State & Local
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February 04, 2025
Mich. Supreme Court Says City's Electricity Fee Is Illegal Tax
A franchise fee added to East Lansing, Michigan, residents' energy bills is a disguised tax, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled Monday, saying the fee was used to raise revenue for the city without first being approved by voters.
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February 04, 2025
Kostelanetz Adds Tax Pro From Lowenstein Sandler
Kostelanetz LLP said a former partner at Lowenstein Sandler LLP has joined the firm as a partner in the Washington, D.C., office.
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February 04, 2025
Ariz. Bill Seeks Lawmaker Review Of Tax Law Interpretations
The Arizona Department of Revenue would be required to notify the chairs of the legislative tax policy committees if an interpretation or provision of tax law will adversely affect taxpayers under legislation introduced Tuesday.
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February 04, 2025
Wash. Gov. Orders Look At Data Centers' Tax Revenue Impact
Washington's governor issued an executive order directing the state's Department of Revenue to create a work group to examine the impact of data centers on the state's tax revenue and economy and recommend policies to address tax revenue needs in relation to other priorities.
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February 04, 2025
Fla. Gov. Pitches End To Business Rent Tax In Budget
Florida would eliminate its tax on commercial real estate leases under Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposed budget, a change he said would save businesses in the state a collective $1.6 billion.
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February 04, 2025
Kan. Bill Would Exempt Some Repair Services
Kansas would exempt the installation of material used in reconstruction, remodeling and repair from state sales and use tax under a bill introduced in the state Senate.
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February 04, 2025
Walmart Gets Arbitration In Fla. Delivery Fee Tax Fight
An accusation that Walmart unlawfully charged Florida customers sales tax on delivery fees will go to arbitration, a federal judge ruled Tuesday, saying shoppers agreed to arbitration when they accepted the terms of use of the retailer's website.
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February 04, 2025
Mellon Heir's Estate Defends $29M Tax Refund Request
A Pittsburgh billionaire made a "bona fide" deal to indemnify the trustees for his Mellon family millions as he drained a family trust account, so a $200 million settlement to partly replenish the fund for his heirs should be deductible and produce a $29 million refund of his Pennsylvania estate taxes, the estate's lawyer told a state appellate court Tuesday.
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February 04, 2025
Pa. Governor Puts Cannabis Legalization In Budget Proposal
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday announced a plan to legalize recreational cannabis later this year as part of his budget proposal.
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February 04, 2025
Texas Revenue Collection Through Jan. Up 5% From Last Year
Texas' net revenue collection from September through January was 5% higher than the same period last fiscal year, according to the state Comptroller's Office.
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February 04, 2025
Calif. Insurer Can't Get Tax Refund On In-State Shipments
A California insurance company can't get a refund of sales taxes paid when it placed orders with three vendors located out of state that the vendors fulfilled with shipments from within the state, the California Office of Tax Appeals ruled.
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February 04, 2025
W.Va. Revenues Through Jan. Beat Forecast By $28M
West Virginia's general revenue collection from July through January exceeded a budget forecast by $28 million, according to a report by the State Budget Office.
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February 04, 2025
NY Assembly Bill Seeks Tax Exemption For Radio Signal Gear
New York would establish a property tax exemption for equipment used for the transmission or switching of radio signals to provide commercial mobile radio service or mobile internet access service under a bill introduced in the state Assembly.
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February 04, 2025
Colo. Senate OKs Sales Tax Audit Confidentiality Rules
Taxpayer information held by third-party sales tax auditors in Colorado would be subject to enhanced confidentiality standards under legislation passed by the state Senate.
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February 04, 2025
Delaware's Revenue Surges $157M In 1st Half Of Fiscal Year
Delaware's total receipts from July through December exceeded the same period in the last fiscal year by $157 million, according to the state Department of Finance.
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February 04, 2025
Md. House Bill Seeks End To Corporate Tax Credits
Maryland would end several corporate tax credits and the state's opportunity zone program under legislation in the state House of Delegates.
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February 04, 2025
Wis. Senate Bill Would Exempt Gun Safes From Sales Tax
Wisconsin would exempt safes that are used to store guns from sales and use tax as part of a bill introduced in the state Senate.
