press room
The COST Press Room serves as an outlet for members of the media to search and gather information on COST. Information includes press releases covering recent studies, comments,and testimony published by COST, as well as amicus briefs. All COST testimony, comments and amicus briefs are available in the State Tax Library.
For media inquiries, please contact Caroline Galleher or review the COST Fact Sheet.
2013 Sales Taxation of Services and Business Inputs Study
April 4, 2013
COST is pleased to announce the release of its latest study, authored by Ernst & Young LLP: "What's Wrong wtih Taxing Business Services?"
FY2011 Business Tax Burden Study
July 23, 2012
The Council On State Taxation (COST) is pleased to announce the release of our tenth annual study of state and local business taxes. The report shows all state and local business taxes paid in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
COST Appears on Fox News Live: BATSA - HR 1439
April 10, 2012
COST President and Executive Director Doug Lindholm was interviewed on Fox News Live regarding the pressing need to enact the Business Activity Tax Simplification Act (BATSA— HR 1439).
COST Hires New VP, Government Affairs
September 2, 2011
COST is pleased to announce that Maureen B. Riehl has joined the COST Staff as Vice President, Government Affairs, effective September 19.
FY2010 Business Tax Burden Study
July 27, 2011
The Council On State Taxation (COST) is pleased to announce the release of our ninth annual study of state and local business taxes. The report shows all state and local business taxes paid in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
COST Scorecard: The Best and Worst of Property Tax Administration
May 31, 2011
The Scorecard focuses on three areas of effective property tax administration: 1) standardized procedures, 2) fair property tax appeal procedures, and 3) an equal residential versus business property tax burden.
Competitiveness of State and Local Business Taxes
April 20, 2011
COST is pleased to announce the release of a new study ranking states by tax burden on new investment.
2010 COST Annual Report
December 7, 2010
The 2010 Annual Report is available in electronic format. The report highlights the many successes of COST and its membership in 2010.
COST Submits Commentary to the Atlanta Journal - Constitution
October 4, 2010
COST's Joe Crosby provided commentary regarding whether Georgia should institute a combined reporting provision for corporate taxes.
COST 's 2010 Scorecard on State Tax Appeals and Procedural Requirements
March 4, 2010
The scorecard evaluates each state based on statutes governing fair, efficient and customer-focused tax administration.
2009 COST Annual Report
March 5, 2010
A report highlighting the many successes of COST in 2009.
COST Releases New Unclaimed Property Study
October 21, 2009
This article surveys the troubled legal landscape of unclaimed property and explores whether now is the time to undertake comprehensive reform of multistate unclaimed property laws.
FY08 State And Local Business Tax Burden Study
February 12, 2009
Despite the initial impacts of the recession that officially began in December 2007, business taxes grew 2.7% in fiscal year 2008 to a total of $590 billion nationwide.
The Best and Worst of State Unclaimed Property Laws
January 13, 2009
The unclaimed property laws in many states are woefully lacking in fairness and effectiveness according to a new study released today by the Council On State Taxation (COST).
2008 COST Annual Report
December 31, 2008
2008 Annual Report highlights the many successes of COST and its membership during 2008.
COST Releases Combined Reporting Study
May 27, 2008
The analysis in this paper suggests that combined reporting is not a panacea for addressing the problem of how to accurately determine multistate business income attributable to economic activity in a state.
COST Announces Release of the 2008 Business Tax Burden Study
April 22, 2008
Businesses Paid $577 Billion in State and Local Taxes, a 5.7% Increase Over Fiscal 2006. Results of Annual Study Analyze State-by-State Business Tax Payments in Fiscal Year 2007.
2007 COST Annual Report
December 17, 2007
A full report of COST accomplishments and opportunities in 2007.
COST Files Amici Brief in Ford Motor v. Seattle/Tacoma
December 14, 2007
COST Files Amici "Friend of the Court" Brief in Ford Motor Co. v. City of Seattle and City of Tacoma Before the Supreme Court
COST Files Amici Curiae Brief in MeadWestvaco v. Illinois
November 15, 2007
COST Files Amici Curiae Brief in MeadWestvaco v. Illinois Before the United States Supreme Court
Here I Am! Here I Am! Learning From The Breakdown of California's Unclaimed Property Program
October 17, 2007
An examinationof the troubling nationwide trend of states using funds collected as unclaimed property to help balance their budgets.
The Best And Worst Of State Tax Administration - Scorecard
April 11, 2007
States Receive "Report Card" on Tax Administration
Gross Receipts Tax Study
January 1, 2007
"There is no sensible case for gross receipts taxation."
Sales Taxation Of Services
January 25, 2005
This study demonstrated that proposals to extend the sales tax services are, for the most part, simply proposals to impose new taxes on business.