State & Local
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May 15, 2024
Minn. Tax Court OKs Trim To Restaurant Property's Value
A Minnesota restaurant property should have its valuation lowered after the property owner provided a more reliable appraisal report, the state Tax Court ruled.
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May 15, 2024
Md. Tax Court Affirms Denial Of Credit For Townhouses
A Maryland real estate developer was correctly denied a tax credit for townhouses built in Baltimore, as the credit is limited to certain multifamily buildings, the state tax court ruled.
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May 15, 2024
Colo. Will Extend Property Tax Assessment Rate Cuts
Colorado will extend its current temporary property tax rate reductions into 2024 and will lower tax rates for future years under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis.
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May 15, 2024
Pardoned NJ Atty Suspended Over Tax, Fraud Convictions
A former Gilmore & Monahan PA partner — who was convicted of failing to pay payroll taxes and lying on a loan application, and was pardoned by then-President Donald Trump — has received a two-year suspension from practicing law in New Jersey, though it will be largely offset by a previous suspension he served, according to a Wednesday order.
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May 15, 2024
RI Tax Division Says Biz Flouted Deal, Owes Full Sales Tax
A Rhode Island business breached the terms of a settlement agreement with the state's Division of Taxation over unpaid sales and use tax, making it liable to pay the full amount rather than the reduced sum, an administrative hearing officer said.
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May 15, 2024
Ariz. Court Sides With Solar Farm On Tax Credits In Valuation
Arizona's tax department wrongly excluded deferred investment credits from the calculation of a solar energy facility's property valuation, a state appeals court ruled, saying the credits should be considered by the department at the time they are claimed.
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May 15, 2024
Colo. To Conform To MTC Standards For Corp. Tax Reporting
Colorado will conform its method for determining the makeup of a combined corporate group with Multistate Tax Commission standards under legislation signed by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis.
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May 15, 2024
Ala. Tribunal Says Ally Financial Units Can't File As Group
Ally Financial and its subsidiaries did not meet the requirements to file a consolidated return and are therefore not eligible for a refund of excise tax or adjustments to net operating losses and final assessments, the Alabama Tax Tribunal ruled.
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May 15, 2024
Colo. Cuts 2024 Income Tax Rate, Changes Refund Method
Colorado will temporarily lower its flat income tax rate and could reduce the rate in future years if certain revenue surpluses are reached under legislation signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis.
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May 15, 2024
Ill. Revenues Beat Budget Forecasts By $388M
Illinois' total general fund revenue for July through April exceeded budget projections by $388 million, the state Office of Management and Budget reported.
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May 15, 2024
Neb. Net Receipts Through April Beat Forecasts By $139M
Nebraska's net receipts from July through April were $139 million higher than projections, according to a monthly report by the state Department of Revenue published Wednesday.
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May 15, 2024
Conn. Net Revenue Through April Up $618M From Last Year
Connecticut's net revenue from July through April was $618 million ahead of last year, according to a monthly report by the state Department of Revenue Services.
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May 15, 2024
Biz Founder Who Left Mass. Fights Tax On $4.7M Gain
A $4.7 million capital gain from the sale of stock by a former Massachusetts resident should not be subject to that state's tax, a couple told a state appeals court, seeking to overturn a finding that the income was attributable to the state.
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May 15, 2024
In Hush Money Case, Jury May Choose To Keep Silent, Too
Though Donald Trump's gag order violations have earned him a threat of jail time, First Amendment experts say jurors in the New York case will likely be free to speak their mind afterward if they want to — a dynamic that in rare instances has led to posttrial controversy.
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May 14, 2024
Tax Pact Council OKs Nexus, Registration Advice For States
A Streamlined Sales Tax Board council on Tuesday approved a recommendation for states to provide remote sellers with at least 30 days to begin collecting sales tax after crossing economic nexus thresholds, and to use gross sales to calculate those thresholds.
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May 14, 2024
Texas Justices Leave Cities' Franchise-Fee Suit Tossed
The Texas Supreme Court has refused to vacate a lower appeals court's order that allowed Hulu, Disney and Netflix to escape a lawsuit from 31 municipalities claiming the streaming platforms are required to pay 5% state franchise fees, holding that the municipalities have other remedies available.
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May 14, 2024
Ore. Tax Court Says ABC Affiliates Must Apportion Separately
The apportionment of corporate tax to Oregon by ABC must be made for each of its affiliates, not for the taxpayers as a group, the state's tax court said Tuesday, agreeing with the entertainment giant.
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May 14, 2024
Va. Gov. Signs Budget With No Tax Changes
Virginia will not expand its sales tax base to include digital products, and it will not change current tax policy in any way, under a two-year budget signed by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
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May 14, 2024
NJ Total Revenues Through April Down $709M
New Jersey general revenue collection from July through April dipped $709 million compared with the same period last year, the state Department of the Treasury reported Tuesday.
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May 14, 2024
Colo. Lawmakers OK Sales Tax Exemption For Modular Homes
New modular homes would be exempt from Colorado's sales and use taxes, saving taxpayers about $1 million annually, under legislation passed by lawmakers and heading to Gov. Jared Polis.
