SALT Blog - SALT Blawg

 By Paul Masters with contributions by Jennifer Weidler in Chamberlain’s Philadelphia office.

State Regulations and Public Notices

California Board of Equalization issues a proposal to amend the definition of “retailers engaged in business in this state,” in conformance with AB 155. It will take effect either September 15, 2012 or January 2013. The effect of this change would be to expand the requirement for retailers to register with the Board and remit California use taxes, or to be subject to payment of these use taxes on such failure to remit.

Utah State Tax ...

 By Paul Masters

State DOR Letters and Policy Rulings

Illinois Department of Revenue has issued several rulings, including:

* explains how prescription drugs are taxed, and the Service Occupation Use Tax on tangible personal property transferred incident to sales of service;

* explains taxation of software maintenance agreements and the Service Occupation Tax;

* rules that a chemical manufacturer's containers used to ship fluid products to customers are not subject to sales or use tax because (i) the customers sell the products in the containers and provide the manufacturer ...

State DOR Letters and Administrative Rulings

Illinois Office of Administrative Hearings respects the entity, and rules Department of Revenue cannot go after owner of corporation for use tax liability on vessel use in Illinois. Use tax is not a trust tax. It also rules that the foreign corporate owner of a vessel used in Illinois for 30 days/year has sufficient nexus to allow Illinois to impose use tax on value of vessel. Taxpayer allowed credit for tax paid outside the state. Correct tax base for assessment of use tax is the purchase price reduced by depreciation prior to first use in ...

State DOR Letters and Administrative Rulings

The Tennessee Department of Revenue rules that software configuration services are not subject to sales tax. The industrial equipment exemption does not apply as to sales tax in connection with the sale of compressed air with compressors on site. The assembly of leased equipment is subject to sales tax as services necessary to complete a sale.

In a shift, the Indiana Department of Revenue issues a statement that it will no longer impose sales tax on digital goods unless specific circumstances exist, citing the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax ...

State DOR Letters and Administrative Rulings

The Indiana Department of Revenue provided guidance on what constitutes tangible personal property. That guidance includes the specific view that electricity is tangible personal property. It also discusses the taxation of intangibles in the state. It also ruled that medical devices are not exempt if there is not a prescription. So a sale of a medical device to a doctor or a hospital is not exempt as a device being prescribed. It may qualify for the sale for resale exemption, as the doctor resells the device to a patient, but the requirements ...

State DOR Letters and Administrative Rulings

The Wisconsin Appeals Commission ruled services are not presumed to be subject to sales tax. In looking to whether barge fleeting services are “taxable services,” the plain language of the statutes does not impose the sales tax and thus the state cannot interpret into the taxation of services those services that are not clearly included. Same rule follows inTexas.

Illinoispublished a ruling on the applicability of the manufacturing exemption in connection with a meat processing facility, and what parts of the plant equipment would ...

State DOR Letters and Rulings

Florida ruled that when a cleaning service provider uses cleaning supplies to perform the cleaning services, sales and use tax is due on those supplies. However, to the extent those supplies are not used, but sold to a customer for their use, the transaction is exempt as a sale for resale.

The Texas Comptroller ruled that a series LLC would be treated as a single entity for Texas franchise tax purposes. The entity cannot be broken up into separate parts, but must file as one.

Alabama ruled that winter park provided amusement services subject to sales tax. The ...

The Alliance for Main Street Fairness Launches Website Targeting Amazon.com

On August 25th, the Alliance for Main Street Fairness launched a website that asked individuals to anonymously submit stories relating to Amazon.com's alleged efforts to avoid collecting state sales taxes. The Alliance, representing mainly brick-and-mortar business, has pushed for states to enact "Amazon" laws, arguing that such laws promote tax fairness.  Conversely, opponents to "Amazon" laws believe that states are reaching beyond their constitutional limits.

Although Supportive of "Amazon ...

Texas Supreme Court Rules “Pole Tax” Does Not Violate First Amendment

In a unanimous decision Texas Supreme Court rules stripper "pole tax" does not violate First Amendment. The decision reverses a 2-1 Third Court of Appeals decision, which had held the tax violated the First Amendment in upholding the trial court’s ruling. The decision remands the case to the trial court, where three arguments remain, all based on challenges to the tax under the Texas Constitution.

New Jersey Appeals Court Upholds Tax Court Finding No Unitary Nature of Limited Partnership

New Jersey ...

This is the year of the Amazon. Multiple sources, including individual affiliates, are reporting that Amazon, Overstock and other Internet retailers are severing ties with their affiliates in Connecticut and Arkansas. Both of those states recently enacted changes to their sales tax laws that required Internet retailers to collect sales tax on transactions made with persons in those states. The states were able to “reach” the Internet retailers through an expanded nexus by means of the “associate” or “affiliate” programs commonly used by such vendors.

Meanwhile ...