State & Local
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October 16, 2024
NC Revenue Through Aug. Up $101M From Last Year
North Carolina's total revenue for July and August was $101 million higher than during the same period last fiscal year, according to the Office of State Controller.
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October 16, 2024
Mich. Tribunal OKs Wells Fargo Tax Credit Requested By Mail
Michigan's tax department must allow Wells Fargo Rail Co.'s mailed claim for a property tax credit for maintenance of its railcars, a state tax panel ruled, ordering a $172,000 refund for the company.
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October 15, 2024
Microsoft's Cost-Share Tax Arguments 'Deficient,' Mich. Says
Microsoft failed to adequately flesh out its arguments that cost-sharing agreement receipts from affiliates should be included in its Michigan apportionment formula as licenses of intellectual property, the state's tax agency argued in asking the Michigan Tax Tribunal to toss the company's case.
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October 15, 2024
Pa. Dept. Clarifies Taxation Of Software Sales
Pennsylvania sales tax applies to sales of software that is "canned," or prewritten, because such software is considered tangible personal property, the state Department of Revenue said in guidance.
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October 15, 2024
Texas Overreaches In Data Processing Tax Plan, COST Says
Amending Texas' tax rules to clarify that some data processing services are subject to the state's sales tax represents an expansion of the Texas sales tax base without legislative backing, the Council on State Taxation said in comments on a proposed state amendment.
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October 15, 2024
Colo. Panel Advances Sales Tax Search Engine Plan
Colorado's online sales and use tax license and exemption certificate search engine would expand to allow searches using a retailer's and federal identification number under a proposed bill advanced to next year's legislature by an oversight panel Tuesday.
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October 15, 2024
New ABA Tax Chair Wants To Revamp Practice's Dry Image
The new chair of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation told Law360 she wants to boost the section's recent efforts to revamp the tax practice's image as a boring, numbers-intensive profession with limited opportunities to improve society and inspire more students to enter tax law. Here, she shares her background and goals for the tax section.
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October 15, 2024
V&E Adds Energy Tax Pro From Bracewell In Houston
Vinson & Elkins LLP has bolstered its energy transition and tax practices with a partner in Houston who came aboard from Bracewell LLP and whose background includes substantial in-house experience advising on renewable projects.
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October 15, 2024
Colo. Panel Advances Tax Audit Confidentiality Proposal
Colorado would impose increased confidentiality standards on third parties conducting sales tax audits on behalf of local jurisdictions, including potential misdemeanor criminal charges for violators, under draft legislation forwarded Tuesday to the 2025 Legislature by an oversight panel.
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October 15, 2024
Law Firms Diverge As Anti-ESG Pushback Continues
A continuing onslaught of legislation and litigation opposing corporate environmental, social and governance actions has created a fork in the road for law firms, with some choosing to scale back efforts and others pushing ahead with their internal ESG and diversity, equity and inclusion goals.
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October 15, 2024
The 2024 Law360 Pulse Social Impact Leaders
Check out our Social Impact Leaders ranking, analysis and interactive graphics to see which firms stand out for their engagement with social responsibility and commitment to pro bono service.
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October 11, 2024
NJ Seeking Transfer Pricing Consultant For Audits, Litigation
New Jersey's tax agency issued another request for bids Friday to contract with a transfer pricing specialist to assist with audits and litigation, following the recent renewal of a contract that is set to expire at the end of November.
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October 11, 2024
Fiserv Unit Wins 2nd Look At $2M Ohio Tax Refund Claim
A Fiserv subsidiary may pursue a $2.1 million refund of sales taxes paid on its debit and disbursement authorization services, the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals said, remanding the matter to the state's tax commissioner for a more detailed analysis.
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October 11, 2024
Idaho Grants Tax Relief To Hurricane Helene Victims
Idaho is postponing state tax deadlines for individuals and businesses based in seven states impacted by Hurricane Helene, its tax commission announced.
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October 11, 2024
Wis. Revenue Through Sept. Up $171M From Last Year
Wisconsin's general purpose revenue from July through September totaled $171 million more than last year's collection for the same period, according to the state Department of Revenue.
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October 11, 2024
Ohio General Revenue Collection Up $309M From Estimate
Ohio's general revenue collection from July through September beat estimates by $309 million, according to a report by the state Office of Budget and Management.
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October 11, 2024
IRS Delays Fla. Deadlines, Grants Other Relief After Milton
Following Hurricane Milton, the Internal Revenue Service has granted all taxpayers in Florida until May 1 to file individual and business tax returns and make payments, the agency said Friday, while also granting dyed diesel penalty relief.
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October 11, 2024
Minn. Tax Court Cuts $100K From Lakefront Cabin Value
A Minnesota lakefront cabin property was overvalued by a county assessor, the state's tax court said, reducing the assessment by more than $100,000 and rejecting the county's comparable sales analysis.