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February 04, 2025
Md. House Bill Would Allow Tax Credits For Local Newsrooms
Maryland would allow state income tax credits for portions of earnings paid to newsroom employees by local news organizations under legislation introduced in the state House of Delegates.
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February 04, 2025
Ariz. Senate Bill Seeks Tax Subtraction For Capital Gains
Arizona would allow a subtraction from state taxable income of a portion of capital gains under legislation introduced in the state Senate.
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February 03, 2025
Calif. OTA Denies Sales Tax Refund For Drug System Parts
A biopharmaceutical company is not eligible for refunds of sales and use taxes for components of a diabetes drug delivery system that it developed but was never federally approved, the California Office of Tax Appeals said in a ruling released Monday.
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February 03, 2025
Texas Gov. Floats $10B Property Tax Relief Proposal
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott urged lawmakers to again overhaul the state's property tax regime, saying he would support legislation that would provide at least $10 billion in tax relief.
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February 03, 2025
Ariz. Panel OKs Bill To Clarify Sales Tax Sourcing Location
Arizona would clarify that the location of a transaction for sales tax purposes is the seller's business location if that seller receives the order in the state under legislation approved by a House panel Monday.
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February 03, 2025
Iowa Justices Decline To Hear Capital Gains Deduction Case
The Iowa Supreme Court will not review an appellate court ruling that found two business partners were not eligible to claim a capital gains deduction for gains resulting from their individual sales of goodwill.
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February 03, 2025
Calif. Couple Can't Claim Biz Loss, OTA Says
A California couple cannot claim a business loss deduction for the company they were partners in because they were calendar-year taxpayers and the loss occurred in the wrong year, the state Office of Tax Appeals said in a ruling released Monday.
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February 03, 2025
Ill. Bill Seeks Tax Break For Megaproject Building Materials
Illinois would provide an exemption from any state or local use tax or retailers occupation tax for building materials incorporated into real estate at what are known as megaproject sites as part of a bill filed in the state House of Representatives.
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Key State And Local Tax Takeaways From January
January saw the U.S. Supreme Court decline to hear a Philadelphia resident's claims that the city's refusal to credit Delaware state taxes against her city wage tax liabilities was unconstitutional, while state legislatures returned for their 2025 sessions, marking another eventful month in state and local tax.
![Man in suit holds up hand in crowd of people inside building, with American flag draped from above in the background](https://assets.law360news.com/2292000/2292218/a5ad337e1abbb5f7e32ce16dbb3ad059646bec98-pennsylvania_budget_40883.jpg)
Pa. Gov. Proposes Corp. Tax Cuts, Energy Credits
Pennsylvania would accelerate cuts to its corporate net income tax rate, expand and repurpose tax credits to fund energy projects and make other tax changes under a budget proposal announced Tuesday by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.
![The words "sales tax" centered on a digital image floating in the foreground before a man wearing a suit in the background](https://assets.law360news.com/2291000/2291858/aa264e60ce7e12646be434b0f0244ac9c5310e8d-istock-840732860.jpg)
Calif. Panel Affirms County's Sales Tax
A half-cent sales tax approved by a simple majority of voters in a California county is a general tax, not a special tax, and thus not subject to requirements to be approved by two-thirds of the voters, a California appeals court panel ruled, upholding a trial court decision.
Editor's Pick
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Law360 Will Track 2024 Ballot Measures On Real-Time Map
As citizens across the country weigh in on federal, state and local elections this November, Law360's 2024 ballot measure map will track election results for tax-related ballot measures in real time. Here, Law360 dives into what's on the ballots in Georgia, Nevada, Wyoming and Denver.
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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.
Featured Stories
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Dry Spell In High Court SALT Cases Leaves Gaps In Tax Rules
A roughly six-year dry spell in significant state and local tax rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court has left some tax practitioners wanting for clarity about how dormant commerce clause precedent should be applied to cross-border transactions in the modern economy.
