State & Local
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September 04, 2024
Mass. Tax Panel OKs Nix Of Value Cut On Renovated Housing
The owner of a Massachusetts apartment building that contains a commercial space was unable to have the property's valuation reduced because its evidence of comparable sales didn't account for differences in the properties, the state Appellate Tax Board affirmed.
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September 04, 2024
Maryland Joining IRS Direct File Next Year
Maryland will join the IRS' free electronic tax filing program known as Direct File in 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service announced Wednesday.
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September 04, 2024
Ex-Mass. Pol 'A Little Sloppy' But Not Criminal, Jurors Told
Former Massachusetts state Sen. Dean A. Tran denied charges Wednesday that he stole pandemic unemployment assistance and cheated on his taxes, with his attorney telling a jury that Tran simply made a series of paperwork "mistakes."
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September 04, 2024
Pa. Revenue Through Aug. Beats Forecast by $54 Million
Pennsylvania's general fund collection in the first two months of the 2025 fiscal year was $54 million more than budget projections, according to the state's revenue secretary.
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September 04, 2024
Arkansas Net Revenues Up $10M From Forecast
Arkansas net general revenue in July and August was $10 million above estimates, according to a report the state Department of Finance and Administration published Wednesday.
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September 04, 2024
W.Va. Revenues Through Aug. Lower Than Budget Forecast
West Virginia's general revenue collection through August was down $205,000 from budget forecasts, according to the state Budget Office.
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September 04, 2024
Kansas' Total Receipts Through Aug. Beat Estimates By $7M
Kansas' total tax receipts in the first two months of the 2025 fiscal year were $7 million higher than estimates, according to the governor's office.
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September 04, 2024
Ohio Board Denies Tax Break For Road Leased To School
A service road that a school leased isn't exempt from property taxes because nearby business owners also used the road for noneducational purposes, the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals ruled Wednesday.
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September 03, 2024
Ga. Proposes Changes To Consolidated Returns Policy
A Georgia affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income tax return would no longer need to petition the state commissioner before doing so for state income tax purposes under a rule amendment proposed by the state Department of Revenue.
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September 03, 2024
Ga. Floats Amending Carry-Forward Period For Some Credits
The carry-forward periods for certain credits in Georgia would be altered to comply with legislation signed by Gov. Brian Kemp, according to rule amendments proposed by the state Department of Revenue.
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September 03, 2024
Fla. Seeks To Toss JetBlue's Suit Over Taxable Miles Formula
The Florida Department of Revenue asked a state court to toss JetBlue's claims that a law that defines what counts as miles flown inside Florida for tax purposes unconstitutionally encompasses territory outside the state, saying apportionment parameters don't need to match a state's geographic boundaries.
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September 03, 2024
Ind. Tax Board Upholds Assessment On Office Space
The owner of a commercial property in Indiana can't lower its assessed value by arguing that the income generated at the property warranted a reduction, according to a state Board of Tax Review decision published Tuesday.
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September 03, 2024
Maine General Revenues In July $106M Over Budget
Maine's revenue collection in July beat budget estimates by roughly $106 million, according to the state Department of Administrative and Financial Services.
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September 03, 2024
Md. Court Says Tax Court Right To Dismiss Moot Claim
The Maryland Tax Court was correct to dismiss a moot claim for the foreign earned income exemption because it does not have the authority to act when no live controversy is present, the state appeals court said.
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August 30, 2024
$100M Deal Finally Ends MoneyGram Unclaimed Property Fight
Delaware will be giving back more than $100 million from uncashed MoneyGram checks to the states where they were bought after finally reaching a settlement with 29 other states that took the matter all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
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August 30, 2024
Texas Justices Won't Hear Truck Co.'s $1M Tax Exemption Bid
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday denied a freight transportation company's request for the justices to consider whether the company is exempt from state franchise tax and owed a roughly $1 million refund.
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August 30, 2024
No Deference For NY Internet Activity Tax Reg, Biz Group Says
A regulation from New York's state tax agency that outlines when certain online activities by out-of-state businesses exceed a federal law's protections against state income taxes isn't entitled to any deference, a business trade group argued in seeking to invalidate portions of the rule.
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August 30, 2024
AT&T Says Colo. Overvalued Property By $33M
Colorado incorrectly overvalued the statewide property of AT&T by about $33 million for property tax purposes, the company said in a lawsuit in state court, arguing for a valuation of less than one-third of the state's valuation.
