Upcoming National Meeting 51st Annual Meeting Webinar This program offers sessions of interest to every state tax professional in industry, whether a COST member or otherwise, as well as in the consulting, accounting and legal profession. The program covers all types of state and local taxes that business taxpayers are confronted with today and provides updates on key SALT issues.
Cost Conscious ISSUE 20-19; September 18, 2020 Unclaimed Property (Part 1) – If your company has been audited for unclaimed property, who conducted the audit (select all that apply)?
Bloomberg TAX Amy Coney Barrett Picked by Trump to Push Court Further to Right President Donald Trump said he’ll nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court, moving to add his third justice to the bench and a fresh jolt to his faltering campaign just weeks before Americans vote on whether to give him a second term. Barrett Could Be Most Conservative Justice Since Clarence Thomas Amy Coney Barrett brings a resume that could make her the most conservative new justice since Clarence Thomas and a dream addition for Republicans looking to remake the U.S. Supreme Court. Barrett Flies to Washington as Trump Readies Top Court Pick (1) President Donald Trump told associates he’ll nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, said people familiar with the matter, aiming to cement conservative control of the court before Election Day. OPINION: Amy Coney Barrett Deserves Supreme Court Spot: Noah Feldman Like many other liberals, I’m devastated by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, which opened the way for President Donald Trump to nominate a third Supreme Court justice in his first term. And I’m revolted by the hypocrisy of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s willingness to confirm Trump’s nominee after refusing to even allow a vote on Judge Merrick Garland. Alaskan Native Corporations Barred From Covid-19 Relief Funds Alaskan Native Corporations aren't eligible for pandemic-related federal funds because they don't count as "tribes" under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, the D.C. Circuit ruled Friday. Illinois Taxpayers Face 20% Tax Bump if 'Fair Tax' Plan Fails Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker got a tongue lashing Friday from Republican opponents of his “fair tax,” who accused the Democratic governor of "scare tactics" to achieve support for his plan to remove the current flat income tax from the state Constitution. Pelosi, Mnuchin Resume Talks on U.S. Fiscal Stimulus With Call House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin resumed talks on a stalled fiscal stimulus package during a Friday afternoon phone call, Pelosi’s office said, though there was no indication it provided any breakthroughs. Trump Tells Black Voters That Democrats Take Them for Granted President Donald Trump appealed to Black Americans to help re-elect him, telling them in a speech Friday that Democrats -- whom African Americans are poised to overwhelmingly support in November -- take their votes for granted. Chicago Doesn’t Expect to Use Reserves to Close Deficits: CFO Chicago doesn’t expect to tap the nearly $900 million in its reserves to close the nearly $2 billion in budget hole that spans this year and next, Chief Financial Officer Jennie Huang Bennett said during a virtual City Council finance committee meeting. Billions Spent on Unemployment Will Mean Higher Employer Taxes State unemployment agencies have borrowed $32 billion and counting from the U.S. Treasury to pay record-high jobless benefits claimed during the coronavirus pandemic. Repaying that debt is likely to involve raising the unemployment taxes that employers pay.
Tax Notes Arkansas Lawmakers Plan to Introduce Bill Exempting PPP Loans Arkansas legislators plan to introduce legislation in the upcoming session that would exempt loans under the federal Paycheck Protection Program from state income tax. South Carolina Business License Tax Reform Bill Sent to Governor The South Carolina Legislature has passed a bill that would reform the state’s business license tax. Individual Subject to City’s Income Tax, Ohio Court Holds In City of Riverside v. Patino, an Ohio appellate court affirmed that the city can collect income tax from an individual who resides on a portion of a U.S. Air Force base that is located within the city. Vermont Cannabis Bill Heads to Governor's Desk A Vermont recreational cannabis bill is headed to the governor after a conference committee reached consensus on its local tax provisions. Nevada Judge Says Tax Extension Needed Supermajority Approval A Nevada district court judge has ruled in Settelmeyer v. Nevada that tax extensions require a two-thirds legislative majority to pass, handing Senate Republicans a first-round victory. Tax Items Could Be Addressed in Louisiana Special Session Business tax incentives and unemployment taxes are among the issues that could be addressed during a special session called by the Louisiana Legislature to primarily tackle issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Laura, and the state’s unemployment trust fund. Mississippi Notifies Food Delivery Services of Sales Tax Change Food sold through third-party delivery services like Grubhub and Uber Eats is no longer subject to sales tax in Mississippi under a recently adopted marketplace facilitator law. Illinois DOR Could Share Tax Data With Law Enforcement Under Proposal The Illinois Department of Revenue has proposed a rules amendment that would allow the department to share sales tax data with law enforcement as part of a joint criminal investigation. Rhode Island Progressive Candidates Fight Austerity Budget A new crop of Rhode Island progressive legislators and candidates are decrying the governor’s cut to a tax relief program for distressed cities and are calling for taxes on the wealthy. Hawaii Ends Utility Solar Energy Tax Credit Hawaii Gov. David Ige (D) has signed legislation that ends a tax incentive for large utility-scale solar projects but grandfathers in some that are already in the pipeline.
COST - Council on State Taxation Amicus Briefs Level 3 Communications v. Oregon Department of Revenue In its amicus brief, COST argues that the Tax Court’s decision allowing the imposition of property tax based on the enterprise value of a centrally assessed taxpayer should be reversed because it represents a stark departure from existing law and practice. It would unfairly upend the longstanding and well-settled expectations of centrally assessed businesses that pay property taxes in Oregon.
COST - Council on State Taxation COST Studies, Articles & Reports A Conversation on False Claims Act Expansion — Does It Make Sense? (State Tax Notes, July 20, 2020, p. 293) COST’s Nikki Dobay and Stephanie Do interviewed four state and local tax experts who have experience with the ramifications of state false claims acts.
COST - Council on State Taxation COST Comments & Testimony Comments in Support of SC H.B. 4431 - Business License Tax Reform COST sends letter to South Carolina Senate in support of H.B. 4431, which would make common sense reforms to the State’s business license tax, including a centralized payment clearinghouse and the prohibition of contingent-fee audits.