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October 11, 2024
Disputes May Loom Over Dividend Deductions For CFCs
U.S. multinational corporations are concerned that rulemakers' interpretation of a law allowing tax-free repatriation of certain overseas earnings could lead to controversy after the Internal Revenue Service published a memo indicating the break is unavailable for controlled foreign corporations.
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October 11, 2024
Veteran MTC Counsel On Wayfair, PL 86-272 Pushback
Nancy Prosser stepped down as general counsel of the Multistate Tax Commission on Sept. 25, capping off a long career in the state and local tax field, mostly on the government side. Here, Law360 speaks to Prosser about her career as well as two key policy issues she has been instrumental in shaping.
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October 11, 2024
Taxation With Representation: Davis Polk, Latham, Kirkland
In this week's Taxation With Representation, Rio Tinto agrees to acquire Arcadium Lithium for roughly $6.7 billion, Ares Management Corp. and GCP International reach a $3.7 billion deal, and Butterfly Equity announces plans to buy The Duckhorn Portfolio for $2 billion.
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October 10, 2024
Mich. Co.'s Industrial Tax Break Appeal Ruled Too Late
A Michigan company is barred from appealing the denial of its industrial tax exemption because the case fell outside the state's one-year statute of limitations, the state's Court of Claims ruled.
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October 10, 2024
Mich. Justice Asks If Disney Fight Harms Multistate Collabs
Michigan's chief justice asked Thursday whether allowing Disney and the owner of IHOP to retain unclaimed property, which state officials say they should get after an audit, could hamper Michigan's ability to participate in multistate audits that yield hundreds of millions of dollars for the state.
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October 10, 2024
Dems Weigh Extending 2017 Cuts To Maintain $400K Tax Vow
Despite criticizing the 2017 Republican tax overhaul as a deficit-busting boon to the wealthy, congressional Democrats may feel pressure to support extending some of the law's individual and small-business provisions or risk breaking their pledge not to raise taxes on those earning $400,000 or less.
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October 10, 2024
Pa. Revenue Beats Estimate By $20M Through Sept.
Pennsylvania's general fund revenue from July through September exceeded a budget forecast by $20 million, according to a report by the state Department of Revenue.
Expert Analysis
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Why Now Is The Time For Law Firms To Hire Lateral Partners
Partner and associate mobility data from the second quarter of this year suggest that there's never been a better time in recent years for law firms to hire lateral candidates, particularly experienced partners — though this necessitates an understanding of potential red flags, say Julie Henson and Greg Hamman at Decipher Investigative Intelligence.
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Considering Possible PR Risks Of Certain Legal Tactics
Disney and American Airlines recently abandoned certain litigation tactics in two lawsuits after fierce public backlash, illustrating why corporate counsel should consider the reputational implications of any legal strategy and partner with their communications teams to preempt public relations concerns, says Chris Gidez at G7 Reputation Advisory.
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It's No Longer Enough For Firms To Be Trusted Advisers
Amid fierce competition for business, the transactional “trusted adviser” paradigm from which most firms operate is no longer sufficient — they should instead aim to become trusted partners with their most valuable clients, says Stuart Maister at Strategic Narrative.
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Frames Of Deference: SALT In Review
From a challenge to New York state regulations that follows on the end of Chevron deference to a court ruling siding with the Nebraska Revenue Department's view of a tax deduction, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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Navigating A Potpourri Of Possible Transparency Act Pitfalls
Despite the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's continued release of guidance for complying with the Corporate Transparency Act, its interpretation remains in flux, making it important for companies to understand potentially problematic areas of ambiguity in the practical application of the law, say attorneys at Sidley.
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How Methods Are Evolving In Textualist Interpretations
Textualists at the U.S. Supreme Court are increasingly considering new methods such as corpus linguistics and surveys to evaluate what a statute's text communicates to an ordinary reader, while lower courts even mull large language models like ChatGPT as supplements, says Kevin Tobia at Georgetown Law.
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Local Taxes And Repercussions: SALT In Review
From a study of local taxes to news that corporations will relocate to tax-friendlier places, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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Financial Incentives May Alleviate Affordable Housing Crisis
There is a wide array of financial incentives and assistance that the government can provide to both real estate developers and individuals to chip away at the housing affordability problem from multiple angles, say Eric DeBear and Madeline Williams at Cozen.
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Why Attorneys Should Consider Community Leadership Roles
Volunteering and nonprofit board service are complementary to, but distinct from, traditional pro bono work, and taking on these community leadership roles can produce dividends for lawyers, their firms and the nonprofit causes they support, says Katie Beacham at Kilpatrick.
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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.