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August 30, 2024
Key State And Local Tax Takeaways From August
From activity around a new Illinois remote seller law to a long-awaited decision on whether a Nebraska tax deduction for dividends applies to income repatriated under the 2017 federal tax overhaul, the sometimes slow-paced month of August proved anything but in the state and local tax world this year. Here, Law360 presents key developments to know from the past month.
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August 30, 2024
Colorado Pipeline Co. Fights $312M Property Valuation
A Colorado-based pipeline company said the state's Division of Property Taxation wrongly assessed its property at $312 million for tax year 2024, an increase of about $140 million from last year, in a complaint filed in state district court.
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August 30, 2024
Mich. Justices Won't Weigh In On Income Tax Cut's Duration
The Michigan Supreme Court will not review a lower appeals court's decision that found a revenue-triggered cut to the state's income tax rate in 2023 was in effect for only one year, the justices said Friday.
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August 30, 2024
Mich. Appeals Court Backs Uncapping Of Property's Value
A Michigan property's valuation was properly uncapped because the transfer of ownership that followed the death of an owner nullified a state limit on valuation increases, a state appeals court said, affirming a tax tribunal decision.
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August 30, 2024
Taxation With Representation: Kirkland, Paul Weiss, Squire
In this week's Taxation With Representation, Oneok reaches two agreements with energy infrastructure companies worth a total $5.9 billion, McKesson inks a $2.49 billion deal for a cancer center, and First Busey and CrossFirst Bankshares agree to a $917 million merger.
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August 30, 2024
Mich. Revenues Through July Drop $504M From 2023
Michigan general fund revenues from October 2023 through July 2024 decreased by $504 million from last fiscal year, the state Budget Office said Friday.
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August 30, 2024
Neb. Justices Affirm Nix Of Berkshire Unit's Tax Deduction Bid
A Nebraska tax deduction for certain dividends doesn't apply to income repatriated under the 2017 federal tax overhaul, the state Supreme Court affirmed Friday in rejecting arguments from a Berkshire Hathaway entity that the state's tax system excluded the foreign earnings from tax.
![The Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center building, center, white, is seen in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Dec. 2, 2011. The Ohio Supreme Court's home in downtown Columbus has been re-named in honor of the long-serving chief justice who oversaw its renovation into an architectural gem a decade ago. (AP Photo/The Columbus Dispatch, Jonathan Quilter)](https://assets.law360news.com/1876000/1876282/4c61ec4c6b0e0f7d3a071d74868ac5b064d9c375-ohio-supreme-court-moyer.jpeg)
Ohio Justices Affirm School Board's Right To Past Tax Appeal
An Ohio law that bars school boards from appealing certain valuation rulings from boards of revision doesn't apply to complaints that were pending when the restriction took effect in 2022, the state Supreme Court affirmed Wednesday.
![Colorado Gov. Jared Polis had said that he would not sign legislation cutting property taxes and capping local revenue growth unless sponsors withdrew two ballot initiatives seeking similar effects. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)](https://assets.law360news.com/1876000/1876283/7e81e2e63b1cd9d8a95234ebdaed7973f406c91d-election_2024_dnc_89569.jpg)
Colo. Cuts Property Tax Assessment Rates, Limits Growth
Colorado will cut property tax assessment rates and impose caps on the growth of local revenue under legislation signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Jared Polis, staving off two ballot initiatives critics said would have devastated local government budgets.
![In this photo illustration, the Lumen Technologies logo is seen displayed on a smartphone. (Photo by Rafael Henrique / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)](https://assets.law360news.com/1875000/1875880/9c30b04879c344bd68d6ea53945d9ee73c33eba3-photo_illustration_in_brazil_-_14_sept_2022_73183.jpg)
Lumen Says $2B Colo. Tax Valuation Ignores Losses
Taxable property of telecommunications company Lumen Technologies was overvalued in Colorado at more than $2 billion, the company told a state court, arguing for an income approach to the valuation that reflects the company's significant financial losses.
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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Candidates' Plans To End Tip Taxes Spark Fairness Concerns
The Democratic and Republican presidential nominees have both proposed eliminating taxes on tips for restaurant and hospitality workers, but tax experts say such a policy would unfairly pick winners and losers among workers and its benefits would be unevenly spread.