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The Tax Angle: TCJA Renewal Cost, ACA Credits, OMB Pick
From a look at the budget impact of renewing the 2017 tax overhaul law to uncertainty surrounding the renewal of Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and the nomination of a new chief of the Office of Management and Budget, here's a peek into a reporter's notebook on a few of the week's developing tax stories.
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Former Head Of MTC, Tenn. DOR Reflects On Years In SALT
Joe Huddleston has had a hand in virtually every major issue in the state and local tax world for decades, whether during his tenure at the Tennessee Department of Revenue, the Multistate Tax Commission or the Federation of Tax Administrators. Now retired, he spoke to Law360 about his many roles and his influence in the field.
Expert Analysis
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Imagine The Possibilities Of Openly Autistic Lawyering
Andi Mazingo at Lumen Law, who was diagnosed with autism about midway through her career, discusses how the legal profession can create inclusive workplaces that empower openly autistic lawyers and enhance innovation, and how neurodivergent attorneys can navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with disclosing one’s diagnosis.
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Litigation Funding Disclosure Debate: Strategy Considerations
In the ongoing debate over whether courts should require disclosure of litigation funding, funders and plaintiffs tend to argue against such mandates, but voluntarily disclosing limited details about a funding arrangement can actually confer certain benefits to plaintiffs in some scenarios, say Andrew Stulce and Marc Cavan at Longford Capital.
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Open Season On A Department Of Revenue: SALT In Review
From a Kentucky proposal that would put the state's tax staffers in the crosshairs to yet another call to exempt tips from tax, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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5 Ways To Create Effective Mock Assignments For Associates
In order to effectively develop associates’ critical thinking skills, firms should design mock assignments that contain a few key ingredients, from messy fact patterns to actionable feedback, says Abdi Shayesteh at AltaClaro.
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Mentorship Resolutions For The New Year
Attorneys tend to focus on personal achievements or career milestones when they set yearly goals, but one important area often gets overlooked in this process — mentoring relationships, which are some of the most effective tools for professional growth, say Kelly Galligan at Rutan & Tucker and Andra Greene at Phillips ADR.
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5 Litigation Funding Trends To Note In 2025
Lawyers and their clients must be prepared to navigate an evolving litigation funding market in 2025, made more complicated by a new administration and the increasing overall cost of litigation, says Jeffery Lula at GLS Capital.
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Rethinking Litigation Risk And What It Really Means To Win
Attorneys have a tendency to overestimate litigation risk before summary judgment and underestimate risk after it, but an eight-stage litigation framework can clarify risk at different points and help litigators reassess what true success looks like in any particular case, says Joshua Libling at Arcadia Finance.
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Bad Ideas From Coast To Coast: SALT In Review
From calls for higher taxes in Washington state to New Jersey's tax credits for Netflix, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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No, Litigation Funders Are Not 'Fleeing' The District Of Del.
A recent study claimed that litigation funders have “fled” Delaware federal court due to a standing order requiring disclosure of third-party financing, but responsible funders have no problem litigating in this jurisdiction, and many other factors could explain the decline in filings, say Will Freeman and Sarah Tsou at Omni Bridgeway.
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5 E-Discovery Predictions For 2025 And Beyond
In the year to come, e-discovery will be shaped by new and emerging trends, from the adoption of artificial intelligence provisions in protective orders, to the proliferation of emojis as a source of evidence in contemporary litigation, say attorneys at Littler.
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Illinois Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q4
While the last quarter of 2024 didn't bring any notable state financial legislation, Illinois banks did see developments in the challenge to the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, and received some awaited guidance on credit line disclosures and bank-fintech relationships, say attorneys at Dykema.
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7 Ways 2nd Trump Administration May Affect Partner Hiring
President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House will likely have a number of downstream effects on partner hiring in the legal industry, from accelerated hiring timelines to increased vetting of prospective employees, say recruiters at Macrae.
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E-Discovery Quarterly: Rulings On Custodian Selection
Several recent rulings make clear that the proportionality of additional proposed custodians will depend on whether the custodians have unique relevant documents, and producing parties should consider whether information already in the record will show that they have relevant documents that otherwise might not be produced, say attorneys at Sidley.