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May 14, 2024
Okla. To Give Rebates To Pro Sports Teams That Create Jobs
Oklahoma will provide rebate payments to offset payroll costs incurred by qualifying professional sports teams that create jobs in the state under a bill signed by the governor.
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May 14, 2024
NJ Tax Court Nixes Condo Owners' Exemption Claims
A New Jersey condominium building is not eligible for a five-year property tax exemption because the developer and owners did not enter into a tax agreement with the city prior to the units being built, the state Tax Court ruled.
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May 14, 2024
Okla. Prohibits Additional Tax On Cryptocurrency Payments
Oklahoma will prevent state and local governments from levying additional tax on payments using digital assets, such as cryptocurrencies, as part of a bill signed by the governor.
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May 14, 2024
La. April Revenue Beats Previous Year By $120M
Louisiana's total revenue in April was $120 million higher than the same month last year, according to a report by the state Department of Revenue.
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May 14, 2024
Minn. Total Revenue In April $16M Ahead Of Forecasts
Minnesota's total revenue in April beat budget estimates by $16 million, according to a report by the state Department of Management and Budget.
State Digital Goods Sourcing Proposal Clears Early Hurdle
States could apply the highest, lowest or a blended state and local tax rate inside a five-digit ZIP code area to sales of digital goods when buyers aren't required to provide their full address under a proposal given preliminary approval Wednesday by the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board.
State Digital Goods Sourcing Proposal Advanced By Council
States could apply the highest, lowest or a blended state and local tax rate inside a five-digit ZIP code area to sales of digital goods when buyers aren't required to provide their full address under a proposal advanced Tuesday by a Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board council.
Tennessee Giving $1.6B In Corporate Franchise Tax Refunds
Tennessee will issue nearly $1.6 billion in corporate franchise tax refunds and cut the tax by about $400 million annually going forward under legislation signed into law by the governor.
Editor's Pick
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Law360 Revenue Report Map Tracks Health Of State Coffers
As state coffers fluctuate because of federal pandemic aid drying up, demographics shifting and remote work becoming commonplace, Law360 Tax Authority is providing up-to-date coverage on state tax revenue with the launch of its Revenue Report Map.
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Nev. Sales Tax Revenue In Jan. Rises $23.8M From Last Year
Nevada brought in $23.8 million more in sales tax revenue in January than in the same month last year, the state Department of Taxation said in a monthly report.
Featured Stories
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In Hush Money Case, Jury May Choose To Keep Silent, Too
Though Donald Trump's gag order violations have earned him a threat of jail time, First Amendment experts say jurors in the New York case will likely be free to speak their mind afterward if they want to — a dynamic that in rare instances has led to posttrial controversy.
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Use Of AI For Tax Comment Letters Poses Ethical Quandaries
While artificial intelligence can streamline the process of conducting a comprehensive review of complex, IRS-proposed federal tax regulations, tax attorneys must be aware of professional and ethical considerations when using it to help draft comment letters to submit to the agency.
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Calif. OTA In Untested Area On Ruling That Biz Wants Binding
A decision by California's Office of Tax Appeals that Microsoft can include 100% of the dividends from foreign affiliates in its California sales factor denominator pleased businesses, who now want the OTA to designate the opinion as precedential, thus binding on it and the state Franchise Tax Board.
Expert Analysis
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A Vision For Economic Clerkships In The Legal System
As courts handle increasingly complex damages analyses involving vast amounts of data, an economic clerkship program — integrating early-career economists into the judicial system — could improve legal outcomes and provide essential training to clerks, say Mona Birjandi at Data for Decisions and Matt Farber at Secretariat.
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E-Discovery Quarterly: Recent Rulings On Text Message Data
Electronically stored information on cellphones, and in particular text messages, can present unique litigation challenges, and recent court decisions demonstrate that counsel must carefully balance what data should be preserved, collected, reviewed and produced, say attorneys at Sidley.
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Kentucky Tax Talk: Budget Focus Cools Tax Reform Efforts
There were some noteworthy tax developments during Kentucky’s legislative session — like the revival of local tax reform and enactment of another tax amnesty program — but major tax initiatives, like those seen in recent years, were largely tabled as legislators focused on establishing the state’s two-year budget, say attorneys at Frost Brown.
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NY Tax Talk: Primary Function Is Key Analysis For Sales Tax
Two sales tax cases recently decided by New York's Appellate Division illustrate why both taxpayers and the state's Department of Revenue subscribe to the primary function test, a logical way to determine whether business transactions are subject to sales tax, say Elizabeth Cha and Jeremy Gove at Eversheds Sutherland.
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Time To Fix NYC's Broken Property Assessment System
A New York appellate court's decision to revive Tax Equity Now New York v. City of New York may force the city to revamp its outdated and unfair real estate tax assessment system, which could be fixed with a couple of simple changes, says Seth Feldman at Romer Debbas.
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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.