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UN Dives Into Murky Waters Of Taxing Digital Services
The United Nations has its sights set on cross-border services in the digital economy as its framework convention on tax takes shape, but it remains unclear how countries will define that broad and hotly contested topic as they work toward a treaty.
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New Jersey Legislation To Watch: A Midyear Report
New Jersey proposals for a corporate transit tax and mandatory business showdowns during sweltering weather have generated concerns from industry sectors fatigued by rising costs, while the rise of artifical intelligence and corresponding legislation appears to have united those fearing the digital-age hazard of "deepfakes."
Expert Analysis
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Firms Must Offer A Trifecta Of Services In Post-Chevron World
After the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo decision overturning Chevron deference, law firms will need to integrate litigation, lobbying and communications functions to keep up with the ramifications of the ruling and provide adequate counsel quickly, says Neil Hare at Dentons.
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5 Tips To Succeed In A Master Of Laws Program And Beyond
As lawyers and recent law school graduates begin their Master of Laws coursework across the country, they should keep a few pointers in mind to get the most out of their programs and kick-start successful careers in their practice areas, says Kelley Miller at Reed Smith.
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Portland's Gross Receipts Tax Oversteps City's Authority
Recent measures by Portland, Oregon, that expand the voter-approved scope of the Clean Energy Surcharge on certain retail sales eviscerate the common meaning of the word "retail" and exceed the city's chartered authority to levy tax, say Nikki Dobay at Greenberg Traurig and Jeff Newgard at Peak Policy.
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How Law Firms Can Avoid 'Collaboration Drag'
Law firm decision making can be stifled by “collaboration drag” — characterized by too many pointless meetings, too much peer feedback and too little dissent — but a few strategies can help stakeholders improve decision-making processes and build consensus, says Steve Groom at Miles Mediation.
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Assessing The Practicality Of Harris' Affordable Housing Plan
Vice President Kamala Harris' proposed "Build the American Dream" plan to tackle housing affordability issues takes solid recommendations into account and may fare better than California's unsuccessful attempt at a similar program, but the scope of the problem is beyond what a three-point plan can solve, says Brooke Miller at Sheppard Mullin.
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Litigation Funding Disclosure Key To Open, Impartial Process
Blanket investor and funding agreement disclosures should be required in all civil cases where the investor has a financial interest in the outcome in order to address issues ranging from potential conflicts of interest to national security concerns, says Bob Goodlatte, former U.S. House Representative for Virginia.
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What NFL Draft Picks Have In Common With Lateral Law Hires
Nearly half of law firm lateral hires leave within a few years — a failure rate that is strikingly similar to the performance of NFL quarterbacks drafted in the first round — in part because evaluators focus too heavily on quantifiable metrics and not enough on a prospect's character traits, says Howard Rosenberg at Baretz+Brunelle.
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Replacing The Stigma Of Menopause With Law Firm Support
A large proportion of the workforce is forced to pull the brakes on their career aspirations because of the taboo surrounding menopause and a lack of consistent support, but law firms can initiate the cultural shift needed by formulating thoughtful workplace policies, says Barbara Hamilton-Bruce at Simmons & Simmons.
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Planning Law Firm Content Calendars: What, When, Where
During the slower month of August, law firms should begin working on their 2025 content calendars, planning out a content creation and distribution framework that aligns with the firm’s objectives and maintains audience engagement throughout the year, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.
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Specific Attacks On A Vague Tax Law: SALT In Review
From legal assaults on California's vague new sales-factor law to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's record on tax policy, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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Law Firms Should Move From Reactive To Proactive Marketing
Most law firm marketing and business development teams operate in silos, leading to an ad hoc, reactive approach, but shifting to a culture of proactive planning — beginning with comprehensive campaigns — can help firms effectively execute their broader business strategy, says Paul Manuele at PR Manuele Consulting.
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The Big Issues A BigLaw Associates' Union Could Address
A BigLaw associates’ union could address a number of issues that have the potential to meaningfully improve working conditions, diversity and attorney well-being — from restructured billable hour requirements to origination credit allocation, return-to-office mandates and more, says Tara Rhoades at The Sanity Plea.
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It's Time For A BigLaw Associates' Union
As BigLaw faces a steady stream of criticism about its employment policies and practices, an associates union could effect real change — and it could start with law students organizing around opposition to recent recruiting trends, says Tara Rhoades at The Sanity Plea.