators, whether making sales in their own right or on behalf of marketplace sellers, and referrers.” Rhode Island describes marketplace providers as "retail sale facilitators." Check out Rhode Island's website for more notices and details.

All of the above is going on at the same time that states are imposing burdensome use tax notice and reporting requirements on retailers that are NOT currently collecting sales tax (because they don't have a legal obligation to do so). Consequently, states are forcing retailers to simply take the easier compliance task of collecting and remitting sales tax (versus complying with use tax notice and reporting requirements). 

It's a whole new world where states are trying to get sales tax revenue from anyone and everyone. Stay tuned.

How to request alternative apportionment in South Carolina

On June 1, 2015, the South Carolina Department of Revenue published Revenue Procedure 15-2. The purpose of the Revenue Procedure is to provide a procedure for a taxpayer to request use of an alternative apportionment method if the taxpayer believes that the prescribed statutory formula does not fairly represent the extent of the taxpayer’s business activities in South Carolina. This request is an “Application for an Alternative Apportionment Method under Code Section 12-6- 2320(A).” 

South Carolina also released Revenue Ruling 15-5. The Revenue Ruling addresses some of the issues that may arise when South Carolina requires or a taxpayer requests an alternative allocation or apportionment method, including combined unitary reporting. Noted in the Ruling is that the Department may require and a taxpayer may request combined unitary reporting as an alternative method, if reasonable. Combined reporting can be used to effectuate equitable apportionment of the taxpayer’s income when separate entity reporting does not fairly represent the taxpayer’s business activity in South Carolina. If the Department requires combined reporting, the Department will apply the Finnigan method to apportion the unitary income using a two-step process (as described in the ruling).

For prior posts on South Carolina and alternative apportionment, including the recent South Carolina Supreme Court Case, click here.